tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572070976923021388.post2910573436548651829..comments2023-10-28T04:05:57.073-07:00Comments on Hartley's Life With 3 Boys: Right-Brained Math and Writing StandardsHartleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02463016780946119637noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572070976923021388.post-25364104664421578752009-10-25T21:44:07.551-07:002009-10-25T21:44:07.551-07:00Oh we have dealt with this handwriting nightmare f...Oh we have dealt with this handwriting nightmare for years!!! It is actually the thing that first alerted his teachers something was wrong. Well, that along with his speech repetitions and awkwardness. But anyway, it was awful because the teacher kept on referring him for OT, but the OT kept dismissing him saying it wasn't that bad. So we never got any school help. <br /><br />It took us 3 years just to get a 504 plan (not allowed an IEP), but we had it so written work was limited whenever possible, and timed assignments are not required unless giving extra time. <br /><br />Regardless of that and before the 504 plan, we were typing all of his assignments and book reports anyway because we knew the teacher wanted neatness, and there was no way he would get anything neat if even legible from writing it. <br /><br />The cursive thing is going on now and for the last year. It is interesting though because somehow his cursive is actually readable. I don't understand how because when he prints it is terrible. There are no spaces between words or maybe the spaces are in the middle of words and it's all jumbled up and down across a page. Terrible terrible! But then somehow the cursive I can make some sense of. I agree with you that the cursive stuff is dumb. Print is important. But what do you do?<br /><br />Teachers and the school have suggested the use of a word processor that could be used in class to speed up work, but we didn't want to do that yet. We felt he needed to practice handwriting at least somewhat. So he is still given handwriting practice but it is limited as to the amount. Like he may write the word 3 times instead of 5. <br /><br />As for homework, yeah, it could take 3 hours for him to write instead of what a regular kid could do in 20 minutes! It is so true and I have seen him in tears because of it. <br /><br />What to do? Especially when this thing this year is everything must be written in cursive. You can't type assignments on the computer if they require cursive!<br /><br />No way I would do the tape recorder. Similar to you guys his speech is often jumbled up and repetitive and I would go crazy. <br /><br />What we do is I type while he stands there and reads and corrects how and what it should say. It is like a combined effort. It's all his work, but it's easier if he's seeing it as I type it so he can correct it to what I interpret wrong sometimes. <br /><br />Future? I suppose he can learn to type, but right now that is slow going too. <br /><br />I honestly believe our son's handwriting has gone way down hill since 2nd grade, but I think it goes to the fact of more pressure and homework required. It's like his handwriting was OK when he could go slow, but then they start making everything hurry hurry hurry faster finish this sooner, and I have seen his handwriting go down the toilet! It is so bad now that he can't slow down to make it any better. It is not super fast, but it's faster and sloppier. <br /><br />Good luck to you! We struggle still everyday. I feel he is so smart yet this stupid handwriting affects the way people see him. Oh, and math, yeah, he gets so frustrated by the "show the work" thing. He thinks it's stupid as do I. I guess it is good how they are trying to break everything down so much to help those that need the absolute basics, but to a kid that can compute in their head, it's just dumb and confused them even more.<br /><br />Sorry, I've written you a novel! Take care!Beccahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05737471455195883868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572070976923021388.post-25939163114696455532009-10-23T09:41:06.834-07:002009-10-23T09:41:06.834-07:00Hi Hartley!
I see your current situation in my ...Hi Hartley! <br /><br />I see your current situation in my not-so-distant future. Jen's still in kindergarten, so our writing needs are still pretty low. We're working with a heavy OT schedule to hopefully develop the writing skills before we get there, but I also have to face reality and be prepared for the future. I think we're hoping to move towards keyboarding skills if she is still having writing difficulties in 2nd grade. Do you have the option for that? <br />Looking forward to seeing you this weekend!<br />BethBeth Stevenshttp://in-the-midst-of-miracles.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572070976923021388.post-58458998653308782392009-10-23T08:22:18.380-07:002009-10-23T08:22:18.380-07:00Hi Natalie,
Using a tape recorder is a great idea...Hi Natalie,<br /><br />Using a tape recorder is a great idea. For Gabriel, it is one that we haven't used as of yet, simply because his articulation is still really bad. Most people have a difficult time understanding him (aside from those around him regularly!). I am not sure he would understand himself when he listened back (not to mention it would take him, litterally, HOURS to scribe down a paragraph, let alone everything he could rattle off).<br /><br />His biggest challenge is actually getting anything on paper that is legible after he writes it. Even he can't read what he writes often, which makes him feel horrible.<br /><br />Right now, to be honest, I am going with he writes (primarily on his own) all day, and then when he gets home he is done. <br /><br />Any other ideas you have are WELCOMED and APPRECIATED!<br /><br />Thanks for reading Natalie,<br />HartleyHartleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02463016780946119637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572070976923021388.post-89035814533095442082009-10-23T08:10:05.237-07:002009-10-23T08:10:05.237-07:00Can Gabriel speak into a tape recorder and then sl...Can Gabriel speak into a tape recorder and then slowly, but surely copy the work himself that way his thoughs aren't slowed by his writing skills, but he still does the writing (or most of it) himself. He could even write part of it for practice and then someone else could scribe the rest of it for him. Just a thought. I've used this with kids in my previous classrooms before that were behind in handwriting or who simply had decreased stamina.<br />NatalieMamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09902613485399339619noreply@blogger.com