Dysgraphia: Difficulty with Handwriting

There are many possible reasons to explain why a child avoids writing tasks, and there are different kinds of problems that affect a child’s ability to produce fluent, legible handwriting. Common signs of dysgraphia (difficulty with handwriting)  include the following:  illegible writing, a random mixture of upper and lowercase letters, inconsistent letter formations, poor spacing, persistent avoidance of writing tasks, an obvious difference between a child’s ability and his written performance, and a child who needs to apply a large amount of time and effort into written work. Handwriting difficulty can naturally interfere with a child’s performance with many school tasks and his/her success in school. It is not unusual for a teacher to misunderstand the cause of writing avoidance issues which may look like lack of effort. Author Mel Levine, in his book The Myth of Lazines, discusses the energy, effort, focus and multiple subskills involved with writing tasks and suggests that to a young child, writing is an orchestra that his mind has to conduct. If one or more of the instruments are not in synch with the others, the end result may not be successful.  Click on the following link to read more specifics regarding common issues with writing and why this skill is so complex. (see pages 6 – 7)

Simple lack of handwriting practice and specific repeated instruction in penmanship skills, a common issue in today’s schools, may explain why some children produce poor quality written work.   Guided practice led by an adult who understands and supports students who struggle in this area may result in improved handwriting skills, however, some children who persistently struggle with written work and/or avoid any task that involves handwriting may need more intensive intervention and/or may benefit from remediation, and/or accommodations and modifications. Remediation techniques will help the child to build and improve skills.  Accommodations refer to changes in the environment and/or curriculum format.  The term modification refers to a change in the curriculum. By working together to understand and respond to the unique needs of students who experience difficulty with writing, parents and teachers can help children to achieve success.