Article by Terrie Bittner
This is the first of several articles on homeschooling the child with dysgraphia. Next week we
will discuss math, and the following week we will talk about written assignments in other subjects.
The third week will discuss creative and non-fiction writing.
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. One type of
disability that causes writing problems is dysgraphia. Often parents of children with undiagnosed
dysgraphia say, "If he didnīt read so well, Iīd 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 childīs 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
When Writingīs a Problem
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 didnīt help.
When my oldest child was diagnosed with dysgraphia, I learned what I had. After struggling to
train teachers, I gave up and began homeschooling. At that point, I had to learn how to teach a
dysgraphic child. In the coming weeks, I will offer suggestions for surviving the homeschooling of
a child with dysgraphia.
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. Thicker is better, as is a
material that isnīt too slippery. 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
donīt have to make a lot of red circles. Just have him retype the material as you go. Be aware,
though, that some children canīt type for the same reasons they canīt 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 donīt
require writing when it isnīt 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.
Work on any activities that improve small motor skills. Make sure to find things that are not
insulting to the childīs age. Anything that is fun and practical will be more successful than things
that are just work. Try these pages to get some ideas:
Activities to Improve
Motor Skills
Handwriting and Handstrength in
Preemies (Note: This page has good advice even if your child isnīt a preemie.)
ysgraphia&mode=blended">Books About Dysgraphia On Amazon.com
