I teach grade 1. there is one student in my class who is very slow in writing, and is a very moody child. he wishes to run away from writing, even short sentences or just copying from written text. Sometimes giving him an incentive like a star or extra play time helps him to write a bit faster, but then again he cannot finish all of his work on time and needs constant attention from me. His handwriting is also not so good, and his word formations are wrong.
Please i would like to really know what strategies can i adopt in order to help this student write faster and take more interest in it.
Handling slow students
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sunnahprincess_2
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- Location: Karachi
It could be that he just needs more motivation. In which case, find out what he likes best (and hates most) and use rewards and occasional punishments systematically. Rewards can include special priviledges, edible treats, small toys, etc. Personally I recommend the special priviledges idea. You never know what may brighten a kid's day. Sometimes they like to get more running-around time, or to be in charge of a class activity, or to wear a "I'm-a-good-student" crown or something like that.
But I can't help but wonder...
Maybe it's more than just a lack of motivation. Maybe he doesn't know how to write, and that's causing (justified!) frustration. In this case, he needs extra help after school to help him catch up. You need to assess him to figure out what he can and cannot do. What exactly is he having difficulty with? Who can help him (parent? tutor? you? someone else?)? I suspect that once he feels like he's doing a good job, he'll have more intrinsic motivation you won't need to resort to extra rewards.
Want to figure out where to start?
Differential diagnosis:
1) when he speaks, do his language skills seem age-appropriate?
if yes--go to #2
if no--he needs to be formally evaluated for speech-language therapy
2) when he writes, how is his pencil grip and penmanship? Can he draw well, too?
if good fine motor skills--got to #3
if poor fine motor skills--he may need help from an occupational therapist
3) when he writes, how is his spelling?
if good--go to #4
if poor--do a spelling assessment to see which phonics rules, Dolch sight words, etc are the ones causing the problem. Then teach those.
4) when he writes, how is his sentence formation?
if good--go to #5
if poor--talk about subjects vs. predicates. Start with really simple 2-word sentences and work up from there.
5) when he writes, how is his paragraph formation?
if good--you really don't have any writing problem at the first grade level
if poor--talk about introductory sentences, body of the paragraph, and concluding sentences. Practice, both orally and in writing.
Good luck!
-EH
But I can't help but wonder...
Maybe it's more than just a lack of motivation. Maybe he doesn't know how to write, and that's causing (justified!) frustration. In this case, he needs extra help after school to help him catch up. You need to assess him to figure out what he can and cannot do. What exactly is he having difficulty with? Who can help him (parent? tutor? you? someone else?)? I suspect that once he feels like he's doing a good job, he'll have more intrinsic motivation you won't need to resort to extra rewards.
Want to figure out where to start?
Differential diagnosis:
1) when he speaks, do his language skills seem age-appropriate?
if yes--go to #2
if no--he needs to be formally evaluated for speech-language therapy
2) when he writes, how is his pencil grip and penmanship? Can he draw well, too?
if good fine motor skills--got to #3
if poor fine motor skills--he may need help from an occupational therapist
3) when he writes, how is his spelling?
if good--go to #4
if poor--do a spelling assessment to see which phonics rules, Dolch sight words, etc are the ones causing the problem. Then teach those.
4) when he writes, how is his sentence formation?
if good--go to #5
if poor--talk about subjects vs. predicates. Start with really simple 2-word sentences and work up from there.
5) when he writes, how is his paragraph formation?
if good--you really don't have any writing problem at the first grade level
if poor--talk about introductory sentences, body of the paragraph, and concluding sentences. Practice, both orally and in writing.
Good luck!
-EH
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sunnahprincess_2
- Posts: 3
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- Location: Karachi
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Sally Olsen
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- Location: Canada,France, Brazil, Japan, Mongolia, Greenland, Canada, Mongolia, Ethiopia next
Has he had his eyes tested? Does he do things in daily life with his hands and do them easily? If he is awkward with his hands in doing small tasks he is not going to be good at writing either. He might need to learn to keyboard instead. You can ask his parents to get him lessons after school or to buy a computer with a typing program. Working on the computer with a spell check and grammar check might help him improve in those areas.
If none of these things work, I would get him tested by a specialist and ask the to test for Irlen Syndrome.
If none of these things work, I would get him tested by a specialist and ask the to test for Irlen Syndrome.
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jasonmarke
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Sun Oct 08, 2006 1:50 am
Improve handwriting penmanship resources method
Anyone Can Improve Their Handwriting ( CD ROM Movie)
By Jason Alster MSc
Handwriting is a tool for transfer of knowledge and must comply with acquired rules in order to understand what we read. The CD ROM deals with handwriting problems, rules, tips, and exercises. From students who have lower grades and self esteem to physicians who by law have to improve their writing- this CD can help. Based on 10 years experience helping ADHD, dyslexia, dysgraphia - Jason knows what works to improve your handwriting. Simple techniques, demonstrations - a new way of helping people of all ages improve their handwriting and be proud of their own " work of art"
Product Details
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/9659025173/
CD-ROM:
Publisher: Rainbow Cloud (July 20, 2006)
ISBN: 9659025173
Also :Creative Painting For The Young Artist a book teaching the artistic mode of seeing necessary for dysgraphics to learn to paint and draw, painting block, and students who want to be creative with art. An excellent compliment to Anyone Can Improve Their Handwriting.
Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/9659025122/
Also check out these by Jason if there is a concentration or ADHD problem associated with the poor handwriting.
"BEING IN CONTROL:Natural Techniques For Increasing Your Potential And Creativity For Success In School."
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/9659025114/
"Being In Control : Natural Solutions For ADHD Dyslexia and Test Anxiety'.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/9659025130/
By Jason Alster MSc
Handwriting is a tool for transfer of knowledge and must comply with acquired rules in order to understand what we read. The CD ROM deals with handwriting problems, rules, tips, and exercises. From students who have lower grades and self esteem to physicians who by law have to improve their writing- this CD can help. Based on 10 years experience helping ADHD, dyslexia, dysgraphia - Jason knows what works to improve your handwriting. Simple techniques, demonstrations - a new way of helping people of all ages improve their handwriting and be proud of their own " work of art"
Product Details
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/9659025173/
CD-ROM:
Publisher: Rainbow Cloud (July 20, 2006)
ISBN: 9659025173
Also :Creative Painting For The Young Artist a book teaching the artistic mode of seeing necessary for dysgraphics to learn to paint and draw, painting block, and students who want to be creative with art. An excellent compliment to Anyone Can Improve Their Handwriting.
Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/9659025122/
Also check out these by Jason if there is a concentration or ADHD problem associated with the poor handwriting.
"BEING IN CONTROL:Natural Techniques For Increasing Your Potential And Creativity For Success In School."
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/9659025114/
"Being In Control : Natural Solutions For ADHD Dyslexia and Test Anxiety'.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/9659025130/