I will read all day…BUT DON’T ASK ME TO WRITE

ANYTHING!Beth Bianchi

Assistant PrincipalOld Donation Center

Virginia Beach City Public SchoolsAugust 21, 2010

Who are we?IntroductionsThink, Pair, ShareGender TallySticky NotesDiscussion

Typical Writing Challenges of Gifted Students

DisorganizationLabored handwritingSlow to startEasily FrustratedOthers?

So…What have you done?Yell and scream at homework time?Bribery?Purchase every writing utensil possible?Threaten a consequence?Say forget it…go back to that book???

DefinitionWhat is dysgraphia?

“Writing skills that are significantly below what is normal considering the person’s age intelligence and education.” The writing difficulties must interfere with a person’s daily living and academic achievement.

National Center of Learning Disabilities-DSM IV 315.2

Types of Dysgraphia

Dyslexic Dysgraphia

Motor Dysgraphia

Spatial Dysgraphia

Dysgraphia: More Than Bad Handwriting

Tight, awkward pencil grip Inconsistent spacing between letters/wordsPosture problemsDisorganized thoughtsAvoidance of writing or motor tasks

Common Symptoms of Dysgraphia

Inconsistencies in size, spacing, and formation

Verbalizing while writingIllegibleProcessing DifficultiesWord omissions and unfinished sentencesSyntax and grammar problems

Sample of Dysgraphic WritingExcerpt taken from the article: A Look at

Dysgraphia: What Dysgraphia Looks Like on the Outside

http://www.peas-ink.com/ann/folio/hgse/t560/dysgrpahia/outside.htm

How do we know?

To be identified with dysgraphia, a comprehensive psychological

assessment needs to be completed.

HELP!!!!

To qualify for services, a diagnosis of a disability needs to be determined under the standards set by the IDEA with a qualifying label such as LD for Learning Disabilities.

It takes a VILLAGEParentsTeachersPsychologistsSocial WorkersAdministrators

Special Education InfoVirginia Dept. of Education-Division of

Special Education and Student Serviceshttp://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/SPED/

proc_safe.pdf

SO…

No Dysgraphia-NOW WHAT?

Elementary Students

Fine motor exercisesWriting tools that promote feedbackSpecialty papers with raised linesDictation to a scribeEncouragement and PRAISEPractice Practice Practice!

Tweens, Teens, Technology

Keyboarding programsComputersLaptops Alpha Smarts (NEO)Franklin Spellers

Ready Writers

Direct InstructionSpecific StrategiesOccupational TherapistsAssistive Technology Rep

Brain GymBrain Gym exercises were used to warm up

prior to writing.

Fine Motor Feedback

Multi-Sensory

Practice and PRAISE

TECHNOLOGY

ResourcesOnion Mountain Technology, Inc

www.onionmountaintech.comTherapro-handwriting programs

http://www.therapro.com/Handwriting-Programs-C19161.aspx

www.ldonline.orgCouncil for Exceptional Children-Twice

Exceptional or 2E