3rd grader struggling with writing, the physical ability, and spelling

[Janeway]

My 3rd grader is not behind at all in ability to dictate his writing nor is he behind in reading. But spelling is a mess and handwriting is a mess. His handwriting is so bad that he cannot write stories really. He is a lefty and I have been working with him. His grip is fine. And he works super hard and is super sweet and amazing and tries so hard. He also seems to feel bad about his inability to do well. 

My question is, should I just have us keep plugging away and not worry, figure he will get there eventually? Or should I add in more writing instruction? Or should I give up on the handwriting and let him type his papers? He is likely getting an ipad for Christmas so I could get him a keyboard with it.

Edited September 9 by Janeway

[lmrich]

You might want to talk to  your pediatrician about a referral to OT. 

In the meantime, look up and do some a activities from here: https://www.theottoolbox.com/handwriting-warm-up-exercises-for/

[Janeway]

52 minutes ago, lmrich said:

You might want to talk to  your pediatrician about a referral to OT. 

In the meantime, look up and do some a activities from here: https://www.theottoolbox.com/handwriting-warm-up-exercises-for/

I got a referral to an OT over a year ago and have been on waitlists ever since. These waitlists can take years. And we already do the exercises. AND I already contacted the public school about maybe allowing services. They would just give a keyboard. That feels like a copout but wondering if there comes a point where I should allow it.

Edited September 9 by Janeway

[Green Bean]

Let him type his papers. The handwriting issue sounds like it is holding him back.

Can you let him write in all CAPS for everything else? Is his manuscript easier to read?

Is he writing in cursive? All he will truely need to write in cursive as an adult is his signature.

Spelling issues are a whole other ballgame. What have you been using? Is he more of a picture guy or rules guy?

[lmrich]

8 hours ago, Janeway said:

I got a referral to an OT over a year ago and have been on waitlists ever since. These waitlists can take years. And we already do the exercises. AND I already contacted the public school about maybe allowing services. They would just give a keyboard. That feels like a copout but wondering if there comes a point where I should allow it.

Oh  man! I am so sorry. 

Let  him use  a keyboard while you wait.  

[SilverMoon]

If typing helps go for it. My dysgraphic kid found typing to not help that much for papers, but he does better on the tablet for other things. His foreign language is there and the keyboard learns his commonly used words to suggest them in the autofinish options. 

I try to focus on writing during writing and reduce the writing in his other subjects. We do a lot orally. Otherwise it's just too much for him and he doesn't have enough left to give his writing subject. 

[PeterPan]

If both spelling and handwriting are hard when phonological processing is intact, you may be dealing with a developmental vision problem. I would test for retained reflexes, try again to get OT, and ask the developmental optometrists in your state for who they refer to for OT. You *might* be able to get enough OT to get the visual processing working correctly, but that's sort of downstream. The spelling requires visual *memory* and that kind of visual processing is proceeded by everything else (retained reflex integration, visual reflexes, convergence, etc. etc.). And the discomfort and eye issues would affect the writing. 

You can hack around it by working on visual memory, but it will be a splinter skill. Retained reflexes you might be able to figure out how to work on for free/cheap.

I have no issue with the typing or using the dictation btw, fine, definitely do it. Just saying I would also pursue the reflexes, developmental vision, OT stuff, etc.

Edited September 11 by PeterPan

[Janeway]

14 hours ago, PeterPan said:

If both spelling and handwriting are hard when phonological processing is intact, you may be dealing with a developmental vision problem. I would test for retained reflexes, try again to get OT, and ask the developmental optometrists in your state for who they refer to for OT. You *might* be able to get enough OT to get the visual processing working correctly, but that's sort of downstream. The spelling requires visual *memory* and that kind of visual processing is proceeded by everything else (retained reflex integration, visual reflexes, convergence, etc. etc.). And the discomfort and eye issues would affect the writing. 

You can hack around it by working on visual memory, but it will be a splinter skill. Retained reflexes you might be able to figure out how to work on for free/cheap.

I have no issue with the typing or using the dictation btw, fine, definitely do it. Just saying I would also pursue the reflexes, developmental vision, OT stuff, etc.

Who would I go to? I mean, he has been to a neuropsych and had a team eval which included OT. And now he is on waitlists for OT. Should I try to see if I could at least get him in for a new OT eval or go back the other route? The public school is clearly not going to help.

[PeterPan]

10 hours ago, Janeway said:

Who would I go to? I mean, he has been to a neuropsych and had a team eval which included OT. And now he is on waitlists for OT. Should I try to see if I could at least get him in for a new OT eval or go back the other route? The public school is clearly not going to help.

Developmental vision is done by a developmental optometrist, but it's $$. COVD is the org for that. If you have coverage, it's one way to get there. My dd did vision therapy and it was immensely helpful. My ds has had a ton of OT and so far has skirted needing vision therapy. He grew a ton the last year or two and he's not converging as well. We started with an OT who knew how to get there through the back door, working on OT, but she moved on to a different position, sigh. So it's more just what you can make happen.