Dysgraphia--A Homeschool Introduction
Your child is very bright, but simply cannot manage the physical act of writing. This causes written work, especially in math, to take all day, and interferes with your ability to plan fun activities. Furthermore, it is driving you crazy! What do you do?
Many bright children have learning disabilities that affect their ability to write. Dysgraphia is one type of disability that causes writing problems. Often parents of children with undiagnosed dysgraphia say, "If he didn't read so well, I'd think he has dyslexia." This learning disability causes the brain to send only one-third of the messages needed to write a single letter of the alphabet. You can imagine how complicated this makes the writing process. The child often holds his pencil incorrectly, tires quickly, has trouble learning the physical make-up of the letters and cannot write without copying long after other children are writing comfortably. The child's writing might seem very delayed or incompetent, even though the child has a large and skilled vocabulary when speaking. It is said that dysgraphic children seem unable to think and write at the same time, because the physical act of writing takes so much effort. In addition, the child often has spelling and punctuation errors, and has organizational challenges. Many children with dysgraphia also have ADD or ADHD. To learn more about dysgraphia, try these sites:
The Resource Room
Dysgraphia (from the International Dyslexia Association)
Traditional schooling is a nightmare for these children. Because they are often bright and verbal, teachers expect more from them than they can give. They decide the child is lazy or stubborn or messy. I grew up with dysgraphia and heard all of these things. I could read at a college level before fifth grade, but my handwriting was, as my great-grandmother complained, nothing but unreadable chicken scratches. In fourth grade, I was kept after school again and again as punishment for my messy handwriting, wrinkled papers and huge erasures. It didn't help.
The important thing to remember is that your child is not purposely trying to drive you crazy. He has a neurological disorder that is causing all these annoying habits. You cannot cure the dysgraphia, but you can teach your child compensating skills and you can sometimes improve the small motor skills a little.
Be flexible about the writing tools you use. Different people find different types of writing materials easier. I work best with a fairly thick fine tip marker. Some children do better with pencils. Buy grips that help the child hold the pencil or pen correctly. Try different types of writing surfaces as well. Most dysgraphic children make a real mess with the eraser, over-erasing and ripping the paper. Either try to teach them to do it correctly, or teach them to draw a neat line through the mistake.
Some children with dysgraphia can learn to type, so try teaching them to use a word processor. I can type much longer and can fix my mistakes easily. Corrections are less upsetting, since you don't have to make a lot of red circles. Just have him retype the material as you go. Be aware, though, that some children can't type for the same reasons they can't write. You might also teach a child to record answers into a tape recorder for longer assignments. In addition, look at my related links for articles in which I show how to work without writing. Be creative and don't require writing when it isn't necessary.
Break up the writing. Only a few minutes of writing makes my hands ache. Have the child do a few sentences or problems at a time, then let him do something else before returning, or let him dictate for ten minutes before trying to write again. If he seems able to do those few problems comfortably, add one more. He may gradually be able to increase his writing time--but then again, he may not.
Handwriting Without Tears (TEACHERS edition) (Paperback) by Janice Z. Olsen Many parents highly recommend this program for kids with dysgraphia