My homeschooled daughter is struggling in her handwriting.?

Question

She draws beautiful horses, but yet cannot keep her spacing apart, etc. Any suggestions?

One thing I'm considering is Handwriting Without Tears. I'm not familiar with it, but I've read it alot online. How do I pick the proper level? She's going in to fifth grade, which seriously concerns me, not being able to write. Thanks!

Answer 1

The first thing you need to determine is if this poor handwriting is your daughter's "fault"... like is it a laziness issue or a learning challenge.  My daughter (in grade 5 before we pulled her out of the public school system) was told by her teachers that she was lazy, disorganized, or maybe even just rebellious!!!  Turns out she had a learning challenge called "dysgraphia"... so even though she could read no problem, communicate no problem... she was literally stuck when it came to putting her thoughts down on paper because of the very real physical limitations she had when it came to handwriting.  Once we determined what the problem was, we could address it properly... which meant SLOWING DOWN (big issue!), use of computer for the bulk of her writing (BIG help) and focusing on penmanship as an "art" type thing... we bought HWT... and got lots of tears.. and frustration that the writing was "so ugly, why do I have to learn that?!?!"... instead we are starting the "Spencerian Penmanship" course... which is more caligraphic... and we are treating it as an "elective" type course... to "play with pretty writing"... kinda.  Oh, maybe even get a dipping pen that helps her slow down... only don't do that on her best work... make it something to enjoy.

I think for us, to get to the heart of what my daughter REALLY knew, the best tool was the computer... in this day and age, computer competence is dramatically more important than nice penmanship, since probably the most writing the average businessman does is take his own personal notes at meetings, and sign papers... other than that (and even sometimes the notes) most of what is done is typed.  I would recommend the Mavis Beacon Typing Tutor program and let your daughter learn to type fast and well... and her creativitiy will flow... really!

Good luck, it's not easy being different... but just remind her that she's fearfully and wonderfully made.. and you don't love her for her penmanship, you love her for being your daughter.  Right?

Blessings!

Answer 2

Here is something that might help you.

http://homeworktips.about.com/od/homewor...

This might help your daughter also.

http://www.paperpenalia.com/handwriting....

Hope I helped, good luck!

Answer 3

For spacing haver her put two fingers in between each word! This is what my kids did and now and amazing spacers!

Answer 4

My son is struggling with handwriting also, it makes it more of a challange because he is also a lefty.  We attended a homeschool expo a month ago.  The lady at the Handwriting Without Tears cerntainly convince us .....our lefty even tried it out and did not want to stop.......and he really hates writing lol.  HWT is a winner for us.

Hope this helps!!

Answer 5

Give her a penny and tell her to put the penny in between words and give a penny space each time.

Answer 6

Is your child left handed? My kids are and have the same basic problem. They really can't see how far apart the words are until they are written and they lift their hand. I really don't push it to much with my kids as there are far more important things to worry about than handwriting for us. My oldest is in 4th grade and I can say that since she has started using  "A Reason For Handwriting" that her writing has improved. I have not use Handwriting Without Tears at this level yet. We are using it for my 6 yo and he enjoys it but I haven't seen much of an improvement beyond he can write the letters but we are just starting 1st grade!

Answer 7

If it's that bad, I'd start at the beginning.  Seriously.  Or maybe the first or second grrade level,  Not above that. HWT is supposed to be "the" thing, recommended by occupational therapists, and all that.  Try the kind of rubber pencil grippers that are really thick at the top and thinner at the bottom where the fingers grip, kind of like putting a ball in the palm to guide the pencil.  I don't know what it's called, but it's a really big thing.  Not at all like those silly triangle things, and way bigger than the ones called Stetro that look like a wad of gum with finger grooves.  I've seen them at the teacher store, for like $1.39 or something.  Or, you could try those triangular shaped pencils.

Good luck!

Answer 8

My Daughter also had writing struggles.  We were able to follow the tests for home evaluation (1) and determined that she had a visual "block"

We followed a prescribed home exercise and her writing has dramatically improved!  It is called Writing 8's and it is easily done at almost no cost.

Please read the links below to see if they will help you too.

If you do have a struggling learner, more writing will be harder on her, not make the problem easier.  The block has to be removed before repetition will work.

Blessings!

:0)

Answer 9

I think it is important to have good handwriting but I wouldn't waste money on a program. Teach her to type, now a days everything is typed. If it truly concerns you, have a rule that if (pick one subject and only one) papers are sloppy she has to rewrite them. Also make sure she is double spacing everything, this really helps to make her writing a lot better. Also if she likes Art, try calligraphy to make it more fun.

Answer 10

we were made to write the cursive exercise books. made a helluva difference.

Answer 11

HWT is a great series; my 10yo son really enjoys it.  (OK, he doesn't beg to do it or anything, but it really is "without tears".)  :)

It's helped his handwriting a lot, and after a semester of it he's chosen to do BJU Handwriting.  It's fun, colorful, and has "extras" like teaching calligraphy (6th grade).

Answer 12

A simple movie " Anyone Can Improve Their Handwriting " by Jason Alster is with Amazon.com.

Check it out.

Answer 13

it is sort of a tradition in our school and country that we be trained to write legibly.. parents and teachers were very harsh bout this matter but it paid off.. start with giving her a writing notebook and tell her to properly write her full name over and over again.. once she fills the page,check and lightly correct her bout the mistakes she committed.. we went through years or proper writing and tons of notebooks and papers