Garland Area Parent Association for Gifted and Talented

Handwriting: A Very Complex Process
Reposted from newsletter@brainworks.info
 
Q: My son's handwriting is illegible to me. Even his teachers put question marks in the margins of his papers because they can't read his writing.  When he slows down, his handwriting does improve, but he usually rushes through any written assignments, writing just enough and that's it. Why is this so hard for my son, and is this handwriting problem another symptom of ADHD? What can I do to help him?
 
A: Written expression is the most common learning problem among students with ADHD (65%). It might be helpful to consult with an occupational therapist who is trained in the developmental process of this complex skill. This medical professional sees handwriting not just as one skill, but as a coordinated effort of 14 abilities that need to work together. Struggling in one or more of these abilities can cause a handwriting problem.

• Visual focusing: the ability for the eyes to work together.
• Mental attention: the ability to screen out distractions.
• Organized physical movements:  the ability to maintain posture and hold the writing tool.
• Receptive language: the ability to perceive abstract concepts and follow verbal directions.
• Inner expressive language:  the ability to think clearly, organize ideas and concepts, and communicate through writing.
• Memory recall: the ability to remember letter formations and the required movements necessary to make each letter and connection.
• Concentration with awareness: the ability to maintain consistent awareness of details and form over a period of time.
• Spatial perception: the ability to utilize space.
• Organization: the ability to organize mind, body, and space to produce meaningful responses.
• Integration: the ability to unite the mind, body, and space to create meaningful written expression.
• Eye-hand coordination: the ability to use the eyes and hands together as a unit.
• Motor planning: the ability to plan and carry out an action.
• Tactile input: the ability to feel the pencil in the hand and apply the appropriate pressure to write.
• Crossing midline: the movement of the eyes, a hand, or forearm to move across the midsection of the body without moving any other part of the body.

Click here to read an article, "ADHD and Handwriting: Is There A Connection?" by Carla Crutsinger, M.S. If your child has a handwriting problem, share this article with your child's teachers.  It can give the teachers new ideas for helping him. Carla also does workshops for schools on this and other topics.

• Serve as a resource for parents to help gifted and talented (G/T) children achieve their utmost capabilities
• Provide speaker programs and events to assist parents in raising their gifted and talented children
• Keep members up to date through our website, newsletters and e-mail
• Support district and school board efforts to meet the needs of G/T students
• Advocate for exemplary G/T education that challenges the growth of both gifted and talented students
• Develop a network of parent and community liaisons to offer enrichment opportunities and encourage participation in public education
• Network with campus groups, magnet schools, parent groups, the Texas Association for Gifted and Talented (TAGT) and National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) to promote G/T.