23.3.22 Dysgraphia

What is Dysgraphia?

This week, I wanted to write a little about dysgraphia, which is characterized by writing difficulties and can occur on its own or alongside another learning difficulty such as dyslexia.

So what does dygraphia mean? Dysgraphia is a Greek word. The prefix dys indicates that there is a difficulty and graph refers to producing letter forms by hand. Therefore, dysgraphia is the difficulty of letter writing by hand, which can affect learning to spell words in writing and the speed of writing text. Children with dysgraphia may have only handwriting difficulties , only spelling difficulties (without reading problems), or both handwriting and spelling difficulties.

• SIGNS OF DYSGRAPHIA MAY INCLUDE:
• Difficulty with formation of letters
• Illegible or inconsistent writing
• Mix of cursive and print
• Mix of upper and lower case
• Inappropriate sizing and spacing of letters
• Slow or laboured writing
• Unusual body or hand position when writing
• Difficulty writing in a straight line
• Skipping letters in words or omitting words altogether
• Cramps or pain in the fingers, wrist or palms whilst writing
• Many children with dysgraphia also have low self esteem relating to their writing difficulty
• Frustrations, stress and anxiety could manifest in poor academic performance or inappropriate behaviour

Dysgraphia makes writing, spelling and forming words challenging because it affects an individual’s handwriting ability and their fine motor skills. This disorder is usually noticeable as soon as a child starts to write. It can be hard for a student with dysgraphia to understand how lines and curves combine to form letters and therefore they may struggle to copy the formation of a letter in order to display phoneme/grapheme correspondence. The extra effort of concentrating on their writing will make a learner tire very quickly.

https://youtu.be/WMfl5kqSWmk

HOW TO HELP THE DYSGRAPHIC LEARNER WITH WRITING

• Practise gross and fine motor skills regularly
• Ensure the child is sitting with feet flat on the floor to create stability
• Remind them to use their non writing hand to stablise the page whilst they write
• Demonstrate how to hold the pencil correctly (see pinch and flip trick in video below) or give student a pencil grip to use if they find that helpful
• Consider using a writing slope
• Limit the amount of writing expected
• Use visual prompts to help reduce their cognitive load
• Use a handwriting programme such as Write From The Start (these booklets guide children through the various stages of perceptual and fine motor development)

• ALTERNATIVES FOR THE DYSGRAPHIC LEARNER INSTEAD OF HANDWRITING

• Pair dysgraphic learners up with a note-taking buddy.
• Encourage student to use computer to type up work (learning touch typing will make typing up work quicker and easier)
• Use speech to text software
• Create oral assessment opportunities so students can demonstrate their knowledge without having to write
• Use mindmaps

Free Spelling Practice for Year 5/6 Spelling Frame

Spelling Frame have announced that all year 5/6 spelling lists will be free to use for additional practice until SATS. Go onto http://www.spellingframe.co.uk.

We are now coming towards the end of March and I don’t know about you, but I am looking forward to the lighter evenings after the clocks go forward an hour in the UK this weekend (on Mothering Sunday). FIngers crossed the nice sunny weather continues. I hope everyone manages to have a healthy, happy week. PJ 🙂