Handwriting Class/Program/Tutor

[Anonymous]

My 15 year old son has absolutely horrible handwriting. His teachers have a difficult time reading it because it's so tiny and scrunched. He's a lefty and says he has trouble taking notes effectively as well. I've seen some programs to improve handwriting/note taking for sale online as well as a local handwriting camp, but I'm not sure what to pick. Does anyone have any recommendations?

[Anonymous]

Where is the handwriting camp? Please send link.

[Anonymous]

He could work with an OT, but he's unlikely to make much progress at his age. Consider instead focusing on technology, including typing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where is the handwriting camp? Please send link.

https://www.camphandwriting.com/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He could work with an OT, but he's unlikely to make much progress at his age. Consider instead focusing on technology, including typing.

Unfortunately at his school he has to take class notes and tests by hand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He could work with an OT, but he's unlikely to make much progress at his age. Consider instead focusing on technology, including typing.

Unfortunately at his school he has to take class notes and tests by hand.

He's better off that way even if his handwriting is awful. Handwriting notes leads to better retention.

[Anonymous]

It’s never too late to learn or improve. I’m tired of people just suggesting to put DC on more devices. That’s what got us into the poor handwriting problem originally. The IEP team has been saying that for years and refused any OT. Outside of school I have to devise my own plan and we had success with an OT on Outschool. She worked with positioning, slowing down, reviewing your own work and correcting, writing smaller, writing on the lines, making things consistent, etc. It is a lot of work, but something that used to be taught from K-6th grade! Now these poor kids don’t get daily lessons, practice, or assessments in penmenship.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s never too late to learn or improve. I’m tired of people just suggesting to put DC on more devices. That’s what got us into the poor handwriting problem originally. The IEP team has been saying that for years and refused any OT. Outside of school I have to devise my own plan and we had success with an OT on Outschool. She worked with positioning, slowing down, reviewing your own work and correcting, writing smaller, writing on the lines, making things consistent, etc. It is a lot of work, but something that used to be taught from K-6th grade! Now these poor kids don’t get daily lessons, practice, or assessments in penmenship.

NP, totally agree. Did the OT from Outschool work with your DC in-person or was it all online? I'm trying to find handwriting support for my child and wondering if virtual meetings would be effective.

[Anonymous]

Can’t he just practice on his own? Slow down his writing, space letters apart more. He knows how to make letters. He likely just needs repetitive practice of writing clearer and with intention.

[Anonymous]

DS did years of OT. He is 17y and his handwriting is still illegible. He has a diagnosis of dysgraphia (which can encompass handwriting and writing skills.) He has a 504 that allows him to use a keyboard for all assignments.

The problem with slowing down/being more purposeful at this point, is that it is hard to do that and take notes in high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s never too late to learn or improve. I’m tired of people just suggesting to put DC on more devices. That’s what got us into the poor handwriting problem originally. The IEP team has been saying that for years and refused any OT. Outside of school I have to devise my own plan and we had success with an OT on Outschool. She worked with positioning, slowing down, reviewing your own work and correcting, writing smaller, writing on the lines, making things consistent, etc. It is a lot of work, but something that used to be taught from K-6th grade! Now these poor kids don’t get daily lessons, practice, or assessments in penmenship.

NP, totally agree. Did the OT from Outschool work with your DC in-person or was it all online? I'm trying to find handwriting support for my child and wondering if virtual meetings would be effective.

Surprisingly, it was all virtual. It was with a small group of 3 middle school aged kids, too, not super young children. There is a real need for this service since handwriting is not taught in the public schools any more. Not all kids have tons of patience at an early age to sit and practice in workbooks before dinner, etc. The classes and OT served DC well. Obviously, the practice still must follow. But, projects and things are coming home where I had to ask if it was DC’s own writing because it was that straight, well-spaced, equal sized where I thought a teacher had written it! Progress is slow. But, just don’t give up and listen to the nay-sayers. The AP, head of SPED, SPED teachers all just kept pushing more electronics since 2nd grade. It’s a shame.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He could work with an OT, but he's unlikely to make much progress at his age. Consider instead focusing on technology, including typing.

I completely disagree. My DC had follow-up OT (had had it at age 8-9) at 15-16 and it made a huge difference. We worked with Susan Tieche and loved her - she is very good with teenagers.

https://www.a-tgroundwork.com/

Handwriting comfort and fluency matters and will always matter.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-writing-by-hand-is-better-for-memory-and-learning/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS did years of OT. He is 17y and his handwriting is still illegible. He has a diagnosis of dysgraphia (which can encompass handwriting and writing skills.) He has a 504 that allows him to use a keyboard for all assignments.

The problem with slowing down/being more purposeful at this point, is that it is hard to do that and take notes in high school.

NP here with similar experience. My son is 16 also a lefty and the handwriting on tests and in-class essays is barely legible. We did the "Handwriting Without Tears" program when he was younger in the summers. Finally we gave up when our pediatric psych said if it hadn't worked by now it wasnt going to and just get an exception to allow for a keyboard. He was in a Catholic school in elementary which taught handwriting and cursive. Cursive was slightly better for him but he has forgotten it by now and everything else he learned. One problem with these courses is that if you do not regularly write by hand, you lose what you learned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s never too late to learn or improve. I’m tired of people just suggesting to put DC on more devices. That’s what got us into the poor handwriting problem originally. The IEP team has been saying that for years and refused any OT. Outside of school I have to devise my own plan and we had success with an OT on Outschool. She worked with positioning, slowing down, reviewing your own work and correcting, writing smaller, writing on the lines, making things consistent, etc. It is a lot of work, but something that used to be taught from K-6th grade! Now these poor kids don’t get daily lessons, practice, or assessments in penmenship.

+1

Keyboarding doesn't address the underlying issue. It is never too late to learn and improve.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can’t he just practice on his own? Slow down his writing, space letters apart more. He knows how to make letters. He likely just needs repetitive practice of writing clearer and with intention.

OT is more targeted than that.