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Topic: Writing letters backwards

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Cheryl
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Posted: July 26 2006 at 3:15pm \| IP Logged

I just asked my ds 7.5 to write out all the uppercase and lowercase letters of the alphabet and the numbers 0-9 so I can see how many he knew. They were formed correctly except he wrote 10 uppercase letters backwards (G was even upside down.) He wrote 11 lowercase letters backwards and 4 numbers backwards.

For Kindergarten I used HWT and a little bit of copywork and he did OK. Then for First Grade we did nothing.

Do you think he just needs practice or could this be a sign that something's wrong?

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JennGM
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Posted: July 26 2006 at 3:19pm \| IP Logged

Cheryl,

When he looked over his work did he recognize them as backwards, or did you have to point it out?

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JennyMaine
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Posted: July 26 2006 at 4:04pm \| IP Logged

My dyslexic daughter really struggled with forming letters and numbers correctly. HWT is what saved her! I recommend you pull out the chalkboard with the smiley face and start working on reviewing the formation of the letters. We have used all the HWT workbooks that are available and I think it made a difference.

I say, don't panic. . .but definitely review!

Jen

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Karen T
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Posted: July 26 2006 at 4:06pm \| IP Logged

Cheryl wrote:

For Kindergarten I used HWT and a little bit of copywork and he did OK. Then for First Grade we did nothing.

Do you think he just needs practice or could this be a sign that something's wrong?

I think you answered your own question. He hasn't practiced this since kindergarten. was he doing any writing at all? I think handwriting is something that takes awhile to become automatic. Even if he is reading well, seeing the letters in print doesn't necessarily translate into being about to make them correctly. handwriting is more of an art and requires different pathways in the brain than reading the letters.

karen

ALmom
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Posted: July 26 2006 at 6:18pm \| IP Logged

It is pretty normal for this age to still reverse letters. The key is whether or not it improves with practice. Reversals can be a sign of vision problems or dyslexia. Vision problems should be ruled out before dyslexia.

What we noticed with ours where it was a vision problem more than just lack of practice was: The reversals were still there at 9 and 10, they didn't self-correct at all unless I pointed it out. At the same time, they might have it correctly formed on one line in the paper and incorrectly just a bit further down. Practice and attention to doing more writing actually made the problem worse, the child frustrated or at the very best, caused no change.

I wouldn't panic. I would plan to have a thourough eye exam (school entrance type thing) whenever you are due for one if it hasn't shown improvement - but select someone that works with developmental vision problems and research who is good and who isn't. We've had a developmental optometrist be the eye doctor for all our dc as this kind of problem runs in our family. I tend to be a bit more panicky about it since 5 of my 6 had vision problems. My optometrist has been very good to tell me when not to jump too early - ie there is some eye jerkiness at 3 - that is normal. I just bring him back in at 5 and we'll see. If they see something, you'll get an early start. If they don't, you've just had a very thourough eye exam. My experience is that working the eyes before 10 sure makes it easier on you and the child!

Janet

teachingmom
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Posted: July 27 2006 at 1:36pm \| IP Logged

I would review and have him practice daily for a few months. If he only reverses a few letters at that point, it may still be just developmental. If he still has problems with lots of them, I'd look into it further. (From a mom who has a child who reversed a number of letters through first grade and is fine now.)

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~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)

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