Writting letter backwards??

Question

My daughter is 7 and in the first grade, and she still writes her letters backwards 50 percent of the time. she gets terrible grade on her spelling test because of this. Her teacher ingnored it for a while and only tried to correct her but now she is having to count off.

Is this normal at this age???

Answer 1

My 7 year old first grader was reading fluently at 4 years old, and is an excellent speller, but still writes his "Z"s backwards more often than the right way.

Maybe you could work with your daughter on fixing one letter at a time, so it's not so overwhelming.  I don't think it's that abnormal at this age, but I do think the teacher is being kind of harsh for counting it wrong on a spelling test in first grade - your daughter is picking the right letter but just writing backwards, right?

Answer 2

My son was like that at that age. But by second grade the teacher thought it was a good idea to have him tested just to be sure. He didn't have dislexia, but the theripist suggested using lined paper and working on 1 letter upper and lower case a week.  4 letters a month at the end of the month check and see what he remembered. Make it fun, we even used frosting tubes and he could put the letters on top of cupcakes. Matching games work good too. I would draw out the letters and he would have to match them with the frig magnets. My son is almost 12 and doing good but he still's writes his b and d's backwards. When he reads what he writes he catchs his mistake.

Answer 3

what does her teacher say when you ask???  follow up with the pediatrician and school pyschologist if you are really concerned.

Answer 4

My son does that, but it's only 20% of the time. You  might sit down with her and help her practice, or maybe check her eyesight (My son is near-sighted) or even get her checked for dislexia. If you   find anything now, it'll be easier to correct than if you wait.

Answer 5

My daughter is the same age and in 1st grade as well. Yes this is normal my daughter still does it every once in awhile. I don't know why they do it but I have seen the work of students in my daughters class room and they all seem to do it more so than not.

I worked with my daughter and tried to improve her writing so we are finally past the backward letters stage for the most part. But she is still writing jumbo I have tried her to not write so big but one day she will the next she won't.

I been using Mead Grade 1 writing tablet and mead redispace transitional notebook paper.

Since I been making her use these to pratice her writing it seriously has improved.

Answer 6

I would say yes, this is normal. My son was having this same problem in the first grade. I asked his teacher if I should be concerned, and she said that I didn't need to start worrying about it until the second grade. And, he finally got it all right. He is now in the third grade, and he doesn't have a problem with it anymore. So, just talk with her teacher, and help her with it all you can. It will improve.

Answer 7

It is completely normal for children to write "backwards" at this age. In addition to letter and number reversals, some children will truly write in mirror image: going from right to left with all the letters reversed. There is nothing wrong with this. The brain does not completely form the concept of left and right until somewhere between ages five and eight. This means that almost all children will have persistent reversals when they first start writing.

If she asks if it is correct, you should point out the errors, but don't make a big deal of it. The more that children write, the easier it becomes for them. You don't want to limit your daughter's creativity by constantly pointing out what is wrong. When she learned to walk, you wouldn't have dreamed of telling her to stop because she couldn't do it properly, or of trying to correct her and give her lessons. Similarly, with writing, children should be free to practice and make multiple mistakes without corrections or limitations.

Answer 8

No for age 7 this is delayed.  Age 5 this is typical.  She should be getting services for occupational therapy.  Additional accommodations should be in place for her such as visual cue paper http://www.thetherapyshoppe.com  You can use highlighted, sky to the ground or raised line paper for visual cues.  Does she have difficulty with spacing and formation and size of letters?  Additional accommodations in place for my son are a slantboard, a weighted pencil and use of the grotto grip pencil grip.  Are they doing handwriting without tears program in the classroom?  She should not be penalized for a disability on her spelling tests.  My son takes them on the computer.

Answer 9

I work at an elementary school normal, whose to say who is normal! lol On average this is more seen with the Kindergarteners . However, just practice with her at home. She'll get it! I was just working with a group of kids yesterday who kept mixing up the lower case b and d.  (they were Kindergarteners  though) But they look so much the alike. I just  corrected them and encourage them to go on. Continue to encourage your child. She'll get it!  Perhaps have her trace letters at home. Best wishes!

Answer 10

my son did the same thing and he was diagnosed with dyslexia.  just ask her doctor.  every child is different.

Answer 11

Yes soo normal juzt hav her write the same word over and over on a full white sheet of paper she'll do fine itz juzt her age too my son did thiz sooo many times don't worry sooner or later she do great!