My daughter is left handed and doing the writing was slow for her in kindergarten too. However, now she is in third grade and she's no pokier than anyone else. One suggestion I made to her teachers when she was learning letter and number formation was to place the sample on the right end of the row for her to see. Usually they are on the left hand side. When a left handed person is writing, they are covering their sample if it is on the left. Put it on the right and they can see what they are supposed to be doing. It was a lot of help. ShelleyHL
SUBJECT: Re:left handed difficulties
Date: 96-11-21 21:53:38 EST
From: Okuhara
Dragon,
I am a special ed. teacher (right-handed) who is trying to teach a "lefty" how to trace and write. We do a lot of hand-over-hand tracing and writing of letters. It was really hard at first until I figured out how to write up-side-down! Now I sit on the other side of the table with her and am able to work hand-over-hand with her with my right hand and her left. This has seemed to really work well for the both of us. It would be worth a try. Cutting with scissors is another matter...
SUBJECT: Re:left handed difficulties
Date: 96-11-22 20:40:31 EST
From: SusanS29
"My son is in Kindergarten and he is a lefty, he is having a lot of problems keeping up with the class with his letter, numbers, shapes etc. because of him being left handed. "
Whatever difficulties he is having are not because of being left-handed. I'm sorry; being left-handed is not something that interferes in any way with school progress.
I would urge you to start finding out what other causes there might be.
SUBJECT:
Re: left handed difficulties
Date: 96-11-24 22:05:56 EST
From: MEAUCA
My son is four and will be five 1/97 and also a left handed child. He has had no interest in even holding a pen or pencil until recently, did not know his letters or numbers especially by sight until recently. He is intellectually average with a speech delay related to repeated ear infections, for which he receives speech therapy by a MSP three times per week.
I was very worried that he would not be ready for the pre k testing in 5/97 so I searched the web and visited kids game section on aol and downloaded various games; in this very short time his hand eye coordination has improved 100 fold a skill so necessary for writing, and he has learned the abc and #. I downloaded Larrys Letters and Sea School under pc games 6-9 years old section, and they were really appropriate for him.
I hope that this helps, if you have more concerns I am a professional and work with high risk children and an early intervention program, I may be able to direct you in a productive direction. good luck and Happy Thanksgiving
SUBJECT: re:left handed difficulties
Date: 96-11-25 11:16:39 EST
From: Sleepysaj
My daughter (now eight), is left-handed and had a lot of problems with reversal of letters and numbers when she was learning to write. She is in third grade now and in the gifted program at her school. Repitition was the way through for her. Practice practice practice!
SUBJECT: Re:re:left handed
difficulties
Date: 96-11-26 00:47:11 EST
From: SusanS29
"My daughter (now eight), is left-handed and had a lot of problems with reversal of letters and numbers when she was learning to write."
I understand, but reversals and left-handedness-that's just a coincidence.
There's no causal relationship there.
SUBJECT: Re:re:left handed difficulti
Date: 96-11-26 11:19:23 EST
From: Sleepysaj
Susan
How can you be so certain? I had a number of people (from my family doctor to the writing teacher in the publishing lab) tell me that left handedness was a factor in my daughter's reversals. I also observed her (obviously) many times watching me write (I'm a rightie) and then performing a mirror image letter for herself. I had to explain to her (often, she was 3) that when my hand moved backwards hers had to move forwards and vica-versa.
I'm not trying to be argumentative(honestly!), I just can't see how you can be so absolute.
Stephanie
SUBJECT: Re:re:left handed difficulti
Date: 96-11-27 01:40:53 EST
From: SusanS29
"Susan
How can you be so certain? I had a number of people (from my family doctor to the writing teacher in the publishing lab) tell me that left handedness was a factor in my daughter's reversals."
It's my field of expertise. I'm a learning specialist, and I do know what goes into the thing we call reversals. It doesn't have anything to do with whether the child is left-handed or right-handed.
To give you an example, I'm left-handed but never had reverals. My right-handed daughter had tremendous reversal problems (both letters and numerals; it's not terribly common with numerals but does happen).
In fact, sometimes she would write her name upside down and backwards. When shown the right way, she wouldn't see the difference. That's very significant reversals.
"I also observed her (obviously) many times watching me write (I'm a rightie) and then performing a mirror image letter for herself. I had to explain to her (often, she was 3) that when my hand moved backwards hers had to move forwards and vica-versa."
Reversals are extremely normal in a 3 year old; we expect to see them at that age.
Reversals are caused by disturbances in visual perception (or in the case of a three year old, normal development), not which hand is used to create the letter.
SUBJECT: i'm a lefty
Date: 96-11-27 08:27:51 EST
From: PMorgan802
I would have to agree with Susan on this matter. I'm left-handed myself, so I was very interested when I happened upon this topic. The only problems I had and still have in writing is that my letters smudge if I use a flair pen! SEriously, it may seems tricky at first, but your child will catch up. Being left-handed isn't the problem. Scissors are difficult, but I have found if you use "Sharpie" brand scissors, they work for either left or right handed people. Good Luck!
SUBJECT: a suggestion
Date: 96-11-28 00:01:06 EST
From: PMorgan802
After being at school all day, I have thought of something about lefties. As I explained earlier, I am a lefty myself. One problem that I do have is that I hold my pencil incorrectly. I don't think it has hurt my writing in any way, except that it makes for difficult modeling for my kids. Anyway, I was thinking that it may be helpful if you have a child who cannot hold his or her pencil correctly to get a pncil grip that can be placed at the end of the pencil. There are indentations that the child places his or her finger on and it forces them to hold the pencil correctly. However, this is not a suggestions exclusively for lefties. I thought of it after I got to school and saw one of my students who has a pencil grip. She is right handed, but I thought I would provide the suggestion.
SUBJECT: Re:a suggestion
Date: 96-11-28 10:09:55 EST
From: SusanS29
I would like to see all kids start out with pencil grips, because with a pencil grip it's just about impossible to hold the pencil any way except the right way.
Also it just makes it easier to hold, with less strain on young hands and undeveloped muscles.
SUBJECT: Re:a suggestion
Date: 96-11-28 10:59:00 EST
From: U5054
I'm a lefty also. Thank goodness for the new style desks in school. I remember having to use the desk next to me in classes when we had the old left-handed or right-handed arms. I've noticed and read about many left-handed boys that are also L.D. Anyone else with info on this? Tip: use hard lead instead of soft lead pencils. It doesn't smear as bad.
SUBJECT:
Re: left handed difficulties
Date: 96-11-30 02:25:28 EST
From: COACHFITZ
i am left handed and a special eduaction teacher for the past 19 years. Would be glad to help in any way. contact me at COACHFITZ@aol
SUBJECT: Re:left handed
difficulties
Date: 96-11-30 16:44:00 EST
From: SPCHRGM
in case anyone is interested, Lefthanders International Magazine has a catalog with products for lefties. One product that we wound up ordering alot of were the non-smear pencils and pens for my son. I also sent a pair of Friskars scissors to school with him(per recommndation of an Occupational therapist I work with) since the scissors at school has very poor(dull) blades. My sons school is also using that Denealian handwriting system, which is not my favorite. I pointed out to the teacher that all the examples in his workbook had a huge right slant...If anyone has more resources for products for lefties, please post...SPCHRGM@aol.com
SUBJECT: Re:left handed difficulties
Date: 96-12-01 11:21:27 EST
From: SusanS29
But there's no reason a "leftie" can't write with a "right" slant...
SUBJECT:
Re: right slanting letters
Date: 96-12-02 09:59:29 EST
From: ALWPerry
I too am a lefty and was taught by my 3rd grade teacher to tilt the top of the paper to the right instead of the left like righties. Result: my letters slant the right direction and I don't have to look "over" the top of my hand to see what I'm writing.
SUBJECT: left handed difficulties
Date: 96-12-03 18:08:50 EST
From: LADIEJ1064
My son is two years old. He is not in any daycare. I am teaching him at home. He is a lefty, and I was hoping that I could hear from anyone who can give me advice as to how to prepare him for the day he starts pre-k. My fear is for him to fall behind as I have read in some of these cases. My son is a rapid learner, he knows how to identify all the letters in the alphabet, and the numbers from 1-5. Is the myth that left handed people are more creative true?? My husband is trying to teach him to use his right hand, because he states that it is a right handed world. If there are any mothers who can give me advice, I would greatly appreciate it. Please e-mail with any info. Thank you kindly.
SUBJECT: Re:left handed difficulties
Date: 96-12-03 20:08:19 EST
From: SusanS29
Do not try to "teach* him to be a right-handed person.
If you want to create trouble for him, that's the way to do it.
There is nothing in being left-handed that will cause him to fall behind- but nothing in being left-handed to protect him from things that might cause him to fall behind, either.
Being left-handed is just a trait, like curly hair or blue eyes. It has no more educational significance than the kind of hair or color of eyes one has.
UNLESS someone screws things up by trying to change him into a right-handed person. That, my friend, is a very bad idea.
SUBJECT: Re:left handed
difficulties
Date: 96-12-03 22:18:16 EST
From: PMorgan802
Being left-handed is not a disability. It really truly will not cause anyone's child to "fall behind" in letter formation or any other aspects of eduction. Teaching how to tie a shoe can be tricky, just because a lefty will do it "backwards" (however, I like to say it's the 'righties' who do it backward). Please do not worry about your son's left-handedness. Also, let me assure you that while people say it is a right-handed world, we lefties get along just fine!!
SUBJECT: Re:left handed difficulties
Date: 96-12-03 22:51:15 EST
From: Ratatat
<<UNLESS someone screws things up by trying to change him into a right-handed
person. That, my friend, is a very bad idea.>>
When I had my first child I remember reading or being told that kids will "show" which hand the prefer pretty early one - like by 6 months or earlier.
My son didn't show any preference AT ALL. None. I had lots of people encourage me to "make" him use his right hand. I refused. I figured he'd sort it out by what felt comfortable for him.
By kindergarten he had decided to write with this right hand, bat left, play tennis left, but throw balls with his right hand!
He's now 16 and still shows these same preferences. His handwriting is awful. His artwork is amazing and detailed. He is an incredible athlete. And, now he believes that he's ambidextrous.
Whatever.
SUBJECT: Re:left handed difficulties
Date: 96-12-04 01:02:06 EST
From: ELMHOME
Ratatat Yes oh Yes, Most people are not right-handed or left-handed but combination of both.
Most people only use one hand for skilled things like writing, throwing, hitting etc. Most people are condition into think one or the other.
It should be left to the individual as far as which hand to use for what skill. Myself am a leftie for the most part but I can do everything also with my right even write. Now my writing with my right use to be as good as my left in high school but I favor the left since so my writing with my right weak.
Oh one last comment "the right way to hold a pencil" I thought that concept was throw out years ago.
SUBJECT: Re:left handed difficulties
Date: 96-12-04 01:59:40 EST
From: SusanS29
"Oh one last comment "the right way to hold a pencil" I thought that concept was throw out years ago. '"
No it really hasn't been, and it really does help children who have fine-motor problems if a way can be found to get them to hold it "the right way."
Using a pencil grip early (with rewards for using it if necessary) is the best way to do that.
SUBJECT: Re:left handed difficulties
Date: 96-12-05 04:36:03 EST
From: WUJS1995
I am so intrigued by all the information I have been reading from these messages. I am the only lefty in my family and when I was in school no one ever gave me useful tips to make writing easier for me.
That Lefthanders magazine is a good source for lefthanded materials plus it is interesting to read various articles about lefthanders.
I am a special education teacher and it would be interesting to find out any info. about LD boys and being lefthanded. Isure do have alot of them.
michelle
SUBJECT:
Re: left handed difficulties
Date: 96-12-05 19:51:46 EST
From: LDABEL
I am a left-handed special ed. teacher. I have trained myself to use my right hand to help the righties and use my left for the lefties. One thing that I found that works, epscially when beginning cursive, is to let the children draw big circles, slanted lines, etc. on the board with chalk. They do this with each hand for about 10 minutes before they ever put anything on paper. It seemed to help the boys the most. To all you moms and dads out there that are trying to change your child into a rightie-STOP. You'll only make more trouble for your child later.
SUBJECT: Re:left handed difficulties
Date: 96-12-06 16:13:03 EST
From: WUJS1995
I teach the Herman Reading and Writing program to my students with learning disabilities. The writing part involves the students using their gross motor skills to learn the letters before using their fine motor skills. It really helps the students whether right or left handed. The students write the letters on the board, in sand, and trace velvet letters. They start off writing the letters big then make them smaller and smaller. I would think this would be helpful to left handed children learning to write.
SUBJECT: Re:fine motor and scissors
Date: 96-12-07 09:44:09 EST
From: CheKrei
To the earlier post that mentioned scissors - my five year old, left-handed son just entered kindergarten and his teacher was concerned that his fine motor skills were rather behind all of his other development, and asked me to spend more time cutting and drawing with him at home (he's never displayed any previous interest in those areas prior to kindergarten so I'm not surprised about the skills, and fortunately, this is a WONDERFUL teacher and now he wants to write books everyday) Anyway, she directed me to a product that is a pair of scissors with two grips - the inner set for the child's fingers, the outer set for the adult. They come left-handed or right-handed; I myself am a righty, but I don't find them difficult to use with my left hand (28 years of piano playing have made my left hand almost useful!) We also have the standard kid sized left handed scissors for him to cut alone, but it's kind of fun for us to do it together. I got my set at a store called Constructive Playthings in Skokie, IL, but I'm sure any good teacher supply store would have them.
I realize all the stories about left handers and learning troubles are anecdotal, but with the way scientists are taking apart our genes now, I don't think you can discount the possibility of new discoveries - my husband's family has several left handers who seem to have some language difficulties; perhaps it's something that travels together for some people, or perhaps it's a total coincidence.
SUBJECT: Another Lefty
Date: 96-12-09 12:19:00 EST
From: GPMonkey
Reading these messages made me think about what it was like growing up a lefty in a righty family. For me it was a positve experience. My parents taught me that I was special not just different. They never tried to change the hand I used. They bought me a left-handed glove when I wanted to play softball.
There were some things that were more diffucult than others. For example, opening a can with a can opener. But, I adapted and found novel ways to do things. My handwriting was a problem in elementary school but as an adult I have developed my own style that is quite legible. As a special educator, I am able to use the problem solving techniques I learned as a lefty in a righty world to help my students.
Lefty children must be encouraged to do things in a manner that best suits them. This is no different for those with or without learning disabilities.
SUBJECT: Re:left handed difficulties
Date: 96-12-09 13:33:04 EST
From: NancyTreur
Are there any left handed teachers in his school who would be willing to help? I am left handed, also as is my son. Neither of my parents were left handed and I learned to do many things right handed. My son is totally left handed. Most important is to make your son feel that he is as capable as anyone else and encourage him to find ways to do things his own way. Did you know that it is possible to buy left handed scissors? Give him lots of encouragement and make him feel that he is special, not different. Above all, don't over react. Many successful people are lefthanded!
From, Lefty in Michigan
SUBJECT: difficulties
Date: 96-12-09 19:28:10 EST
From: DWOTR
I am an Occupational Therapist who works in the school system with many children having diffuculty with fine motor control. If you feel it is necessary to rule out other causes for why your son is falling behind in some areas, an Occupational Therapy evaluation can be the place to start. Ask at your school.
By the way, there may not be one right way to hold a pencil, but there are definitely wrong ways. An OT can check that too.
SUBJECT: Re:re:left handed
difficulti
Date: 96-12-10 17:56:14 EST
From: BUNITELS
All Children go through letter reversal.And Susan is correct by saying that being left handed has nothing to do wih it.My son is 8 and is left handed.He has no problems because of it.I think you are putting to much preasure on your child to read and write.They will do it when THEY are ready.Stop pushing so much.A 5 year old doesnt NEED to read and write.My son is 8 and stlii cant,and he is pretty darn normal.A child isnt even really ready until age 8 and that is a fact,and can be backed up with proof.I am so tired of parents and teachers pushing kids before they are ready.Now,on the other hand,some are ready at 5,but not most.Give your kids time.they are only kids once.
SUBJECT:
Famous and semi-famous lefts
Date: 96-12-11 18:51:55 EST
From: SPCHRGM
Just as an aside, my son mentioned to me that he only had one other friend who was a leftie..I pointed out that that was what made him special, and started looking for real life examples he could relate to..on Nickelodeon, a cartoon character named Doug is left handed("like me!!") said my son. I also pointed out to him that the president was left handed...my son wanted to know if that is why he won... I pointed out that in recent times many presidents have been lefties(P.S. Even Ronald Regan was a switched leftie according to a book on lefties). Now my son says he is going to be the next president!!!
SPCHRGM@aol.com
SUBJECT: Lefties
Date: 96-12-14 01:20:45 EST
From: AgnesSmith
My 8 yr. old daughter is the only lefty in the house and the only one I know of in the whole family. But then I was 38 when I had her and have heard that older mothers tend to have more left handed babies?!?
Anyway, I've always been somewhat ambidextrous and can write backwards quite easily with my left hand. There are a lot of things I do with my left hand that I've gotten comments about. I always put makeup on my left eye with my left hand and vice versa. When I wore contacts I put them in the right eye with my right hand and the left eye with my left hand. I never thought it was strange until people commented.
I've never made a big deal of my daughter being left-handed. When she was younger and just learning to write she would start on the left hand side as normal, writing her alphabet frontwards and at the end of the line she would go down under the last letter she had written and proceed to write the rest of her letters backwards as she moved away from the right side of the paper. I thought it was pretty funny and when you think about it not such a strange thing to do.
However, she still does reversals and reverses her numbers, not only will her 5's and 7's be backwards she will reverse the order of the numbers and instead of 14 will write 41. Then of course they are marked wrong because the teacher doesn't seem to be smart enough to realize that they are reversals.
We have a meeting right after Christmas to get the results of her evaluation recently completed at school! But her older brother is definitely right-handed and very LD.
SUBJECT: Re:Lefties
Date: 96-12-14 12:51:06 EST
From: SusanS29
" However, she still does reversals and reverses her numbers, not only will her 5's and 7's be backwards she will reverse the order of the numbers and instead of 14 will write 41."
Just understand that this has nothing to do with being left-handed. :)
SUBJECT:
Re: left handed difficulties
Date: 96-12-14 16:16:41 EST
From: Marco kids
I HAVE 2 LEFT HANDED CHILDREN, AND NEITHER MY HUSBAND NOR MYSELF ARE LEFT HAND. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT AT FIRST, BUT TALKING TO OTHER PEOPLE, AND MY PEDIATRICIAN, I FELT MUCH BETTER. THERE ARE MANY SUPPLIES FOR LEFT HANDED KIDS. THERE ARE NOTEBOOKS WITH THE BINDER ON THE RIGHT SIDE, SO THAT WHEN THEY WRITE, THE PEN OR PENCIL DOESN'T SMEAR ACROSS THE PAPER. THERE ARE ALSO LEFT HANDED SCISSORS. THINGS GET BETTER. TRUST ME. THEY ARE BOTH HONOR ROLE STUDENTS.
SUBJECT: Re:left handed difficulties
Date: 96-12-14 21:54:36 EST
From: SusanS29
Thank you for your post, but please-in the future use both upper and lower case when posting.
ALL CAPS is hard to read, and in addition it's how we show that we're "SHOUTING!!!" on line. I'm sure you didn't intend to "shout" at everyone. ;)
Thanks.
SusanS29, Host
SUBJECT: Re:left handed difficulties
Date: 96-12-15 21:33:19 EST
From: SPCHRGM
In my haste to give info, I neglected the address for Lefthanders International. The one I have is:Lefthanders International, P.O. Box 8249,Topeka Kansas, 66608. The magazine format is a little unusual but they have revised it to accomadate what they state is a more natural way for lefties to read. Some of their readers love it, some dont. I can relate to what the lady said about having a leftie when neither parent is...after we figured out his handedness, we both started looking on our familiy trees...absolutely none: however, we did have a lot of people on both sides that were musical,artistic,mathematically inclined. My husband is an engineer as is my uncle and grandfather: my brother is musical, I play piano and my grandmother was quite an artist. I dont know, maybe some of the family were "switched" lefties, you know not that long ago, lefties had to endure quite a bit ofharassment by both teachers and well intended others because of their handedness...(P.S. I'm not at all mathematical, it was my worst subject in school)SPCHRGM@aol.com
SUBJECT: Re:left handed difficulties
Date: 96-12-27 21:11:57 EST
From: HILOWITZ
When I first read your note I said the same thing. The problem is not being left handed. I am an OT in the school system. my husband and son are left handed. When my son had trouble learning to write they (the teachers) kept saying it was because he was a boy and left handed. In second grade I finally had him tested and he is dysgraphic. He had a learning disability related to learning to form letters and put them in the proper order. He is a fantastic artist and is going to college to major in art, it is not a motor problem. Get the school to test him, insist on an OT evaluation and request that a fine motor and visual perceptual tests be performed. Ask for a visual perceptual test with motor components and without motor components. to determine if he is having fine motor problem, visual perceptual problems or a learning disability.
SUBJECT: Re:a suggestion
Date: 96-12-27 21:19:04 EST
From: HILOWITZ
I am an OT and there are many "right" ways to hold the pencil. I have seen many children who have developed unbelievable grips using these grippers. I have seen children with beutiful writing with the worst grips. The grip is not the only, nor the major factor in handwriting.
Watch yourself write sometime, do you use your fingers to move the pencil or are your fingers still and the wrist and arm move. For good functions writing the fingers should be doing most of the movement. The hand and shoulder need to be stabelized. Watch store clerks and fellow teachers and friends writing you will see a wide variety fo excellent functional handwriting.
SUBJECT: Re:left handed difficulties
Date: 96-12-27 21:22:33 EST
From: HILOWITZ
Jadiej1064 - DO NOT change your child. Tell your husband that left handed people are the only ones in their right minds.
SUBJECT: Re:left handed
difficulties
Date: 96-12-28 08:48:32 EST
From: Mars000210
Hello, just to add a note. Two of us in my family are left handed two are right handed we are all dysgraphic. Changing your child from left to right will not make your childs life easier. You may create problems that are not there now if you do. A child who has writing difficulties should be evalutated for dysgrpahia. The only problem I see with the left handers in my family is where you sit them, the solution is simple at the dinner table on the end.
SUBJECT: Left Handedness
Date: 96-12-31 19:37:52 EST
From: Scot4236
Susan: I am a left hander who teaches the learning disabled and while I would not purpose a direct correlation between left handedness and encoding difficulties, I would say that I have noticed a high number of left handers recieving Sp. Ed. services. Of 18 fifth graders at least 7 are left handed. Does this type of concentration occur in other specialized areas of education? I would submit that the teaching practices of right handed teachers tends to encourage problems in left handed students. Even in the Army we left handers were given seperate training in some areas because our body movements were in the oppisite direction of the right handers. Thanks.
SUBJECT: Re:Left Handedness
Date: 97-01-01 00:01:13 EST
From: SusanS29
I'm just challenging the notion that being left-handed is any kind of "learning problem." It would make sense in the army to have separate classes for left-handers in some complex tasks, but that doesn't make it a learning problem. It just means that right-handed movements won't work for them.
There is a slightly higher incidence of left-handedness among students who are LD; of that I'm certain; but my daughter who was MARKEDLY dysgraphic and who had MAJOR visual perceptual problems (more severe than any student I had on my caseload in 20 years) -- is right-handed.
It's not enough to be diagnosticially significant.
SUBJECT: Lefties
Date: 97-01-01 13:31:40 EST
From: Dianamatt
I've read all the messages on lefties....oh what an interesting lot we are! I'm a leftie who teaches LD children and have also noticed a large number of lefties (mostly boys) over the years. I always begin the school year by asking the lefties to raise their left hands...they are usually hesitant as it has been a problem in the past. The righties get a big shock when I tell them that the ones with their left hands up have already passed my class, the others will have to work to pass it!!! This makes the lefties feel great and it starts the year off on a good foot and the lefties feel comfortable enough with me to talk to me about any problems they may be having!!! When they recieve "not so great" scores, they occasionally remind of my first day promise..we always get a good laugh!
SUBJECT: Re:Lefties NOT a problem
Date: 97-01-04 22:44:16 EST
From: ALWPerry
I don't know.. maybe I was lucky...but I never had any problems being lefthanded, except at the dinner table :) The only comment I remember hearing was from my 3rd grade teacher when we were learning to write in cursive. She commented that she was glad I wasn't trying to write "upside-down" like some lefties. Since I have been an adult, someone told me it was because of which eye was dominant-apparently the strange way lefties turn their hands to write is so they can see what they are doing with the dominant eye. Of course, my teacher also taught me to slant my paper the opposite way from the righties, so I wasn't trying to write uphill.
As for left-handed products (notebooks, scissors, etc.), I have never found much use for most of them. They never seemed any better than the other stuff and were more difficult to find. The only exception is left-handed desks, especially in college classrooms.
* Amanda
SUBJECT: Re:Teaching Handwriting
Date: 97-01-11 20:52:24 EST
From: Viv Bacca
I am right handed & so is my 5th grade daughter. However, for her science fair project she chose to test handwriting speed of left vs right handed kids. While this experiment has not been difficult for her to implement, finding material on this topic for her research paper has been a challenge so I've been helping her locate sources. In this process, I found some great left handed sites such as Left Handers in Society and Rosemary West's Left-Handers Page. Rosemary's page put me on to an article my Dexter Kozen at Cornell University called "On Teaching Left-Handed Children to Write." He has figures illustrating "usual" methods as well as his proposed method. She also has a list of famous left-handers.
If anyone has seen anything about being left-handed written for children, as opposed to adults, I'd really appreciate it if you'd email me the name of the book, etc. at VivBacca@aol.com. I really can't blame Kaitlyn for complaining about having to read pages from The Left-Hander Syndrome so I've been trying to find things that would be more interesting to her yet still usuable for her research paper.
Thanks,
Viv
SUBJECT: Born righty, made lefty
Date: 97-01-13 16:05:13 EST
From: MarcyAF
I recognize some familliar names from the FAS board! My son was born with FAS and has LD as well. While he was a toddler in Foster Care, his foster parents somehow encouraged his use of his left hand. Apparently, they saw him coloring with his left hand (normal for toddlers) and assumed he was a lefty, so they discouraged his use of his right hand. Today, at 12, writing is the only thing he does left handed. He was thoroughly tested several years ago, and the OT said he was definitely a righty, but to change him at that point would have psychological damage. Now, he wants to change and has started writing with his right hand. His handwriting is actually neater now than when he used his left hand. My question: Is his choice of being right handed going to really bring on psychological problems? He is thrilled that he can change one thing about him that is different as the other things are irreversible.
Thanks,
Marcy
SUBJECT: handwriting difficulties
Date: 97-01-13 19:37:34 EST
From: CErnsting
I am a first grade teacher who has a child (left-handed) with terrible handwriting. I believe that he tries hard to form his letters correctly but has a very hard time of it. I am left-handed and remember what it was like to learn to write. Anyhow, I heard from a SPED teacher in our building that handwriting can sometimes be related to crawling as a toddler. I asked this childs mother about this, and she stated that he never crawled. I am interested in any information anyone may have on this. I believe the term used for this is patterning. Please e-mail me with any responses at cernsting@aol.com. Thank you!!
SUBJECT: Re:handwriting difficulties
Date: 97-01-14 00:21:37 EST
From: SusanS29
Patterning was an interesting theory, but it hasn't been borne out.
Often children who develop in an unusual way with gross motor skills also have trouble with fine-motor skills. That doesn't make the crawling thing the cause, but might have predicted future motoric difficulties.
SUBJECT:
Re: handwriting difficulties
Date: 97-01-14 14:42:22 EST
From: Vongi 97
As the mother on a left handed daughter, we are having a hard time teaching her how to write. We have found one resource that we have shared with her O/T therapist and her classroom teacher, and that was simply learning how to write with our left hand and placing our left hand over her left hand to print out the alphaphabet, we also notice that she seems to understand letter formation much easier if we demonstrate writing it ourselves, with our left hand. We have found it very helpful to have other staff who are also lefthanded to help her.Vongi,97
SUBJECT: Re:Lefties NOT a problem
Date: 97-01-16 22:20:33 EST
From: ECVaughan
I am not an educator but I read the messages concerning "left-handedness" with great interest. I am the youngest of five children and write left handed. My four brothers and sisters as well as my parents and grandparents are right handed. During the 1950's my parents and teachers attempted to force me to "right-handedness." This caused a lot of confusion during writing practices. I naturally drifted to using my left but my conscious pushed me to my right. I remember the confusion of trying to hold eating utensils because of this unnatural push to the right. I remember the stigma caused by the nuns in Catholic schools when they would stop class to force me to write with my right hand. The problems in school didn't come from being left-handed but from being left-handed in a right-handed world.
All writing is a direct link to the brain. Left handed people are predominantly right-brained. By forcing a left-handed person to use their right hand, you are going far beyond the simple selection of which hand to use.
A couple of centuries ago, left handed people were thought to be agents of the devil or witches. Michaelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci were left-handed. Should they have been stigmatized or forced to write, paint, or sculpt with their right hands? I think we would have lost their genius.
SUBJECT: Re:Lefties
NOT a problem
Date: 97-01-18 01:05:13 EST
From: SusanS29
"I naturally drifted to using my left but my conscious pushed me to my right. I remember the confusion of trying to hold eating utensils because of this unnatural push to the right. I remember the stigma caused by the nuns in Catholic schools when they would stop class to force me to write with my right hand. "
I was a lot luckier with the nuns. I didn't go to a Catholic school in first grade, but I did take piano lessons at the convent. One day the nun who taught me (whom I remember as about 80 but probably was 40 or so-grin) saw me start to mark my music with my left hand, drop the pencil and pick it up with my right.
She asked me why, and I said that it was pretty obvious that my being left-handed caused my teacher (who was a first-year teacher) a lot of confusion. I was going to switch to help her out.
The nun gently told me that God intended me to be left-handed, and then showed me how to hold the pencil correctly in my left hand.
"All writing is a direct link to the brain. Left handed people are predominantly right-brained."
Yes that's true. That's why only left-handers are in their right minds.
:)
SUBJECT: Re:Lefty son
Date: 97-01-18 23:28:52 EST
From: JABCDE
I have enjoyed reading this board. I was a special ed teacher of 14 years, and then I had MY SON ! He was collicky for at least 9 months, didn't sleep through the night for those 9 months, spoke in vowels for close to 3 years of his life, has a temper that is tough to rival, continues to drop his initial consonants in many words, as well as switch words ex. door front for front door. He demonstrates strong signs for being a lefty, although sometimes I notice that he will hold a crayon or pencil in his right. He does not want to have anything to do with "learning". He won't even do fun art projects, as he views them as threatening. He leaves the area as soon as his sister wants to work on letters, numbers, reading, etc. He just turned 4, and his sister is 6. She has sailed through life, and has a rather nice disposition, so I know that I can't be blamed for ALL his problems due to bad parenting (although I have already lost the Mother of the Year Award & it's only January, so he informs me). He is bright and sensitive, and is quick to get a joke. However, when it's his turn to do a knock-knock or rhyme, or something of that nature, he will repeat what the last person said, as opposed to making up his own. I feel STRONGLY that he will be diagnosed as LD in a couple of years. I thank all those who wrote & gave me ideas and references to persue. I will read with enthusiasm anything further people would like to suggest to get him to learn without stress (as he perceives it). Thanks to all who try to help! Janet
SUBJECT: Re:right slanting letters
Date: 97-01-27 18:47:06 EST
From: XCKAREN
I left-handed teacher of students with learning disabilities. I write with my paper at a slant to the right also. Sometimes, it is almost completely horizontal. The result is that I can always see what I am writing, my slant is perfect, and my hand does not get as tired. I teach this to 5 learning disabled left-handed boys. Over a period of time, they have all said they prefer writing with there paper slanted. Don't expect your lefties to be exactly like your righties. Remember we are all different, and can get to the same point with 2 different styles.
SUBJECT: Re:left handed difficulties
Date: 97-01-27 18:51:33 EST
From: XCKAREN
please do not force your child to be right handed. There are many famous people who have survived in this world as a left handed person and done great things. Research this, you will be surprised. Also, many problems can occur from being forced to write with your right hand- like the wrong grip, wrong muscle development, and as a result very poor writing. Be patient. Don't make your child nervous about this. It is wonderful being left handed- it gives you many advantages. Remember that lefties and righties do not have to do everything the same. We are all different, and that is ok.
SUBJECT: Re:Lefty
son
Date: 97-01-27 22:53:17 EST
From: Dianamatt
I would not wait to see if your son tested into an LD class at a later date. Your school system has pre-school assessments that should be done now....he can get a jump start on those things which are giving him problems. My son started in a pre-school class at 3 and it really helped him out!!! There is nothing like early intervention....it's there, use it!
SUBJECT: Re:re:reversals
Date: 97-01-31 00:27:03 EST
From: TeacherSu
I have to disagree about left handedness and reversals. THere are times when there is a relationship. My daughter is left-handed and used to get disgusted with the fact that she could not see what she was writing. Her solution was to write entirely backwards...mirror style. She always saw my hand when I was writing work away from the letters and she felt she should do the same. She is now 6 and only does this on rare occasions. But during this entire time she has always been able to identify letters without trouble and has been able to read. So it definitely was not a dyslexia. Other friends of mine who are left-handed have said that they went through similar things when they were younger.
SUBJECT: Re:re:reversals
Date: 97-01-31 17:41:32 EST
From: SusanS29
"My daughter is left-handed and used to get disgusted with the fact that she could not see what she was writing. Her solution was to write entirely backwards...mirror style."
but that is so highly unusual that it would be considered idiosyncratic, not a relationship between being left-handed and dyslexia. It was a behavioral choice, as you pointed out.
Both my children are right-handed, and one has learning disabilities. I'm left-handed but with no learning disabilities.
SUBJECT: Re:left handed
difficulties
Date: 97-02-03 21:34:34 EST
From: U9797
MY 8 YR. OLD SON HAD ALL THOSE TESTS BBY AN OT. HE CAME OUT WITHIN NORMAL
RANGE AND AGE APPROPRIATE FOR ALL. STILL HAVING DIFFICULTIES ITOOK HIM TO A
NEUROLOGIST FOR FURTHER EVALUATION , DIAGNOSED AS HAVING MILD LEARNING
DISABILITIES AT MOST. NO EDUCATIONAL OR FURTHER TESTING NEEDED. JUST COTINUE
TUTORING<.HELP
SUBJECT: Lefties, Reversals, etc.
Date: 97-02-05 21:44:18 EST
From: KPaynecows
Wow... what great topics. Here's my two cents:
I'm left handed - my first grade teacher (a big mean nun) told me it was the sign of the devil to be left-handed and would tape my pencil to my right hand. I recall my mom (more than once) quizzically ask me, "Why do you write with your left hand?!" (I'm the only one in a family of six to do so.) I've always thought this is why - to this day - that I do everything with my right hand - except for writing with pens and pencils. I can't cut, bat, throw, etc. with my left. I've seen a neurologist for carpel tunnel - and he tells the same story of himself! So moms and teachers - as the song goes, "...Leave them kids alone!" (BTW - I score a 9 on the creativity scale. :-)
Another plus - I once read lefties fare better in the event of a stroke.
Reversals: I'm interested in knowing more. I teach 1/2 day in a seriously emotionally disturbed class. I'm in charge of language arts for three students 8-9 years old. They all reverse to some degree - one more than the rest. He will even guess "m" for "w" and "p" for "g." He just throws out any old thing when trying to guess a word because he wants to be the first one to say the word aloud. I don't know if his vision has been tested - I've only been working with him for a couple of weeks. Susan, I'd really love some input from you and other specialists on how to get these kids to focus their attention on me - the head teacher wants me to concentrate on phonics and sounds but we are struggling to overcome impulsive and erractic behavior too!
By the way - none of these kiddos are lefties. And I like the idea of hard lead to prevent smudging NEAT! - but how do you know which pencils your school is providing? Does it say on the box?
K
SUBJECT: Mirroring and the Lefty
Date: 97-02-07 18:29:57 EST
From: CDucky1
Your post have all been very interesting. I have a six year old daughter in kindergarten. She has always done some reversal of letters periodically, which I realize is age appropriate. Lately, she has begun to do more mirroring of words. She sees a speech pathologist and she picked up on it and suggested I speak with her teacher. I also spoke with her piano teacher and she has noticed an increase in mirroring of music phrases when she is playing. Her kindergarten teacher does not seem concerned, but I can see why the seat work she does at school makes it easier for her to go left to right, so the teacher may not be seeing the frequency that I do at home. I know that if prompted and given a starting point she will write correctly. My worry is that something is different in the way she processes information. I did mirroring when I was a child too, and have often wondered if I were in school today if I would have been diagnosed as having a learning disability. Although I could sound out words, reading has never come easy to me. I was and still am a fairly slow reader, often finding it difficult to track. I also notice at times it is difficult for me to think things through. As with most children I learned to compensate. I am a great auditory learner. Graduated college with decent grades and never once read a textbook, in all my years of schooling (I did know not to skip class). I am a lefty and so is my daughter. I know this happens to righties too, but it seams logical to me that some left handed people may process information differently. Does anyone have any suggestions for my daughter? How far should I pursue gettingspecial help? Can the way people process information change? Please E-Mail me if you have any comments, I may never find this message board a second time. Thanks, Cindy
SUBJECT: Re:Being a Lefty!
Date: 97-02-08 08:54:46 EST
From: BurkesRott
I am left handed. The only one in my family. In elem. school I received U's for handwriting. But now my mother can't tell my writing from my right-handed sister's.
Please do not try to make your left-handed child right-handed. My mom used to just sit and watch me because she was amazed at the way left-handed people do things-not that there is a right or wrong way. Sure, It may look like the child is having difficulties trying to do something, but it is just because you would do it a different way. Nothing makes me madder than for my husband to take something away from me to finish because he thinks I'm having problems.
By the way, I write, eat, brush my hair, put on makeup and do just about everything left-handed, except throw a softball. I teach a multi-handicapped, self-contained class. I have had only one left-handed student and 5 years and I feel she should be right-handed,but some surgeon thought it best to take tendons in her right hand and put them in her left leg. But, being left handed has helped me teach her to write. I have learned to print using my right hand to help my right handed students learn to write.
bburkes@telapex.com
SUBJECT: Re:Lefties, Reversals, etc.
Date: 97-02-23 12:11:36 EST
From: SusanS29
Any eight-nine year old who still reverses should be evaluated for learning disabilities. Were these kids evaluated thoroughly for LD when they were diagnosed?
