"Fun" writing for 1st grade?

[nature girl]

DD6 has some fine motor issues and has a hard time with handwriting. In order to write legibly, she has to form her letters extremely slowly, and any writing practice has become extremely painful for her. This is exacerbated by her ADHD, because writing slowly is boooring, so her mind won't stay focused on it.

 

I've looked at A Quiver of Arrows, and although I love her approach I don't think DD would sit through it. She hates copywork with a passion, after two or three words she's just done.

 

Is there any fun way to approach this? Or any programs that are not drudgery? I'm not concerned with grammar at this point, my primary goal is to make handwriting more automatic for her, so she can think and write at the same time...

Edited February 6, 2016 by Anna's Mom

[3 ladybugs]

Have you thought about getting her to master just strokes before getting her to write fully? Things like lines, circles, and such. This was it is writing but without meaning.

 

My son is 7 but hates writing. I am doing Zaner Blosser with him and going slowly though the letters to make sure he has very good manuscript mechanics before going to cursive. I am also having him write with a Pelikan Twist fountain pen that he can only use for penmanship. This forces him to grip correctly.

 

It seems to be helping my son a bit.

[nature girl]

We've been through HWT, and she does a fair amount of drawing. So I think she does fine with strokes actually, it just takes more work for her to keep her lines straight and even, and to position her letters correctly on the lines. So when she's copying a row of the same letter, or writing the same word over and over, she does okay--although it's slow and she hates it, so I don't want to do much of that. I guess I'm looking for something creative I can do with her, to help her actually enjoy the process of getting thoughts down on paper.

 

Using a fountain pen is an interesting idea! I know some of her problem with handwriting comes from a tendency to wrap one of her fingers, and to hold the pencil too horizontally. We've been working on it, but it means constant correction which gets aggravating for her, and I bet the fountain pen would help her position the pen at the right angle. I actually have one I use myself so I'll have to try it!

[arliemaria]

For actual writing I like Peterson Directed Handwriting, but for composition look at Julie's BW Jot it Down.

[Holly]

I've been using the R&S preschool books with my 6yo (in place of copywork).  There are some pages that work on letter formation.  Other pages have cutting & pasting or circling/matching type activities.  All work on fine motor skills, but in a more fun way. Each of the books have a different focus...you can pick and choose which ones to cover.

 

Another thing that's helped us with copywork is to set a timer (we do 5 minutes).  I don't worry about how much they write, just that they are doing their best.  Some of my DC have struggled with writing and consistent copywork has shown improvement in both their speed and quality.

Edited February 6, 2016 by Holly

[wendyroo]

I guess I'm looking for something creative I can do with her, to help her actually enjoy the process of getting thoughts down on paper.

 

If this is what you are looking for, you might want to check out Carisa's Story Starters on her site 1+1+1=1.

 

Wendy

[Hobbes]

We do journal time every day, which is popular here. They always write the day of the week/date at the top of the page, so there's alwaya some writing (and calendar work, in a round about way!).

 

Then I usually give them a prompt (what did you do at Grandma's yesterday? etc) unless they have their own topic idea, and they choose between:

 

- drawing a picture and dictating what they want to say to me to write down.

 

- copywork (often pulled from poem/Bible reading/memory work, etc).

 

- They write out a title and I write out the story they dictate.

 

- Write all their own sentences. My newly 8yo is choosing this option more and more often.

 

I like this because it's a daily habit, can be adjustable to the day (some days they are up for more writing than others) and and it is getting them in the habit of expressing their thoughts onto paper. AND it's such a sweet thing to have! They love going back over old journals.

 

Anyway, just an idea.

[SilverMoon]

Fwiw, thinking while writing is a skill that mine didn't really develop until 3rd-5th grade, unless they were what you'd call a natural writer.

 

Personally I wouldn't do formal writing with a first grader who still struggled with copywork, and I'd focus on penmanship instead. Being able to copy a good sentence is part of the foundation to making your own good sentences.

[nature girl]

Such great ideas, thank you!

 

For actual writing I like Peterson Directed Handwriting, but for composition look at Julie's BW Jot it Down.

 

We use, and LOVE, Jot it Down! I've thought of trying to add a touch of handwriting with it, but don't want to ruin the flow for her. I haven't looked at Peterson before, it looks interesting! There's so much on the site, I'll have to take a closer look. Where would you start for a child who doesn't quite have the automaticity down (i.e., can form her letters correctly, but when she tries to write and think at the same time the writing is very messy.)

 

I follow Carissa's blog, and saw her Story Starters a couple of years ago before DD was ready for them. I'll have to take another look!

 

Setting a timer is also a good idea...(I think we'd have to start at 2-3 minutes, that really is about her attention span for writing. :( )

 

Ellen, I love your ideas. The Journal/Calendar work is a great idea, and having her write out a title and tell me a story sounds wonderful, I think I'll give it a try today.

 

 

 

 

[UCF612]

My first grader loves Royal Fireworks Press Aesops books for writing. It is very mild but covers a number of things. Kind of a quick intro to various topics that you can expand on if you wanted (I don't).

 

He also writes a journal page everyday, of whatever he wants. He draws a picture and writes at least 2 sentences.

 

He does Pentime cursive for handwriting.

Edited February 6, 2016 by UCF612

[Jackie]

Since you use Jot It Down, could you create copywork sheets that use quotes from her own stories? I've also created handwriting sheets with jokes, so DD would trace/copy the setup for a knock knock joke, then flip it over and have the punchline on the back.

[PeterPan]

She could end up getting a dysgraphia diagnosis.  You might want to try to get that updated at some point, just because it would tell you how much to begin breaking these apart.  I have the diagnosis for my ds, and I'm breaking them apart, doing composition with the kindle dictation and doing handwriting as we're able.  That way I'm not holding the one back with the other or frustrating him with things that aren't reality.

[nature girl]

My first grader loves Royal Fireworks Press Aesops books for writing. It is very mild but covers a number of things. Kind of a quick intro to various topics that you can expand on if you wanted (I don't).

 

 

How did I not know about these? They look gentle, and she loves drawing so it might be a nice combination. I love how some of the pages prompt them to think of different story endings...I think she'd love that!

 

 

Since you use Jot It Down, could you create copywork sheets that use quotes from her own stories? I've also created handwriting sheets with jokes, so DD would trace/copy the setup for a knock knock joke, then flip it over and have the punchline on the back.

 

Also great ideas, thank you! I'll try both of these, I think she'd get a huge kick out of rewriting parts of the stories she's thought up.

 

 

She could end up getting a dysgraphia diagnosis.  You might want to try to get that updated at some point, just because it would tell you how much to begin breaking these apart.  I have the diagnosis for my ds, and I'm breaking them apart, doing composition with the kindle dictation and doing handwriting as we're able.  That way I'm not holding the one back with the other or frustrating him with things that aren't reality.

 

You know, I'd never considered dysgraphia. I thought this was more related to her fine-motor DCD issues. But maybe? I guess there are varying levels, if it's an issue I don't think it's severe, she started writing letters at around 2.5, so actually early...but once we got bogged down in HWT last year, everything slowed down. (Can they diagnose it at this age?)

 

When she writes messily she can write pretty fast, about a second per letter, and get her thoughts down on paper without too much trouble, although she never wants to write more than a sentence at a time. But trying to write neatly...it probably takes her about 3 seconds per letter. So not inordinately slow, but slow enough that she loses her train of thought. I think I'll do more research on dysgraphia, to see if it fits and is worth going through another eval.

[PeterPan]

Well you know, even though we have the diagnosis, I'm really not tightly sure how they get there.  I think you're correct that it's different from a working memory or motor planning problem and is a distinct statement that they have trouble getting the thoughts to come out onto paper.  Like you're saying that if she writes fast like chicken scratch, it comes out.  My ds can't get it out even with chicken scratch.  

 

I had forgotten she has a DCD label, sorry.  She's 6.  That's when they did it on my ds, it's true.  He was 6 1/2.  But at 6 they weren't ready to.  It was the 2nd psych, with that extra 6 months.  So it could be when you update in a year or two or three that they get there.  But I really don't know what the norm is for DCD.  It might be that they accommodate it but don't call it dysgraphia, kwim?  Or maybe they do.  I don't know.  That would something to google.

 

I think as far as coping techniques, since you know she has this DCD impacting her ability to write, you're looking at tech (absolutely!!), handwriting instruction that focuses on the motor planning, and improving her *working memory* to support the process when it takes longer.  You mention she loses her thoughts if she slows down.  That's working memory.  I'd even try to get some metronome work in there (IM, heathermomster's home instructions, whatever).  If she can do simple motions, like clapping, to a metronome, then work up to where she's doing some basic writing strokes to the metronome.  Callirobics would work for that.  Hmm, that would be awesome for my ds!  Anyways, then you have motor planning, executive function, and DISTRACTIONS.  That's going to make her stronger, because she's going to want to be able to do *some* handwriting, no matter what the final diagnoses.

[PeterPan]

Btw, I'm suggesting metronome, but it's wicked hard for my ds.  I think it's his crazy high impulsivity.  He used to just hyperclap, couldn't even just slow down and clap, clap singly At All.  It's still really hard for him, but we're back to working on it.  So you really have to think of that therapeutically and take the steps small, kwim?  Like she might have a lot of steps before she's ready for Callirobics.  Or maybe get the big huge pages of paper in a lined version and do the callirobics motions on big lined paper to that beat so it's almost like gross motor instead of fine motor, kwim?  

 

I'm just thinking out loud here, because I'm having this wow, that could work for us... kind of moment.  :)

Edited February 7, 2016 by OhElizabeth

[Freedom]

IMHO, I'd skip pencils all together...they require pushing down to see the writing, they break, they encourage erasing thereby shifting the focus from whatever kids are writing to needing to erase. We've always used gel pens and it is very smooth with little pressure required from little hands. Plus you can get fun colors which we like as well!

[arliemaria]

IMHO, I'd skip pencils all together...they require pushing down to see the writing, they break, they encourage erasing thereby shifting the focus from whatever kids are writing to needing to erase. We've always used gel pens and it is very smooth with little pressure required from little hands. Plus you can get fun colors which we like as well!

 

Pencils are a bit more difficult than ink or chalk.  I think chalk is a great tool for learning because you can erase a lot.  I bought some fountain pens to test out for Christmas, but think I will soon buy a lamby abc pen:  http://www.lamy.com/eng/b2c/abc/009for Robby to use during copywork.  We do use only pencils for math for instance.  If a colored pencil like the Ferby's write smoother you can certainly use those while they are gaining strength to use a pencil.  Also, this may be stupid to mention, but I have found that children really do have better beginnings using the thicker pencils.  Their grip doesn't have to be as tight as a normal skinny pencil and they don't fatigue as quickly.  Also just drawing with pencils can help.  Perhaps only do copywork writing words/letters MWF and TT do drawing practice or zentangles, etc.

[nature girl]

This is interesting...I actually started with pencil during HWT (before that we always used markers.) And I kept with it because it seemed to be increasing her strength. Before that, she actually couldn't even color with crayons, the pressure she used was just too light. She does much better now, but it's true the pencil might be causing her fatigue...That Lamy pen looks fantastic! I'm putting it in my Amazon cart...I see they have a Lamy pencil with a thicker grip, so may buy that as well...

 

 

I think as far as coping techniques, since you know she has this DCD impacting her ability to write, you're looking at tech (absolutely!!), handwriting instruction that focuses on the motor planning, and improving her *working memory* to support the process when it takes longer.  You mention she loses her thoughts if she slows down.  That's working memory.  I'd even try to get some metronome work in there (IM, heathermomster's home instructions, whatever).  If she can do simple motions, like clapping, to a metronome, then work up to where she's doing some basic writing strokes to the metronome.  Callirobics would work for that.  Hmm, that would be awesome for my ds!  Anyways, then you have motor planning, executive function, and DISTRACTIONS.  That's going to make her stronger, because she's going to want to be able to do *some* handwriting, no matter what the final diagnoses.

 

It's funny you mention this, because I was just reading an article Dr. Amen wrote that suggested IM as a way of improving communication in the cerebellum for ADHD. I looked at HeatherMomster's thread months ago, and I'd love to try it but I'm sure DD wouldn't sit through it for more than a minute. Seriously, I'm impressed with ANYONE, child or adult, who could clap for that long...Maybe I'll try a modified version, it does intrigue me. We're now doing mindfulness (Sitting Still Like a Frog) which I think is pushing her limits of being able to sit still. But maybe once we've finished a month of mindfulness she'll be able to stay still enough to do a few minutes of IM. I can always dream...(sigh.)

 

I hadn't seen Callirobics before. At first glance it looks lovely! And might be just what we need to gain automaticity in a relaxed way...I'm going to take a closer look, thank you!

 

[PeterPan]

AM, with my ds I've had to start with very small steps.  I put my hands on his and said let's clap once.  That was HARD for him.  Just severe impulsivity!  So then ok, you clapped once.  Now let's clap once (my hands on his), put your hands in your lap, now clap again, my hands on his.  Done.  That was hard.  We did add any metronome at all for a long time.

 

I think the thing is, I don't think it's going to improve by waiting.  Now would meds help?  That's a different question, lol.  But yes, break it down into small steps.  After he could clap a single clap, I said could we take an alphabet puzzle and clap as I touch the letters?  And that was hard, so we did maybe a half a row extending to the first row.  It's not like we could do the whole thing at once.  

 

Now he can clap without going to hyperclap, but he's not on beat at all, haha.  But that's ok, kwim?  So break it into steps like that and just do a component that she CAN do in an amount she CAN get.  Even just a teeny tiny bit, done consistently, is going to build.

 

Congrats on getting her to do SSLF!  I read the book right when I had to return it to the library.  When you do it, are you using the recordings on the cd?  I'm not even sure what they are.  

[nature girl]

Congrats on getting her to do SSLF!  I read the book right when I had to return it to the library.  When you do it, are you using the recordings on the cd?  I'm not even sure what they are.  

 

Yes, we're really just using the recordings at this point. At first she'd just act VERY silly through them, or continuously interrupt by talking. But if I sit next to her and rub her back (and, um, use bribery...) she's able to sit through the 5-6 minutes it takes for each section. I do wonder whether rubbing her back is taking something away from the process, she's supposed to be focusing on her own movements and breaths, but it's the only thing I've found that works to hold her attention on the process. She still protests a lot before we start, but it's amazing how relaxed she is after we're done.

[Targhee]

Until handwriting is automatic I keep it a separate subject from composition. My oldest dd (with ADHD PI and fine motor and muscle tone issues) struggled with handwriting. It's still sloppy, but not as bad as it used to be. My retrospective advise is to be patient and persevere, don't expect perfection, and do take all those well intended pieces of advice about playing with dough, scribbling, building with Lego and other fine motor tasks. You may want to have her evaluated by OT for other issues - mine had some fine motor deficiencies, but also core strength issues that were part of the problem.

 

DD did really like Draw Write Now. She loves drawing, and it was fun, short, copy work passages.

[Upptacka]

My almost 8 year old daughter has significant fine motor delays and really struggled when she started writing. It was becoming such a dreadful task for her, and it was a bad cycle......the more she lagged behind, the more I pushed with copywork (thinking practice practice practice will improve her writing). I pretty quickly realized that this approach was not helping either one of us. A few things which helped us the most:

-- worked on fine motor strength not involving a pencil and paper. I focused on incorporating fine motor activities every day. Things like perler beads, Lego, rainbow loom, weaving, paint by number, model magic/modeling clay. These were very fun for her and didn't feel like work, but she gained significant strength and control with her fine motor. In turn, I could see the changes in her writing, which was exciting for both of us.

 

-- Draw Write Now books. I ended up buying the box set and they have been worth every penny for us. She loves to create the pictures and there is some copywork involved, too (but she never complains about it in these books!)

 

--writing letters to a penpal. My daughter doesn't like to journal much, although I encourage it. But she really enjoys writing short letters to her friends.

 

--patience (on my end). I feel like everything started going in the right direction once I "let go" and became more patient. ItMy daughter has made huge progress over the past 2 years. Her writing and penmanship is a continual work in progress, but I don't worry about it.

Edited February 9, 2016 by Upptacka

[MillyDilly]

My 6yo dd has some similar issues and she loves using a small white board because it's less tiring. She does some of the beginning Waldorf form drawing and enjoys playing with different colors and patterns so it keeps her attention longer (she thinks of it as arts and crafts time so she's more interested than "let's do writing") but helps with tidying up her lines and loops which definitely has helped her handwriting this year.

Edited February 9, 2016 by MillyDilly

[nature girl]

Until handwriting is automatic I keep it a separate subject from composition. My oldest dd (with ADHD PI and fine motor and muscle tone issues) struggled with handwriting. It's still sloppy, but not as bad as it used to be. My retrospective advise is to be patient and persevere, don't expect perfection, and do take all those well intended pieces of advice about playing with dough, scribbling, building with Lego and other fine motor tasks. You may want to have her evaluated by OT for other issues - mine had some fine motor deficiencies, but also core strength issues that were part of the problem.

 

DD did really like Draw Write Now. She loves drawing, and it was fun, short, copy work passages.

 

OT indicated there aren't major issues with core strength, just with motor planning. She definitely had difficulty with the pressure she was using to write, but I think that was mainly because we only used markers for the first 4 years of her life, she HATED crayons because they were much harder for her. We've always done a lot of clay/play dough play to increase strength, she likes drawing and cutting, and she's actually fantastic with Legos, can construct very fiddly things with those tiny pieces much better than I'd be able to. Give her instructions for a Mixel and she's done in 10 minutes...And her drawing skill is appropriate for her age, the fine motor issues seem to mainly be with writing. I don't know what the disconnect is, if there's something to this I'm missing.

 

I'd considered Draw, Write, Now last year, but hesitated because I thought she'd balk at the copywork. The books are cheap enough though, I might as well give it a shot! She might get a kick out of compiling all the pages into a book of her own...