Dysgraphia – Page 2

There are over 25 muscles in the hand and fingers, so you can see why it is essential to have strong muscles, leading 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 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’! It is ridiculous to expect a child of that age to start using something that most 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

This wedge posture aid helps balance, encourages proper sitting and correct posture while aiding concentration.

There are small bumps on the top of it.  Underneath it is smooth; this appears to provide sensory feedback, helping children remain focused 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

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 literacy and numeracy skills.

That’s why I am a great believer in getting students to learn through play. When they play 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 and numeracy, i.e. multiplication tables, time, tempo, and spatial awareness.

Click the link for a complete list of educational games.

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

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 child’s age, it may be better to use ‘half size’ pencils. You could save money and get a standard pencil and cut it in half!
Amazon

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

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 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 it would just get stuck when you pushed the pencil up. 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 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 learn.  Many people on the Facebook pages 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 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 free things 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

Other Useful Aids for Handwriting

Handwriting Transparent One Finger Spacer
It 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 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. Does 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
It helps balance, encourages proper sitting and correct posture while aiding concentration. Small bumps on the top and underneath it are smooth; this appears to provide sensory feedback, helping children remain focused longer. It is particularly beneficial for those with poor body awareness and low muscle tone.
TTS Group

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 that 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.

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

Please accept my apologies for any inconvenience caused.

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

Please accept my apologies for any inconvenience caused.