Hand grip problems... and Language arts?

[Hottater]

Praise report: My DS got his Irlen lenses and has gotten several 100%'s on his 3rd grade R&S spelling tests!!!

 

Problem area: My ds really doesn't like writing, and I finally got his Irlen issues resolved (visual distortion via specific light waves causing a brain interpretation issue), but he is still gradually figuring things out since he got his lenses in Dec. So, here's what I see problematic, he knows cursive, and he points his pencil tip south towards himself as he writes, but fights me on it. He sped up from usually taking 2 hours to write something to 38 minutes to write a paragraph (That's still too long imho, but way better than before). 

 

So, I have an issue, should I go with a Charlotte Mason Approach= Narration, copy work and dictation with cottagepress.com? (15 minute incremental lessons) Or, should I go with IEW? I think he could only handle 1 approach.

 

 

[Heathermomster]

Has he been evaluated by an OT?

[Heathermomster]

sorry..dp

[Hottater]

No he hasn't.

[geodob]

I wonder if his hand grip could have developed as a way to cope with his vision issues?

If you try writing the way that he does?

You'll note that it provides a clearer view of the tip of the pen, and the letter as it is formed.

 

Which could be the explanation?

 

[Hottater]

Do I continue with this? Or try to correct him? He hates writing, but when he does cursive it's beautiful. When he does print it's not as pretty. Third grade stuff (I held him back so we could catch him back up with spelling and math. Should I take a picture and you could tell me what you think?

 

 

Trying to balance our school year next year and it is writing that is slowing everything and everyone else in the family down. Possibly going with Classical conversations foundations next year and trying to contemplate going with just a charlotte mason type curriculum or IEW with their essentials class. 

 

Charlotte mason is just narration, copywork, dictation with light grammar. He hated WWE I don't know if this method would be worse or better. 

[OneStepAtATime]

You might consider getting an evaluation through an OT, as Heather mentioned upthread.

 

As for the rest, I can't recall but have you started him with a typing program?  It will take time to get him fluent with typing but it might really help long-term.

 

As for handwriting right now, I would pick a specific amount of time each day that he works on copywork, etc. maybe copying something that holds his interest, and work on print for a bit since printing and filling in forms is still a needed skill at this point.  Cursive is helpful, but not as needed.  Maybe do cursive once a week so the skills he already has in this area are not lost.  I would not make ALL of his output handwritten, though.  Let him dictate so he is able to keep thoughts flowing and developing instead of everything being wrapped up in his handwriting issues.  Maybe get Kidspiration to help with organization of thoughts.

[Heathermomster]

I expect that the handwriting may have developed due to the earlier vision problems, but an OT can rule everything else out so you are not left wondering. It would be terrible to force him to practice handwriting if he had developmental motor or motor planning issues because you use that info to remediate and/or accommodate.  Handwriting should not be a nightmarish pursuit.

 

I love the gentleness of CM methods; however, I don't see how method matters so much as ensuring proper grip in the first place.  Maybe try a new pencil hold.  There is one called the adapted tripod grasp (see page 2).  You could also try a Penagain pencil.  Pencil grasps are difficult to retrain.  You may just have to find a good enough zone and leave it.

 

I use CM with my DD.  We are wrapping up the school year, and she practiced handwriting daily.  I make copy sheets for her using Start Write sw, and she completes dictation and spelling on a LOE dry erase board.  I type up her narrations as she dictates.  

 

Maybe scribe for your son and just proceed carefully and deliberately using CM methods.   Both of my kidlets have motor planning issues so I always recommend OT.  We waited with DS and that was a major mistake.  If I just had to have a writing program, I would select the one written by 8FilltheHeart.