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Posted: 07 November 2007 at 6:46pm | IP Logged

Have just got back from parents evening.

Had quite a lengthy chat with Harrison's teacher who is really lovely.  She says she is quite concerned with Harrison's hand writing one week he can do it and the next week he says he cannot write.  To make a long story short she says he is underachieving but she hasn't quite figured out if this is because of his speech and language delay. 

We discusses my decision to end speech therapy as is was a complete waste of time and just upset Harry every time. She said she would review him at Christmas and then get me back to discuss the possibility of an IEP.

Over all she said since he started in her class in Sept, she has never had any problems with him, she said he is a complete asset to the class and brings lots of sunshine to the class.  She said when he's not around for whatever reason the class atmosphere isn't the same, he's a really lovely boy, which made me feel quite proud.  And amazed as he isn't always this lovely at home lol

I am upset though because i try really hard with him we sit and do activities most nights when he wants to.  I dont push, i let him decide or ask if he wants to.  I got some little writing books from smiths a few weeks ago that he can practice in and also has space at the top to draw his pictures. 

She said if i wanted to we could do practice work at home and take it in for her to mark and praise harry for as all she thinks he needs is lots of encouragement.

Is there any other way we can practice handwriting without him feeling like its a chore.

Posted: 07 November 2007 at 6:51pm | IP Logged

Ds got his first set of words to learn this week, and when i showed him he just repeated everything i said and i know he knows the alphabet he just wasn't in the right mood, so will try again tomorrow, i think that encouragement is a great help and time is also another factor, each child does it at there own pace.

Have you tried a projector to copy it might make things more fun.

Posted: 07 November 2007 at 7:56pm | IP Logged

I think you are already doing what you can for the best. My ds Jamie had terrible problems with both reading and writing. He is left handed which slowed down his writing, I m right handed so i could n't even help with that. The reading he just used to get so frustrated, "can't do it I'm stupid" attitude. So I didnt push, I asked if he wanted to do any reading/writing, if he said no, we didnt.

Now at the age of 7 1/2 he is galloping ahead with his reading books and his writing is now really neat for a lad his age!! Its so cute though because he really has to concentrate and the faces he pulls when he is writing are so sweet!!

So I wouldnt worry too much just yet.

Jain

Posted: 09 November 2007 at 7:34am | IP Logged

Thats a good idea vix, thanks.

I'll been trying to think of games to play with him that'll encourage him to write.

Posted: 11 November 2007 at 8:34am | IP Logged

Your doing fine hun,

I know you said reading it's really an issue here but i made up snap cards with the words and played snap....... i then changed this (1 set of the words, the 2nd half for snap went into a box) and we wrote down the words we'd found then on a piece of paper and then had to find the card for them and tick them off like marking! Good game for over phrasing and building confidence.

Other ways are writing birthday/christmas cards/ hangman (using family names), maybe writing a diary together..... or even copying favorite phrases out of books and then decorating them and putting them in his room..... if he draws a big pic try and get him to name them ie. line and dad, line me, line fred, write his name and date on each pic (or encourage him too) to make them extra special....

Good luck hun, just stick with it and one day he'll just suprise you..... oh have you thought of asking the school for a copy of how they join up letters as i've been helping kieran do his and they no longer join the g and y's etc together! So i've had to re-learn so i don't confuse him!

Take care xxx let us know how you get on