Tips for Reluctant Writers
Reluctant or messy writers can be misunderstood as lacking motivation or not putting forth their best work.
When we view behavior in children as communication, we can see that often something feels tricky for students who are struggling with writing.
There are three areas that can be soft spots when it comes to written expression. Let’s take a closer look at those areas and discover some techniques that may help your child to be more successful in each!
Fine Motor
Techniques to try:
Experiment with different pencil grips
Let your child try different writing tools (textured or thick pencils)
Work with clay or firm putty, wind-up toys, tweezers, stress ball to build finger muscles
Practice finger stretches (spider push ups, close and open fist, thumb touch)
Helper hand- non-dominant hand helps hold the paper in place
What you may notice in your child:
Awkward pencil grasp
Pressure is too strong or too light
Hand fatigues quickly
Letter forms are challenging
Visual Spatial
Techniques to try:
Mazes or dot-to-dots to practice awareness of line on paper
Spaghetti and meatballs (noodles between letters and a meatball between words)
Highlight lines/areas on the paper
Experiment with paper: graph paper, raised line paper, wide ruled paper
90,90,90 Rule: Child seated with ankles, knees and hips at 90 degrees
What you may notice in your child:
Letter and word spacing is not consistent
Words float or fall off line
Difficulty recognizing letters, numbers, shapes
Language Processing
Techniques to try:
Use a graphic organizer (idea web, Venn diagram, T-Chart, concept wheel)
As your child tells the story, write keywords on a timeline to help organize thinking
Use post-it notes to help with paragraph organization on the page
Find or write an example as a mentor text
Try voice-to-print dictation technology
What you may notice in your child:
Child may say, I don’t even know where to start?
Child avoids writing, feels overwhelmed.
Story sequencing is out of order
Implementing tips like these can help your child feel successful at writing, which can pave the way to a lifelong love of writing!
If your child needs help from a reading and writing specialist, get in touch!
