First grade teacher here - during writing we do not nitpick the kids about letter formation because our goal is to get the ideas from their heads onto the page. In my district (DCPS) we also teach fundations, separate from writing, which does focus on letter formation among other things. When we are in this portion of instruction I will remind them how letters are properly formed and make sure they are facing the right direction, etc. You might want to see if your school has a similar approach. If you want to work on it at home I would keep the neatness/handwriting/formation aspect separate from any kind of creative writing for fun. My 2 cents.

If you’re okay with iPad time, get an app called Writing Wizard. It teaches the correct (D’Nealian & other options) way to write letters in a fun gamified way. My K kid who is not interested in writing (and is at a non-academic K that doesn’t provide direct instruction) LOVES it and it takes the pressure off me trying to teach (although I used to teach K so *could* teach him but he’s resistant to direct instruction from me).

This app was recommended to me by an OT, and it has similar principles to Montessori sandpaper letters... basically developing the muscle memory and then being able to transfer that to actual handwriting. Today he said “I LOVE Writing Wizard,” and I can see how much better his writing is getting with just a few days. I like it because you can add your own words, like kid’s name, which they can practice and will serve them well in 1st. And then you can go back and see how their strokes have improved over time.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Leave it alone. Is can be discouraging to correct. In time, they will self correct.

Signed, public school teacher

Signed new public school teacher not an experienced over 45 years old teacher.

Anonymous wrote:Leave it alone. Is can be discouraging to correct. In time, they will self correct.

This is 100% not true. I believed this BS and got OT too late for my kid. Biggest regret of my parenting.

Anonymous wrote:Leave it alone. Is can be discouraging to correct. In time, they will self correct.

This. It’s not something you want to nitpick.

Teacher here. Correct it now. Practice with different kinds of pencils or markers, or practice in shaving cream. This is important. -special ed teacher

Anonymous wrote:Leave it alone. Is can be discouraging to correct. In time, they will self correct.

Signed, public school teacher

Yes, definitely correct it now.

My 1st grader attends a private school and there is a big focus on handwriting. I used to roll my eyes at it (teacher grades work with "neater please" or re writes the letters that are less legible and has the child re do them on a separate page), but seeing his handwriting in comparison to other 1st graders I am now glad the school focused on it. it makes a big difference, and is harder to correct with age.

It also makes a difference in speed and comprehension once the volume of writing increases. If your child is still struggle to form the letters correctly, they will get frustrated when asked to write 2 paragraphs.

This is also a school that teaches cursive in 2nd grade, which I am also now grateful for. Studies show that letter formation, and cursive hit the brain differently and stimulate reading/writing skills in different ways. It doesn't matter that "everything" is on a computer. Taking time to teach handwriting will make them better in other areas too.

Leave it alone. Is can be discouraging to correct. In time, they will self correct.

My kindergartener's teacher (not DC area) has been strict about neatness. We've seen such an improvement that I'd still be happy with it even if it doesn't continue to improve any further.

Anonymous wrote:I have a Kindergartener and SAME! I'm actually a bit concerned about it. I just bought "Handwriting without tears" on amazon and plan on doing it with her over the summer. I'd taught her how to read before K, but thought they'd work more with her on her handwriting. She currently can't do lower case pretty much at all. She writes lowercase when copying a word, but when writing her own narratives, it's all uppercase. Her teacher actually flagged it as an issue for us parents to address. (She's my oldest so I was a little shocked by that- am I supposed to be teaching her handwriting? When they flag things, why don't the teachers focus on that with her?)

My kindergartener struggles with writing and reading. Her writing is so bad and her spacing is terrible. We brought this up to the teacher's attention, and the teacher said everything is fine.

Yes, worth the time when they are young to correct a poor grip and letter formation. Harder to correct with each passing year. So many kids have an improper pencil hold, and it makes writing so tiring as they are required to write longer passages or for longer time. Fatigue and struggle will incentive kids to write less, and it will naturally be sloppier because it is hard.

There are lots of different types of pencil grip devices available so may have to search out the right one for your kid’s issues or habits. Worth it. There are some good OT websites that explain the corrections to do as well as grips to purchase.

Wish I had known to be on guard and make attempts to instruct my middle schooler when very young (versus starting to remediate in 2nd grade).

Having spent a lot of time in classrooms now, I notice the struggles at all ages. Kids cope, but I wonder if their school lives could have been so much easier with a little purposeful instruction as young students. It is a rare teacher who does / feels they have time to instruct a classroom of 30 to hold their pencil properly every time. Your effort at home will pay off.

I used to be of the mind thought that it didn't matter. But now I have an 8th grader and his printing still looks like he is in kindergarten. He forms his letters differently than I was taught. We asked teachers about this each year and were told it didn't matter and the neatness would improve as he got older. Then in 6th grade when his printing was not getting any neater we requested an evaluation. Then we were told it was too late to change!! The school will not offer and services for this now since "everything" is done on the computer. We will be spending the summer at home working on this. I would try and correct your child's letter formation this summer. Do a sticker chart and bribe her. I will always regret not doing something when my son was younger.

I have a Kindergartener and SAME! I'm actually a bit concerned about it. I just bought "Handwriting without tears" on amazon and plan on doing it with her over the summer. I'd taught her how to read before K, but thought they'd work more with her on her handwriting. She currently can't do lower case pretty much at all. She writes lowercase when copying a word, but when writing her own narratives, it's all uppercase. Her teacher actually flagged it as an issue for us parents to address. (She's my oldest so I was a little shocked by that- am I supposed to be teaching her handwriting? When they flag things, why don't the teachers focus on that with her?)

My kid doesn't write letters the way I think I was taught, and I'm wondering if I should correct this at home or if it's something she'll just figure out.

For example, for 'd,' she draws a full circle and then picks up her pencil and draws a vertical line. For 'e' she draws a 'c' and then fills in the horizontal line to make it a lowercase 'e.' There are a bunch of letters that she does this way--makes one shape, picks up her pencil and then completes it--e.g. h, n, b, d, p. For other letters, such as 'a,' she does one continuous motion, which I think is the correct way (though I honestly can't quite remember). When I try to show her the correct way, she's very resistant and tells me that her teacher says her way is fine. I don't want to discourage experimentation with writing, but I also don't want to foster bad habits. Thoughts?