Handwriting - How to undo bad habits?

[Marie131]

My 7 y/o spent K in private school where he learned how to print just about every letter incorrectly. I had planned to work really hard on his printing last year in first grade but did not as I foolishly followed my sister's advice (she teaches gr 1 ps). Now he's just beginning second grade and forms most of his letters and numbers incorectly and many of them backwards :( We are about to get started on Penny Gardner's Italics and I hope we make some progress. Just wondering if anyone has any tips or advice?

[Sevilla]

I would probably talk to him point-blank about needing to start over with handwriting, and I would make sure that handwriting is a VERY mom-intensive subject so that the habits he's formed can be changed. Is he understanding and willing to learn a different way to write?

[edeemarie]

Are you up for starting cursive? My ds8 does not have the best printing handwriting and I was not having good luck changing old habits. So last year I taught him cursive. His cursive is SO much better and easier to read. I taught him with Cheerful Cursive.

[SilverMoon]

Back up to simple copywork, done right at your elbow, with an eraser in your hand. Write the words at the top of his page, exactly how you want him to write them. Catch mistakes immediately, erase them quickly, and have him try again. That page will be considered done when every letter is done right. Short, simple sentences, only as much as he is able to do well. Even if it's, "Fat cat sat on the mat." As it becomes easier and his skill grows, start stretching the size of the assignments. When you deem him to be proficient, start insisting on that sort of writing in other subjects.

[serendipitous journey]

I would probably talk to him point-blank about needing to start over with handwriting, and I would make sure that handwriting is a VERY mom-intensive subject so that the habits he's formed can be changed. Is he understanding and willing to learn a different way to write?

 

Back up to simple copywork, done right at your elbow, with an eraser in your hand. Write the words at the top of his page, exactly how you want him to write them. Catch mistakes immediately, erase them quickly, and have him try again. That page will be considered done when every letter is done right. Short, simple sentences, only as much as he is able to do well. Even if it's, "Fat cat sat on the mat." As it becomes easier and his skill grows, start stretching the size of the assignments. When you deem him to be proficient, start insisting on that sort of writing in other subjects.

 

I agree that it will be mama-intensive. We used Evan-Moor's manuscript book through about the letter P, I think, then I preferred to go with our Zaner-Bloser book for first grade; but it doesn't really matter which handwriting you use in terms of your strategy. For the first couple of weeks, maybe 3 or 4, I watched every letter and corrected as he went. It only took 5-10 minutes, so if my toddler wouldn't let us work in peace I just stuck him in his crib (with tons of toys, he never actually fussed) until we were done. Then I started having him write a few letters and then show it to me for correction; then a line; then half a page; now either a whole page or half before he brings it to me to look at.

 

I've also given him 2 handwriting sessions each day, usually AM and after lunch. If he gets daydreamy or stuck we break for running or throwing balls in a basket, something active, and then work to focus for the last few minutes of writing.

 

This was to address a handwriting backslide I'd overlooked during the year. We're focusing on writing, both handwriting and composition, over the summer.

Edited July 28, 2012 by serendipitous journey

[love2read]

The best advice I have ever seen on this and related topics, and something I wish I had understood when mine were little, is the habit of perfect execution. Please consider this approach described in two short blog posts with and as she says "start with a stroke, not a letter"

http://higherupandfurtherin.blogspot.com/2006/04/habit-of-perfect-execution-part-1_5499.html

http://higherupandfurtherin.blogspot.com/2006/04/habit-of-perfect-execution-part-2_7678.html

She has a post about cursive too.

[boscopup]

Cursive would be a good idea.

 

I had the same issue with my oldest. I re-taught every single letter and watched him like a hawk whenever he was writing. He now forms his letters correctly.

 

The most important thing is to watch every single stroke.