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06.02.08, 19:42 PM General Topics
30 replies
do schools make a big effort to get dcs to write properly/neatly? I think my dd is going to really struggle with this, and I'm wondering whether I should try to help her with it or wait to see how she does with school. [ Reply | Watch | Flag ]
General Topics 06.02.08, 07:42 PM Flag
 

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how old? may just need some time for her fine motor skills to mature. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 07:43 PM Flag
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oh, she's only 5. But I see how totally not interested she is in learning to write properly. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 07:46 PM Flag
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lol. she's 5. what do you expect? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 07:47 PM Flag
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how about other fine motor? stringing beads, coloring, mazes, etc...? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 07:48 PM Flag
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she's ok with some of that stuff -- ie, the stuff she's interested in (so, stringing beads, yes, but coloring, no, no interest) [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 07:57 PM Flag
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that can change. my son had zero interest in writing at all when he entered K adn within a month ws lovign it and his skills really improved as well. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.03.08, 06:54 AM Flag
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how old? when she really wants to, can she write neatly? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 07:44 PM Flag
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they may refer her to OT. how old? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 07:45 PM Flag
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oy...so you pay $32K per year for private school to get more individual attention, and then need to pay an OT to practice writing letters with your 5 yo? this is beyond ridiculous. the nuns handled it very well in my catholic school growing up. many hours of rote practicing writing letters. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 07:50 PM Flag
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welcome to the bizarre world of nyc pvt schools. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 07:52 PM Flag
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np: that's what i don't get. if these schools are such great educational institutions, why can't they teach? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 07:54 PM Flag
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whoa. hold on there. if she gets an IEP for a fine motor delay, the BoE will cover her OT. And while I agree the nuns had it right that practice makes perfect, some kids really do have a delay (my ds certainly does). So, maybe entice her to practice more, and if she has a weak grasp, work on strengthening stuff like squeezing clothespins, stringing beads, etc... [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 07:53 PM Flag
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well, I can still barely hold a pencil, but i have to say I had plenty of help and practice. at least I know how the letters are supposed to be written and look, even if I still don't do it so well. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 07:57 PM Flag
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OP: thanks, that's a good idea. BTW, she's in public, not private. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 07:58 PM Flag
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What do you mean by properly? Like spelling, or letter formation, or just neatness? I think it largely depends on the school. We anticipated issues w/ dc and worked on it at home with her over the summer before K began. In retrospect I'm convinced it was the right decision and we avoided a lot of future stress. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 07:46 PM Flag
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letter formation and neatness is what I'm currently wondering about (she doesn't really spell much yet) [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 08:00 PM Flag
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I think it largely depends on the school. But if letter formation is an issue I wouldn't wait. The earlier you establish the correct motor patterns the better. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 08:05 PM Flag
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most schools -- at least publics -- teach this in k. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.03.08, 07:41 AM Flag
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In my experience they don't teach it well. As long as the dc's letters look OK teachers may not notice if dc is forming them incorrectly, which can lead to bigger problems. In a class with 25+ dc it's especially likely to be overlooked. We had this issue w/ dd. She had gotten into the habit from early on of drawing circles and then writing the letter O starting at the bottom of the circle and going clockwise around. But you're supposed to do it starting at the top of the circle, going counter-clockwise around. The teachers never noticed she was doing this or tried to nip it in the bud and it was preventing her from writing fluidly. We finally addressed the issue on our own using the Handwriting Without Tears books and lots of exercises at home. The school let the problem go on for the entire K year. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.03.08, 08:33 AM Flag
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^ at home. What burned me up was supposedly dc's school was using Hardwriting Without Tears, but they obviously weren't implementing it correctly. And I know we weren't the only ones in the class tutoring dc at home during the summer before 1st grade. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.03.08, 08:39 AM Flag
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perhaps you had bad luck with your dd's teacher. our dd's school uses the handwriting without tears program to teach proper letter formation starting in k -- proper letter writing skills are really emphasized. my dd's handwriting is better than mine! (she's in first grade now.) [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.03.08, 08:41 AM Flag
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There's a good program called Handwriting without Tears you may want to look at. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 07:50 PM Flag
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thanks will check into that [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 08:00 PM Flag
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for a 5 year old! give me a break (actually, give this poor child a break). [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.03.08, 06:33 AM Flag
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yes, for a 5 yo. op's kid is in public, which means her kid is in kindergarten. my dc's school teaches proper letter formation in k using handwriting without tears, as do a lot of other publics, i think. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.03.08, 07:42 AM Flag
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Your child is way to young for you to be thinking about this. if this is still an issue in 2nd grade, then come back. But chances are it will change on its own or the teachers will handle it. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.03.08, 06:32 AM Flag
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disagree. have you seen the writing done by kindergarteners and first graders in public school? at least at my dc's school, writing is a huge part of the curriculum -- but the kids need to know HOW to write letters (and about basic grammar, which is taught too) before they can write stories, poems, and the like. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.03.08, 07:45 AM Flag
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yes but they don't expect 5 year olds to come into K with perfect handwriting. They write a lot in K and that is when they work on it -- at school, with a teacher. Let the kid have fun at home, not spend her time "working" and thinking she is dumb and behind her friends. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.03.08, 08:54 AM Flag
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no, not entering k. and perfect hadnwriting is a stretch even for some adults! what i meant to say was that proper handwriting is taught in k -- even those kids who already can write well go through the program. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.03.08, 09:05 AM Flag
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dc's school uses a program called handwriting without tears to teach the kindergartners how to form their letters properly; they practice handwriting in school and via homework. so i would say, yes, there is an effort made. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.03.08, 07:39 AM Flag
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