Dysgraphia – Page 2

Dysgraphia - Page 2

• Dysgraphia - Improve Your Handwriting

  There are over 25 muscles in the hands and fingers so you can see why it is essential to have strong muscles as this leads to good handwriting and drawing.

  You will find a lot of helpful information and excellent aids and equipment to help people with dysgraphia and handwriting issues below.

  There are so many ways you help a student with dysgraphia/handwriting problems.  If you know the tools available to you, you will be able to help them very quickly.  The problem is many people do not understand how they should write correctly.  The ideas below should help tremendously with handwriting.

  These are all tried and tested techniques, why not give them a go?

  How to Hold a Pencil – The Tripod Grip

  The ‘Tripod Grip’, is used internationally and one of the easiest ways to hold a pencil as you have a full movement for writing and drawing. Furthermore, this grip can also be used by right and left-handed people.

  I am sure we have all seen some weird and wonderful positions with children holding pencils, but if you use this simple one, it will work wonders!

  Pencil Grips

  If you use a ‘pencil grip’, you cannot fail to hold a pencil correctly. Students of any age can use them; some are plain, others are more decorative, like an ‘owl’, ‘dinosaur’ etc.

  One of my grand-children who has a problem with hand-writing is just seven and has only recently been given a ‘pencil grip’ to help him with his handwriting. Guess what? The ‘pencil grip’ keeps ‘disappearing’ or gets ‘broken’! I think it is ridiculous to expect a child of that age, to start using something that the majority of his classmates are not. It makes them stand out, and he is embarrassed.

  Why not get them all to use pencil grips when they start school, that would probably sort out a lot of minor problems at the start?

  Size of Pencil

  Is the student using the correct size pen or pencil? If they are very young, cut a pencil in half – this will save money as well.

  Paper

  Place your forearms on the desk. If you are right-handed, they should place their left hand on the paper to hold it still. The paper should be turned slightly to the left.

  Writing Slope 

  Writing slopes – These come in different materials, and they enable students to write at the recommended angle of 20 degrees. These sturdy slopes usually have a rubber grip to prevent slipping.

  Sitting in the Correct Position

  Many people wouldn’t even think about a ‘correct sitting position’ for handwriting. But this is important; the chair should have a straight back and be the correct height so both feet can be placed on the floor.

  Wedge Posture Aid

  Helps balance, encourages proper sitting and correct posture while aiding concentration.

  There are small bumps on the top and underneath it is smooth; this appears to provide sensory feedback, helping children to remain focused for longer. It is particularly beneficial for those with poor body awareness and low muscle tone.

  All the items mentioned above can be found in the Dysgraphia Aids and Equipment Section.

• Educational Games for Kids with Dysgraphia

  Educational Games

  I believe playing games is the best way for children to learn.  If you or your child has dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, dyspraxia, ADHD or other Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD’s), when you play certain games it can increase their ability to achieve in literacy and numeracy skills.

  That’s why I am a great believer in getting students to learn through play. When they are playing educational games, they improve core skills, like fine motor skills or gross motor skills. All these games and exercises mentioned below help to advance ‘fine motor skills’ and ‘gross motor skills’.  These skills are vital for literacy, i.e. handwriting, numeracy, i.e. multiplication tables, time, tempo, spatial awareness.

  Click the link for a complete list of educational games.

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• Dysgraphia Aids & Equipment

  If you use a ‘pencil grip’, you cannot fail to hold a pencil correctly. Students of any age can use them; some are plain, others are more decorative, like an ‘owl’, ‘dinosaur’ etc.

  The rest of the products listed can also improve handwriting quite quickly:

  Pen & Pencils

  1 Pen & Pencil Grips
  2 ‘Move Easy’ Handwriting Pens & Pencils
  3 Short Pocket Half Size Pencils
  4 Triangle Pencils

  Specialist Paper & Boards

  5 Tinted Lined Handwriting Paper &
  6 Tinted Lined Handwriting Exercise Books
  7 Abilitations Hi-Write Ruled Notebook – (Tinted)
  8 Raised Lined Handwriting Paper

  Free – Handwriting Practice Worksheets

  9  Handwriting Practice
  10 Kidzone Handwriting Worksheets
  11  Handwriting Worksheets

  Other Aids

  12 ‘Handwriting Transparent One Finger Spacer’
  13 Large Magnetic Gel Boards
  14 A4 Size Whiteboard (with the cursive alphabet on)
  15 Writing Slope
  16 Sit-on Wedge Posture Aid

  Handwriting Apps

  17  Snap Type

   

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  Pen & Pencils

  Pen & Pencil Grips
  These are really excellent. If you have a child with a handwriting problem, this would be the first item I would buy! Available from several outlets.
  The Dyslexia Shop or Crossbow Education

  Move Easy Pencil/Pens
  These pens and pencils have a moulded grip and are very easy to use (but I think you still need to know how to hold the pencil first).
  TTS-Group

  Short Pocket Half Size Pencils
  Depending on the age of the child, it may be better to use ‘half size’ pencils. You could save money and get a standard pencil and cut it half!
  Amazon

  Triangle Pencils
  This does to a certain point keep the fingers in the correct position, but I personally don’t think they are that easy to use.
  The Dyslexia Shop or Crossbow Education

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  Specialist Paper & Boards

  Special lined paper can help children write more fluently by improving fine motor control, legibility, spatial awareness and quality of written work.

  Highlighted lower-line space for lowercase letter placement and differentiation between upper and lower case letters helps children to remember where each letter of the alphabet should go.  It is usually quite an inexpensive way of helping them to improve the quality of their handwriting.

  Handwriting Without Tears
  This is a classic and is excellent, but it is a programme, not just writing paper and can, therefore, work out a little more expensive.

  Tinted Handwriting & Exercise Books
  Paper with lines already spaced out on it, which makes it easier when children are practising handwriting. Different colours are available.
  TTS-Group

  Abilitations Hi-Write Wide Ruled Notebook – (Tinted)
  The paper has a highlighted lower line that serves as a visual cue for lowercase letter placement and differentiation between upper- and lowercase letters.  There are some excellent reviews of this product.
  Amazon

  Raised Lined Handwriting Paper
  Designed to be used by individuals who have difficulty staying in the line of standard writing paper. Some people say this is excellent. I haven’t used it yet, but I would have thought if you were trying to write fluently, you would find when you pushed the pencil up, it would just get stuck. I will have to buy some and try it. If anyone has tried this with their child can you let me know, please?
  TTS-Group

  The National Federation of the Blind
  This charity has a paper with slightly raised lines, which helps with handwriting and also learning about ‘spatial awareness’.
  RNFB

  Dirt Grass Sky Paper
  This is not something that I would normally recommend but I feel it is quite a unique way of helping children to learn.  There are a lot of people on the Facebook pages which think it is excellent, which is why I have included it.

  It uses an unusual way of getting children to remember which letters go where, i.e., tall letters go up to the ‘sky’ line, while letters that go below the line are written on the ‘worm’ line.

  Designed in Australia and it appears to be loved by their teachers and occupational therapists.  It is not very expensive so I think it is probably worth a try.
  Sprout Learning 

  Handwriting Practice Worksheets – FREE

  There aren’t many things that are free in life, but the following handwriting practice worksheets are free, and they all look pretty good.

  Handwriting Practice
  Beautiful worksheets in print.
  Handwriting Practice

  Kidzone
  Make individualized handwriting worksheets, in cursive.
  Kidzone

  Handwriting Worksheets
  Make beautiful cursive worksheets
  Handwriting Worksheets

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  Other Useful Aids for Handwriting

  Handwriting Transparent One Finger Spacer
  Helps children learn how to space letters and words. You can save money by using lollipop sticks!
  TTS Group

  Large Magnetic Gel Boards
  Write on the board using a stylus and just swipe your hand across to erase. I used this a couple of months ago and must admit I was very impressed with it. Children will definitely love it.
  TTS Group

  A4 Size Whiteboard (with the cursive alphabet on)
  This features the National Literacy Strategy (NLS) for the UK, approved cursive alphabet formed on the whiteboard.
  The Dyslexia Shop or Crossbow Education

  Writing Slope
  This keeps the paper at the optimum angle for handwriting. It enables students to write at the recommended angle of degrees. These sturdy slopes usually have a rubber grip to prevent slipping. Anyone remember the old school desks, they were slightly higher at the back than the front. (They must have known about these things then!)
  The Dyslexia Shop or Crossbow Education

  Sit-on Wedge Posture Aid
  Helps balance, encourages proper sitting and correct posture while aiding concentration. There are small bumps on the top and underneath it is smooth; this appears to provide sensory feedback, helping children to remain focused for longer. It is particularly beneficial for those with poor body awareness and low muscle tone.
  TTS Group

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  Handwriting Apps

  Snap Type App
  This is a simple way to complete any worksheet on your iPad or computer. Just take a photo of your school homework and fill it in, with a stylus or by typing. Some teachers allow students to email the finished article to them, for marking.

  This handwriting app is an excellent tool which helps students keep up with their peers; even when their handwriting holds them back.
  SnapType

  This section (Apps) has only just been added and will be completed shortly.  Please accept my apologies for any inconvenience.

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• Why Write When you Can Type?

  This section has just been added and will be completed shortly.

  Please accept my apologies for any inconvenience caused.

• Dysgraphia Software to help with Handwriting

  This section has only just been added and will be completed shortly.

  Please accept my apologies for any inconvenience caused.

• Dysgraphia - Help, Advice & Support

  Dysgraphia – Help, Advice & Support

  This section has only just been added and will be completed shortly.