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pencils
Oct 7, 2004 22:42:18 GMT -5
Post by chaknine on Oct 7, 2004 22:42:18 GMT -5
B is in the 3rd grade and as I have said before she has terrible hand writing. The teacher is pushing the issue, I can see why, it is difficult to grade papers that you can not read. I have noticed B holds her pencil funny. She holds it clear up in the middle and her grip on it is not right. Any ideas for correcting this??? She can write some what neater if she tries, but says it is hard. She also writes very big. Any suggestions???
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Post by TerryB on Oct 8, 2004 5:54:20 GMT -5
I'm not an expert but I'm surprised that it is third grade and the school hasn't dealt with this earlier. When my daughter was in Preschool they told me to break all the crayons in half so that R would hold the crayon lower. You could probably do the same with pencils. Terry
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Post by Mayleng on Oct 8, 2004 6:15:56 GMT -5
There's a small rubber grip that you can put on the pencil which will force her to hold in the right way. You can find it in most stationery store.
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Post by Dakotah on Oct 8, 2004 7:30:42 GMT -5
Chaknine- TerryB and Mayleng's advice is the best you'll get. Breaking the pencil in half forces B to hold it correctly. If it doesn't work make it a litte smaller. Also the grips work well. My son has done okay with them but he has learned how to use the grip with bad form now . Also your child's teacher should give you suggestions and if she doesn't, call the school OT for a few quick pointers. Does B get OT? Sorry I can't remember. If she is getting OT I am offering you info you prbably don't need. It actually might be a strength thing in her hands. I had students that held the pencil incorrectly but still had great penmenship. I know adults as well. She may need to start building hand strength. Playdough, hand pumps, silly putty, clothes pins, squeezing squishy balls and hand exercises. Good luck!
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Post by chaknine on Oct 8, 2004 7:42:48 GMT -5
We just switched over to a private school this year so no OT!! But the school is great, and are working with us! I will look for the grips and sharpen all of her pencils down short. The reason we switched to the private school was because B's classes were so large, things like this were getting over looked! She has several issues that should of been dealt with, but the teachers are at full capacity and just do not have time. B just kind of got lost in the shuffle.
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Post by Dakotah on Oct 8, 2004 7:51:41 GMT -5
B should still have public school rights. Did she have an IEP at her old school? OT is a secondary qualification so she would already need to be identified to receive that service. If you are interested in the strength issue you can still call the public school OT. Blah blah blah... sorry I tend to go on and on and on... Have you thought about private OT?
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Post by willoweezie on Oct 8, 2004 8:11:30 GMT -5
One of the things S works on in OT is writing with a "wiggle writer" its a pen that buzzes around and makes little circles when they write. She has alot of fun with it, so it makes her want to write I found one at the grocery store last nite, unfortunately it quit working after about 20 minutes (and cost $5!) I'm going to take it back and exchange it tonight. It's fat in the middle where the battery goes in so there's no way to hold it but at the bottom. I think the buzzing of the pen is also for the sensory stimulation as well, in terms of using it as a tool for OT. Whatever it is, she likes using it so she's writing, which is a good thing
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Post by eaccae on Oct 8, 2004 8:16:11 GMT -5
Well even in public school the OT wouldn't work with DS (and he is dygraphic). But she did give us some good advice. We tried the grips. The best thing that we found to work were the disposable mechanical pencils. Bic makes some that have some spongy grips at the bottom and they come in different bright colors. I don't know why - but there is a huge difference in the way DS writes with the mechanical pencil vs. the regular pencil. I don't know if it is partially because he doesn't have to press down as hard with the mechanical - or if the built in grip forces him to hold it on the correct spot of the pencil?
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Post by Dakotah on Oct 8, 2004 8:47:39 GMT -5
eaccae- does your ds have an IEP? What exactly is dygraphic?
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Post by LurkNoMore on Oct 8, 2004 9:41:27 GMT -5
C can write neatly when he wants to (and when he is held accountable for it) but he does hold the pencil incorrectly. A few years ago, when we at his end of the year IEP meeting, the OT was talking about his handwriting and his "wrong grip" and then happened to look at me (I was signing the attendance sheet at the time)...and made a big "commotion" about the fact that I don't hold the pencil correctly either (this was the OT from He** that I never liked anyway)...she commented that he holds it like I do. Well, my handwriting is very neat and legible and when I was a student, I could never hold the pen or pencil the "right way"...it never felt right to me...so, obviously this is another battle I am chosing not to fight (but I do make him do his work over if it is messy). I also noticed the other night, my non-ADD daughter holds the pencil the same way we do and her handwriting is also very neat!
Just my 2 cents...
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pencils
Oct 8, 2004 13:23:13 GMT -5
Post by chaknine on Oct 8, 2004 13:23:13 GMT -5
No she never had an IEP at public school. I am going to try short pencils, with a grip. If that does not work I will pick up some of the bic mechanical pencils. IT is just one thing after another!!
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pencils
Oct 8, 2004 13:28:55 GMT -5
Post by d on Oct 8, 2004 13:28:55 GMT -5
Shelli - for some reason my dd did better with mechanical pencils too. Her writing stunk - it was difficult for her through 3rd grade. We turned a corner by 5th - it came out easier. She was previously expressive writing LD and her handwriting has always been fairly messy - she'll never get the penmanship award. But it is flowing out of her now - she can write faster and neater (with brilliant ideas expressed beautifully .
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pencils
Oct 8, 2004 14:11:34 GMT -5
Post by eaccae on Oct 8, 2004 14:11:34 GMT -5
From dyslexia-ca.org: Dysgraphia is a neurological processing problem that is different from adhd poor handwriting due to focusing, etc. It does NOT have to be a visio/spacial problem or a poor motor skills problem. DS is actually above average in both. Often signs of dysgraphia are illegible writing, poor spelling in written work - yet able to ace spelling tests, poor expression through the written word yet excellent/advanced verbal skills, continuous complaints of pain or cramping with the physical aspect of writing, improper spacing, difficulting staying on the line. . . DH has dysgraphia as well. He can barely write and it is still painful for him as an adult! Yet he can draw things beautifully - without pain. He works with his hands in great detail - he doesn't have any motor skills problems what so ever and like DS he is incredible with visio/spacial things. He went to school and majored in fine arts. His drawing is unbelievable. It only affects handwriting (and numbers). Although DS has a diagnosis of dysgraphia, the OT said she couldn't help him. Instead they wanted me to hire someone twice a week at $60 a session to tutor him. I had to pick my battles. After 4 years of requesting a 504 or IEP and being rejected we finally have a 504. It seems the school realized that with the state testing this year - DS would do very well if given extra time. But a 504 needed to be put in place immediately as the tests were in September. I sat through meeting after meeting of feet dragging school politics for 4 years and in one meeting two weeks after the start of school the 504 was done and in place!!! I don't care what the reasons are - I am just happy we finally have one! Anyway - he has in his 504 - extra time for state testing, extra time on math tests, extra time on written assignments on an as needed basis, the use of HWT paper whenever he feels more comfortable using it . . . - in the future it will say that written work cannot be graded on spelling (he aces all of his spelling tests and if you quiz him verbally he will spell everything correctly - but in his writing it is a different story . . . ) DysgraphiaWhat is Dysgraphia?Dysgraphia: Learning Disabilities in WritingStrategies for Dealing with Dysgraphia
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pencils
Oct 9, 2004 15:47:50 GMT -5
Post by chaknine on Oct 9, 2004 15:47:50 GMT -5
I got a short fat mechanical pencil with large stick lead in it, made a huge difference!!! She just wrote her pen pal and you could actually read it!! gr*upP*rty
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pencils
Oct 9, 2004 17:48:05 GMT -5
Post by TerryB on Oct 9, 2004 17:48:05 GMT -5
That was fast!
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pencils
Oct 9, 2004 20:10:31 GMT -5
Post by chaknine on Oct 9, 2004 20:10:31 GMT -5
I know it was fast!! It is the first fast thing we have done in years!! Something finally worked on the first try!! Woo Hoo!! w*ve
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pencils
Oct 11, 2004 15:09:10 GMT -5
Post by Dakotah on Oct 11, 2004 15:09:10 GMT -5
Thanks eaccae for the definition! h*ppy Great news chaknine! h*ppy
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pencils
Oct 17, 2004 20:00:54 GMT -5
Post by dmom32002 on Oct 17, 2004 20:00:54 GMT -5
Hi I have one other suggestion for handwriting it was what the OT did for Derrrick.
They used the handwriting without tears program and I know some homeschoolers that use it at home. It has special paper for both manuscript and cursive.
I really love to see the difference now.
donna
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pencils
Oct 17, 2004 22:55:23 GMT -5
Post by chaknine on Oct 17, 2004 22:55:23 GMT -5
Donna you are so good!! We have the Hand Writing With Out Tears, but have not been able to use it due to B, broke her finger!! But we can not wait to get started! Thanks!
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pencils
Oct 17, 2004 23:32:54 GMT -5
Post by dmom32002 on Oct 17, 2004 23:32:54 GMT -5
shelli
You are so good for my ego. Thanks I just enjoy helping people. I really feel at home wereever I go.
donna
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