Reading and writing?

Question

I have a seven year old little girl who's writing is not vey neat. When i tell her to write in block capitals there is an amazing transformation but she tells me that the teacher tells her to write joined up.
Is this right?
She also loses confidence when she sees other childrens writing is neater

Answer 1

give her one of those writing books that she can learn to write neatly. if this doesn't work, go yell at the teacher and tell him/her that your kid is just seven, why are you pushing her above her limit???

Answer 2

These are only ideas -I am not a parent, so sorry if they aren't practical.

I'd have a word with her teacher. He or she can let you know how they teach writing at the school. Tell the teacher about your daughter's lack of confidence.

Depending on what the teacher suggests I would advise following that (so that might include exercises I suppose)

Perhaps do activities with your daughter that might involve writing but also include something else (especially if she is good at it) so that you can praise her even if you are helping her correct her hand writing eg
- after a day out drawing a picture and writing a card to grandma about it
- cooking a cake and getting your daughter to write the shopping list (explain you need to help with the writing because you will shopping while she is at school, so you are checking you can read it easily),
- if you are doing a tidy up get her to write labels (e.g. for the box that has her toys, her brother's toys, the DVDs) - you can be praising her for tidying (have extra labels for mistakes)

Answer 3

I have a six year old son and his writing is the same! I think part of his problem is because he is left handed.

He too has to write in joined up (or at least attempt to).

I wouldn't worry too much though, because she will soon get better. Kids develop at different paces. I know it's not very nice for her, but I'm sure other kids in her class are insecure as well.

Try and talk to her teacher about it if you get a chance.

A tip the teacher told me, was to get him to slow down, stop rucshing, once his writing is better, then he can work on his speed. Also, to put his finger in between the words so that he spaces correctly.

Good Luck

Answer 4

Don't yell at the teacher. It won't accomplish anything for your daughter. You might ask for some ways of helping her, but don't yell.

Take a look at her penmanship. See what letters are hardest for her. Give her a sheet of paper and a sentence with many of those letters and have her copy the sentence while she is with you in some part of the house. When she has finished, take a look and comment. Find something positive to say every day. The practice is important. She can practice while you're starting supper or something. It will help he writing and take her away from the TV.

And, really doesn't need to compare herself to other students. There are certainly things at which she excells. Remind her of those.

Answer 5

My 11 year old had awful writing at 7 and 8. Now it is probably the best in his class, everyone comments on it even the teachers. Just let her take her time and try not to make a big thing of it.

Answer 6

As an English teacher, I will tell you that quality of writing is not nearly as important as the quality of what is written. However, writing should be somewhat neat and easily legible. You should encourage your child to write in the manner directed by the teacher, and not to worry about comparing her writing to other students' writing. Remind her of something she does better than others, and tell her that sometimes things are harder for some people than they are for others. In the end, practice is the key...so have her practice her handwriting often.

Answer 7

yes, for some mad reason kids have to write joined up, but then in high school they can write how they want to since in GCSE's and A-levels etc as long as they can read it, they'll mark it, you don't gain or lose marks for your handwriting, and most school work off a computer now anyways. there are handwriting books available from shops such as WHsmith, but maybe just getting her to write out a passage from her favourite book or something to try and help her with that, or even something as simple as getting her a diary so she can write about her day and practise her handwriting whilst not even thinking about it.

Answer 8

My grandson who is 6 is writing joined up and it is awful! He gets so upset if we mention it though. When I was a lass (hahah) we used to have writing lessons at school, don't they do that these days? I do know that they don't like you to teach your children to write in block capitals as it causes problems later on when they have to write essays and such.

Answer 9

She must write joined up. This is drilled into children as soon as they can write their name. Writing in block cpaitals will lead to examination problems when they get to their GCSEs and A Levels. That may seem like a long way off, but it is very difficult to change you're handwriting when you are used to it.

Answer 10

well if you might re-call when u attended school we all had to do joined up writing , a bit practise will help. in time she will catch on, some of us today are still finding it difficult to do joined up my son has lovely neat writing by even now he finds it hard to do, find out just in case Ur daughter might be dyslexic in which is usually happens how much to days education is far better than it was years ago.