I think that it is excellent that you are getting the full eval. I see red flags all over the place especially since there is a history of dysgraphia and ADHD in your family. I can only suggest what has been mentioned by PPs. Get the eyes examined by a COVD VT to rule out any convergence or binocular vision issues. For the handwriting, try to incorporate cross body exercises, daily wheelbarrow walking, and swim or gymnastics. One hour with a competent OT should rule out any developmental motor (prim reflex), motor planning, visual perception, balance, vestibular, or pincer/core strength issues. The book Dyslexic Advantage is a very good book to read after Overcoming Dyslexia by Shaywitz.

We are currently looking at yousician but have not tried it yet.

What are you using to teach reading?

Where is Adele when you need her?

Does your child have any diagnosed SLDs?

Poor yourself a drink, download these PPT sheets, and watch the writing webinar given by Dr. Charles Haynes. The webinar was hosted by the Dyslexic Advantage blog; however, all of the teaching strategies discussed in the video would apply to your situation. By 2nd grade, my eldest child was diagnosed 2e with dysgraphia by a PhD neuropsychologist. DS sat in a classroom at the time, and we discovered first hand that dysgraphia is poorly understood by just about everyone. Dysgraphia can affect all of the brain processing and sequencing prior to the actual written output plus legibility. Handwriting can also be beautiful but painfully slow By mid-year 5th grade, we made a dedicated effort to teach DS typing and he now types everything. In 7th grade, DS worked with an experienced O-G and IEW certified tutor that taught through a level A thematic IEW unit. The tutor worked slowly and methodically through the materials while I scribed and talked through the writing process with DS. It took several months before DS could write a coherent paragraph on his own, but by the end of 7th grade, DS was sending emails requesting tech support help to companies. As a 10th grader, DS continues to work on his writing using EIW. Unless the student is typing, copywork would be a nightmare handwriting exercise for DS due to motor planning, processing, and working memory deficits.

Winston Grammar...

I agree with this though I recommend you have your boy evaluated by an OT to look at developmental motor. The OT can also use IM therapy. Sounds like you need a full np evaluation for diagnosis. The np can run a NEPSY II, make clinical observations, and have you and your child answer behavior paperwork for diagnosis. My eldest sees a child psych for his inattentive ADHD. DS is also a fully remediated 2e dyslexic but still requires extra time on tests, seating at the front of the class, uses audio books, and language arts concepts are difficult. My son did not learn parts of speech until I taught him when he came home in 7 th grade.

Call Scottish Rite and discover how to get your child dyslexia screened. The testing should be free or low cost. ETA: Maybe call these people and inquire about dyslexia screening fees.

An OT can perform a one hour eval that looks at a number of things including pincer and core strength. If a problem is noted, the OT can set up an exercise routine to strengthen those areas. I took DD to an OT for an assessment when she was in Kindie. DD had hand pain with poor pincer/core strength. DD saw the OT for about 6 weeks, and the OT gave us an exercise list that included wheelbarrow walks and yoga ball exercises. I started to question the reliability of the OT, so I met a ped PT who agreed to evaluate my DD. My DD is low tone and had a retained reflex. The PT worked with DD, and DD can now write without hand pain. She did not achieve handwriting fluency until late 1st grade. My DS is dysgraphic and hand pain has never been his issue. OT/PT work has improved son's balance, posture, overall strength, and reintegrated his prim reflexes, but the processing issues associated with dysgraphia are still present, so his handwriting is accommodated.

http://www.mathplayground.com/making_change.html

I **think** OhE may know of one. You can get by without it but having one helps because the user has to attend and adjust to stay on task at 54 BPM.

Yes, I wish there was a Barton for math. Your posting made me think of Davis Sousa. https://howthebrainlearns.wordpress.com/2012/10/15/research-findings-on-addressing-mathematics-difficulties/ https://howthebrainlearns.wordpress.com/category/educational-neuroscience/

Whatever you use, try, try, try to get a metronome that will provide feedback and allow the user to know whether they are keeping time ie..too fast or too slow at the 54 BPM.

kat, pace yourself with the IM becuase it is boring and try to manage the expectations of your boys. They may be thrilled about it now, but once they get started with the clapping, their attitude could change. I suggest you keep "no sugar added" fudge pops nearby as a reward for when they finish. DS would only complete the protocol for a limited amount of time. DS knew he would be working on IM for 8 weeks so was intrinsically motivated to get it over with. IM was never about improving rhythm for us and was always about improving attention. Besides IM, working with an excellent pediatric PT for a few weeks performing balance, strength, postural, and cross body exercises helped DS realize noticeable changes with swimming, attention, balance, posture, and handwriting. My DS is primarily inattentive ADHD. In the fall. DS requested meds for attention. In spite of the meds, I feel like the IM and OT/PT work helped.

:grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug:

http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/496612-calling-heathermomster-or-another-metronome-guru/

Pen, My high schooler uses the Internet for sending and receiving homework via email, Khan Academy, and research for reports. As long as we have email capability, we could live without Khan and perform research at the library. DS takes Spanish and Chemistry at a co-op twice per week.

http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/371898-semple-math/

OP, welcome to the boards! I agree with OhE 100%. To sort out sensory, you will need to find a SIPT certified OT. To sort out the possibility of a maths SLD, your child will need to see a PhD Neuropsych. We use the term NP on the boards. My eldest was diagnosed with dyscalculia on his 8 th birthday. He actually had his math facts to 20 down; otherwise, his issues compared to your DD's sound about the same. My younger child turns 8 yo after Christmas. She is completely different and works on multiplication facts for fun. The difference between my kiddos in the maths department is shocking. I have found no magic math program though there are some I dislike more than others. I apply concepts learned from Ronit Bird to whatever curriculum we are using. Maybe look at CLE math materials. My DD's reading level exceeds her ability to spell, and I think that is typical. Can your child spell a word like favorite after a week of practice?

I see that Wapiti mentioned the free ModMath iPad App on another thread. The app is great; however, there is no way to upload pre-made files, which is what I would prefer. Otherwise, the app seems good for the four operations and fractions. There is also no way to add text to the worksheets.

Howdy all, I am starting this thread so that we can discuss math apps and sw which will help our dysgraphic kiddos output legible math solutions. My son is high school now, so his math output needs have shifted. DS has used GeoGebra for looking at parabolas and lines. He has also used the Mathematics add-on for Word, which will allow graphing too. We briefly flirted with the Notability App with a stylus on the IPad. Notability seems more helpful for elementary math but scanning the math sheets for use inside the app can be an issue. One could purchase math programs in a PDF form and edit in Notability. I have considered Efofex but have not gone to the trouble of getting the letters written to apply for their free EmPower Program. I have explored Maple and found it to be too much for our needs. For math facts drills, we have resorted to MUS's free online math facts generator and used the 10-key pad. Anyhoo.. There are a ton of computer related math alternatives, so if you know of a any good ones, please share. Blessings, ~h

Nothing new really. Once he got through the unit factor method and q=mc(delta T), he stopped typing. His math typing is problem specific. DS was dealing with Kelvins and kilos, big Cals and little cals, and calorimeter problems. Anyhoo..we used the Mathematics MS Word add-on that geodob has mentioned in other threads. The Mathematics add-on should work with OneNote. DS had to create generic equations to speed up the process. I was actually thinking about looking at Desmos after seeing you mention it. :D On the plus side, son's attention to detail has increased considerably.

My son's teacher took no issue with DS typing his math. Son's problem is that sw we have found is time consuming and cumbersome.

The Alphasmart is no longer made though the product may be found on the used market. It is a very durable word processor that runs off of AA batteries. To print, you connect it with a USB cable to a compatible printer or send the files to a computer and print from the computer. The Alphasmart is the cheaper/durable alternative to a PC or tablet without any bells or whistles. PC and tablets now fill the Alphasmart void but lack ruggedness. If I could go back in time, DS would be typing in 2nd grade. ETA: Yes, the wp produces a product that demonstrates the student has understanding. Unfortunately, not all kiddos with motor issues will be able to type, and the student is being actively encouraged to hunt and peck until they are mature and able enough to learn correctly. I think a wp should be introduced slowly and maybe restrict use for spelling with the spell checker turned off. The wp is helpful but not a shangri la type thing where all your troubles are washed away. DS went full typing in 6th grade while sitting in a nt classroom. He had to remember to carry his hole puncher and stapler plus haul the device to class. He still had to remember to print everything and keep his friends hands off the device because the device has proven to be a magnet for logic staged boys. Getting him to sit and actually try to type was a deliberate matter requiring bribes and my sheer force of will. He fought the lessons initially and never became thrilled about them; of course, he thanks me now. I could have never made him sit to learn after 5th grade (11yo). I know 4 dyslexic teenagers locally aged 16-18yo, and their parents given up teaching them to type. I have written all of the above to point out that accommodating the dysgraphia can take years to streamline and is not always easy. DS carries a PC now to outside classes, and typing with all the extras has become 2nd nature. Now the main concern is remembering to charge the device. A word about math. The first three weeks of chemistry entailed DS learning to type his math on the pc. He can do it, but wow! It was hard to learn and the equations were all algebraic concepts. I almost think learning to write numbers may be of more value than letters if you know your child will be typing.