2nd Grade teacher reply saying she has no resources

[Anonymous]

This is the first time I have contacted any teacher from K up to now asking for assistance. DC's handwriting is not only sloppy but also can be illegible - which is my concern. I emailed the teacher asking if she could add some handwriting work to DC's homework (which is 5 minutes per week) or to please provide some ideas . The teacher replied that she would have to search on the internet just like I have and that she has no resources. I do some practice at home already but it's been a struggle so I was hoping the school could help a little. What do you think of this reply?

[Anonymous]

How old is your child? It sounds to me like the teacher doesn't feel that his handwriting is outside of the norm for his age and that she does not want to invest the time and resources it would take her to put together a packet of extra homework for him each week. That's understandable, in my opinion. If she were telling you he has a problem and that you need to work on it, that would be one thing, but it sounds like it's not a problem on her end. In that case, she is right that it should be your responsibility to come up with exercises outside of his normal homework.

[Anonymous]

It doesn't matter what we think of the reply. Obviously you aren't pleased with it.

[Anonymous]

That she's really clueless.

My third grader had cursive handwriting practice in his MCPS school, worksheets with traceable letters and lines for copying.

If this is for block handwriting, you could perhaps review letter formation with Handwriting Without Tears and then reward your child for every piece of writing that has good penmanship. Perhaps have a few minutes of writing practice time with a fun text of his choosing on double lined paper?

[Anonymous]

I emailed the teacher asking if she could add some handwriting work to DC's homework (which is 5 minutes per week) or to please provide some ideas .

It's not as if your child needs help with Calculus. The schools use special lined paper in Kindergarten and maybe 1st grade. If they don't specifically use the same paper in second grade, her response that she has no resources is probably accurate, even if you read some sort of tone into it. Just find the paper on Amazon or in a bookstore, and ask your child to do a little bit each day, maybe watch DC's mechanics to see if there is something causing the writing to be illegible.

[Anonymous]

Request an assessment - state in your request that b/c her handwriting is illegible she is not able to demonstrate competency through writing and this is an important element for education.

When you request an assessment she will absolutely find the resources to support your child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Request an assessment - state in your request that b/c her handwriting is illegible she is not able to demonstrate competency through writing and this is an important element for education.

When you request an assessment she will absolutely find the resources to support your child.

Who would do the assessment? I'm assuming the occupational therapist?

[Anonymous]

Trosby. Ask the front office for an official assessment. Your child may have dysgraphia. You may be able to get an Iep or 504. Be strong. It took me until my son was in 4th grade to get a 504.

Post your thread in the special needs forum. Very helpful,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Trosby. Ask the front office for an official assessment. Your child may have dysgraphia. You may be able to get an Iep or 504. Be strong. It took me until my son was in 4th grade to get a 504.

Post your thread in the special needs forum. Very helpful,

"Trosby"?

[Anonymous]

Why not get some workbooks like kimono vs expecting to add to the homework requirement. I'd also get some private ot. We do kimono workbooks for handwriting.

[Anonymous]

It seems like an odd response. How hard would it be to offer some suggestions? I can understand the teacher not being able to assign more homework though. My 2nd grader has horrible handwriting too, but his teacher is more concerned with what he writes than how. I just keep reminding myself I failed handwriting throughout elementary school and still did well in high school and college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It seems like an odd response. How hard would it be to offer some suggestions? I can understand the teacher not being able to assign more homework though. My 2nd grader has horrible handwriting too, but his teacher is more concerned with what he writes than how. I just keep reminding myself I failed handwriting throughout elementary school and still did well in high school and college.

All teacher will do is make workbook copies or get something on the Internet. Parents can do that.

[Anonymous]

Get a Handwriting Without Tears workbook as a PP recommended and have your child work daily in the book.

Or ask for the OT to evaluate your child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems like an odd response. How hard would it be to offer some suggestions? I can understand the teacher not being able to assign more homework though. My 2nd grader has horrible handwriting too, but his teacher is more concerned with what he writes than how. I just keep reminding myself I failed handwriting throughout elementary school and still did well in high school and college.

All teacher will do is make workbook copies or get something on the Internet. Parents can do that.

NP. Yes, parents can do that. But a teacher should take an interest in her student, for god sakes! OP, I think her response was pretty crappy. Sorry. Even if she has no resources (how can that be?!) she should make suggestions out of common courtesy and concern. A lot of boys have crummy hand-writing by the way. it's normal. But teachers usually try really hard to get students to improve it.

[Anonymous]

Have you tried Handwriting without Tears? That is a great program to help with poor handwriting that is basically just poor handwriting. This summer is a great time to do it. 20 minutes every day, just like reading (well reading is 30 minutes). I would try it this summer and if you see little progress ask for an evaluation for dysgraphia at the beginning of next year.