The physical act of getting words on paper is often a barrier to writing. Have kids say out loud what they want to express. Then, write or type it word for word.
Quick tip 2
Make it fun.
Make it fun.
Practicing handwriting can feel like a chore. Mix things up by having kids trace letters in shaving cream or draw their way through mazes.
Quick tip 3
Try a graphic organizer.
Try a graphic organizer.
A structured outline or template can help kids come up with ideas and organize writing assignments.
Quick tip 4
Use a keyboard.
Use a keyboard.
It won’t fix messy handwriting. But using a keyboard allows kids to express themselves without worrying about forming letters or staying within the lines.
Quick tip 5
Use grammar check.
Use grammar check.
You’ve heard of spellcheck. These days, many devices have free apps and tools kids can use to check their grammar. Some even suggest alternate words if kids are stuck.
Some kids struggle with writing. They may have messy handwriting or write a sentence full of spelling mistakes. Or they might not even be able to start when asked to write something.
These types of writing difficulties aren’t uncommon. But when are they something to be concerned about?
There are two main areas of writing where kids may struggle:
Handwriting and spelling
Expressing ideas in writing
Even bright kids can have trouble in one or both areas. They might struggle for a number of reasons. Kids develop writing skills at different rates, and some take longer than others to learn these skills. And sometimes kids just need extra help to get better at writing.
Dive deeper
Messy handwriting
Handwriting skills are part of an area of writing called transcription. Even if kids have well-formed and organized ideas, those ideas might be unreadable on a page.
When kids have a hard time with handwriting, they might struggle with:
Some kids have trouble getting ideas together and planning how to put them into written form. This skill is often called written expression.
Kids may not be able to come up with what they want to say. Or they may not know where to start. Maybe they start writing, but then they don’t know how to organize the rest.
Trouble with written expression is often caused by poor planning and organization skills. But there can be other factors, too.
Noticing that a child has a hard time writing is an important first step. You can talk with the child about the challenge. Make sure they know that everyone has difficulty with something — and that all people have strengths, too.
Continue to observe the child and take notes. If there’s a pattern that goes on for a while, it’s a good idea to talk to others.
Be a scribe.
