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mooreboyz
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| Posted: Nov 14 2008 at 3:05am | IP Logged
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My 9 and 7 year old have pretty awful penmanship. I have been patient this far knowing that a lot of children, esp. boys, have trouble for a while. My oldest had issues until he was 10 and then, magically, his writing was great.
I know one problem is that they start many of their letters and numbers from the bottom despite that I taught them the right way and have corrected them. They have real difficulty writing small as well. When my 9 year old really tries, I have them do a paragraph of copywork each day, it isn't too bad. When he is just writing, like in workbooks or for fun...it is illegible. I've tried writing w/o tears, copywork daily, and even Dad (!). They just really don't seem capable of writing well. My 9 year old is esp. sensitive about this. When he was younger he was very into art, but I can tell that over the last few years he has lost interest because he can't draw as nicely as he wants too. Sadly, he has come to avoid the artwork he always loved. So, I think there is some physical problem going on.
A couple days ago it came to a front as Dad compared their writing to a cousin's (who is public schooled). His solution is that maybe ps could teach them to write well. I feel awful. Have I failed them?
Does anyone have any helpful ideas? I just don't know how to help them anymore.
Thank you
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Jackie
7 boys - 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 15, 17 years
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Nov 14 2008 at 9:25am | IP Logged
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Jackie - I empathize. My oldest dd tries so hard to have pretty penmanship. She hates her handwriting. The metal insets have helped her some and she can write nicely if she's really, really taking her time, but just ordinary every day writing is very sloppy and hard to read.
We just all decided to quit stressing about it. It is what it is at this point.
So....I put all of her writing assignments on a blog. She has her own private blog for her narrations, for her Lingua Mater, for her stories. She loves the format and it has removed all the frustration from the writing process for her and just lets her get down to the business of writing. I leave my editing comments in her comment section and she corrects from there. I thought we were light years behind the curve in writing because of the years of frustration and angst over cranking it out, but it turns out just to be that the handwriting was the source of the problem. Just turning writing over to the keyboard has allowed me to see that she has a real aptitude for the writing process and a lovely imagination.
It's a thought anyway.
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19 , ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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mooreboyz
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| Posted: Nov 14 2008 at 11:17am | IP Logged
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Thank you, Jennifer, for your message. I did let them use the word processor for their last report. They love typing. I just wasn't sure if I should make it a habit.
I'm thinking about working some finger strength work with them like I do with the 4 yr old...I didn't know of this when they were little. Any ideas about this?
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Jackie
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Nov 14 2008 at 11:39am | IP Logged
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That's exactly why I used the metal insets - for remediation. It helped her tremendously, and I really need to get them out again, represent them and encourage more work with them. They've been put away for a time now.
I was skeptical of being able to remediate in handwriting, but it did work! So, I would encourage any finger strengthening you feel might be helpful. Something we enjoy and that has been helpful in building finger strength here is using beeswax and working it with the fingers. My boys especially love it - keeps the hands busy and builds some finger strength. You might look into it if you don't already do that - you probably do though. 
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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mooreboyz
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| Posted: Nov 14 2008 at 3:47pm | IP Logged
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I was actually thinking about getting some beeswax for this purpose after reading a waldorf book. Sounds like the warmth of it helps settle children as well and that it is easier to work than clay. I've never used it before. I'm going to check our little craft store this weekend for it and also some beeswax colors...sounds like they're great for little ones.
Have you done any of the "form drawing" talked about in Waldorf? I'm thinking this may be helpful as well, but I'll need to research for some lesson plans. I'm also thinking about writing the letters in the air together...then maybe using a paintbrush on an easel to write letters... just trying some things totally separate from pen and paper will take the gloom away.
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Jackie
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We found it a little challenging at first. I mean I pulled the lovely beeswax rectangle out of the box, it smelled so nice and I gave it a squeeze and...nothing.
It is really quite hard and unyielding at first. With some time and hand warmth though it does become quite pliable. There are so many lessons and benefits in one rectangle of beeswax - patience, fortitude, hand strength, allowing a tactile young man to sit and focus on something because his hands are busy, as well as the obvious - sculpting. We actually much prefer beeswax to sculpey because once pliable it is quite easy to work with, but it holds its shape after it cools - no need to bake. I wish I could show you the absolutely adorable piggy my dd sculpted out of a lovely pale pink beeswax - completely with curly-q tail! Anyway, love the beeswax. I prefer Stockmar to Artemis but those are the only two brands I've tried.
We'd like to do some form drawing lessons. I have a couple of books on the subject as well as a book on Watercolor painting. I really would like to incorporate these into our fine arts fridays. I've looked at the books, but not with an eye to "how will this work in my home" - kwim? I have given myself the generous goal of looking at them and deciding on some plans for when we return to lessons after Christmas break. I'm really looking forward to some form of implementation, but I never thought of them as helping with handwriting - you're right though. That may be a very worthwhile side benefit!
I've done the paintbrush and cornflour and air writing of letters to death. It's great for emerging readers just to get the hang of the mechanics of writing the letter - but it doesn't really do anything for the poor penmanship - least not that I can tell. It would be helpful for the younger boys I think though - and you're right it removes the writing from the paper which is always more enticing. 'Cause who wouldn't want to trace letter A in the cornflour with a big paintbrush?
Hey, let me know if you pursue form drawing - I'd love to compare notes!
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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mooreboyz
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I'll keep you updated on the form drawing. I feel my plate's pretty full right now with the work we're doing, little guys who need extra attention, and approaching holidays. I too am putting off more planning for christmas break (funny to write the word break as I say that I'm planning work for it, but I do enjoy it:)). I want to find some things to do now though to help with their handwriting. Although, I do feel it may just take letting go...like so many things do.
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Jackie
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4Real Forums : Language Arts Come Alive
Topic: Penmanship issues Help!
