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Secondary education

DS1 is YR7 bright but poor handwriting

11 replies

Curiousmama · 30/11/2009 15:52

Any tips on helping him? I tried to find online worksheets but couldn't find any suitable. Does anyone know of books I could get to help? It's so difficult as I don't want to embarrass him. He's always top of the class but his writing is very poor.

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Skegness · 30/11/2009 15:57

Does it matter? Can he write fast enough to get his thoughts down on paper, even if it is messy? Has the school raised concerns?

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JingleAllTheWay · 30/11/2009 16:25

My DH's writing is shocking, but as he has fab job in IT it is not an issue

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Lilymaid · 30/11/2009 16:30

Don't worry overmuch. Both my DSs were poor at hand writing. They abandoned "joined up" writing and we concentrated on making sure that their writing was reasonably legible. Try to make sure that he actually forms numbers sufficiently for them to be recognised and so that he doesn't make silly mistakes in Maths misreading his own writing - same for other subjects.
(DS1 now in highly paid business analyst job/DS2 on gap year before university).

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madamearcati · 30/11/2009 23:08

I really don't think it matters, especially if he is doing so well.
Out of interest how do you know he is 'always top of the class' when they have only been at secondary school for about 10 weeks?My DS2 started in secondary school this term and I haven't a clue hoe he is doing.mwe've had ga wHow

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madamearcati · 30/11/2009 23:08

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madamearcati · 30/11/2009 23:08

ignore that last sentence

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Mumup · 30/11/2009 23:20

Teach him to touch type. At work I see people pecking inefficiently at the keyboard because they were never taught proper typing skills. I can't remember the last time I had to read the handwriting of a coworker, but I read their typos all the time.

In the meantime, just make sure he can print legibly enough to scrape by.

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roisin · 01/12/2009 02:11

As long as he can write quickly and legibly, that's all that matters. I envy people with beautiful handwriting. I can only manage 'presentable' if I write very slowly and very carefully. But it doesn't matter, everything is typed these days anyway.

ds1 (12) has scratty handwriting, but it's not caused any problems. Teachers can read is writing and whenever possible he does homework and projects on the computer anyway.

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Curiousmama · 01/12/2009 17:39

Thanks all that's made me feel better

Madamearcati he's one of the top ones. They had an open day which exdh went to and that's when they said he was one of the top ones. He's in that group of 'gifted and talented' although not sure if they use that term in secondary? Not that he gives a stuff to be honest he just tries his best and I never put any pressure on him. Teachers always mention his writing as it isn't always legible. I wouldn't care about it's neatness so much as long as they can read it.

Luckily like some of you mention he does do a lot of his work on the PC. I try to encourage him to do the BBC dancemat typing course online but the characters on it annoy him so I'll try to find another one? Or buy a disc he can work with to learn to touch type.

His father is a lawyer and also has bad writing so think I'll stop worrying now and just hope it doesn't hinder him. He seems happy enough and that's what's important.

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echt · 03/12/2009 06:05

As a matter of courtesy in communication, legibility matters.

Copperplate is not the issue, a swift legible script, even when not joined up, is fine. Most exams are still handwritten, so this matters, even if manners didn't. which they should.

I love the replies about well-paid jobs to justify arrogance, which is what piss-poor handwriting is.

I send back student work which is scruffy/and or illegible. Every time. And you know what? They ALL improve.

Funny, that. Oh, and they're all boys.

A lot of shite is "allowed" for boys which is to their detriment.

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Curiousmama · 03/12/2009 16:12

thanks echt so I am right to worry? He has one thing in common with his dad, laziness. They were both born bright but do have a tendency to laziness.

ds2 on the other hand isn't as academic although has common sense,isn't lazy and beautiful handwriting. He's only 9. One teacher once tried to convince me his writing should be a bit smaller. It isn't big anyway and so neat. I told her she should be glad she can read it and I thought he did very well, for a then 7 year old.