Hey+All+You+Teachers,+I+Have+Dysgraphia

=**Hey Teachers! I Have Dysgraphia!**=

//"Supposing is good, but finding out is better." - Mark Twain//




 * Dysgraphia: What is it?**

Dysgraphia is a neurological disorder that manifests itself as the inability to write. According to the NIND, it usually becomes apparent when the individual is introduced to writing. Both adult and child onset can be related to brain trauma, however, an exact cause is unknown.

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 * Reading Rockets: Understanding Dysgraphia by International Dyslexia Association**

According to [|Dyslexia A2Z website] there is no definitive cause, but damage to the motor system or a language disorder.
 * Causes of Dysgraphia:**


 * Types of Dysgraphia:**


 * **Types of Dysgraphia** || **Written Text** || **Oral Spelling** || **Copying** || **Drawing** || **Finger Tapping** ||
 * Dyslexic || illegible || poor || normal || normal || normal ||
 * Motor || illegible || normal || illegible || problematic || abnormal ||
 * Spatial || illegible || normal || illegible || problematic || normal ||

Also mentioned: phonological and visual dysgraphia

**Signs and Symptoms** [|from the Learning Disabilities Association of America]


 * illegible printing and cursive
 * inconsistencies of print and cursive, upper and lower case, or irregular sizes
 * unfinished words/letters, omitted words
 * inconsistent spacing
 * strange wrist, body, or paper position
 * pre-visualizing letter formation is poor
 * copying or writing is slow or labored
 * poor spatial planning on paper
 * cramped grip
 * much difficulty thinking and writing at the same time

**Characteristics of Dysgraphia:**

[|Checklist] for Dysgraphia: > >
 * Poor motor control.
 * Writing that is almost impossible to read.
 * Mixture of printing and cursive writing on the same line.
 * Writes in all directions, i.e. right slant then left slant.
 * Big and small spaces between words.
 * Different sized letters on the same line.
 * Mixes up capital letters and lower case letters on the same line.
 * Abnormal and irregular formation of letters.
 * Very slow writing.
 * Very slow copying from board.
 * Does not follow margins.
 * Grips the pen too tight and with a ‘fist grip’.
 * Holds pen very low down so fingers almost touches the paper.
 * Watches hand intently whilst actually writing.
 * Poor spelling.
 * Bizarre spelling.
 * Problems with spelling wrong words i.e., ‘brot’ for brought and ‘stayshun’ for station.
 * Problems with spelling words such as i.e. drink as ‘brink’.


 * Strategies:**

1. Posture - Slouching or sitting on knees is not allowed. Students should be seated on their bottom. 2. Pivot - Fix the elbow in place as if it were a solid point of reference encouraging only movement from the elbow down 3. Grip - Grip the pencil but not too tightly. If the writer's fingers begin to discolor, the pencil is being gripped too tightly 4. Position the paper - The arm/wrist/hand needs to move with the lines of the paper horizontally, left to right. 5. Pull Not Push - 6. Stop and Think -


 * Exercises:**

1. Sit at a table or desk in front of the paper without a pencil and move the paper back and forth training the hand and eyes to work together. 2. Make letters out of playdough to reinforce the fine motor skills it takes to form letter of the alphabet. 3. Position the paper in front of the student.

[|Practice] **Activities (from the Dyslexia Lady - Dyslexia A2Z Blog):**

1. Practice letter shape and formation of letters in sand/salt trays (or kitty litter). 2. Use colored pens or chalk on black/white board. 3. Copying shapes and patterns. 4. Using a spirograph to practice writing. 5. Tracing objects back to home. 6. Coloring in mosaics or paint by number helps to build fine motor skills. 7. Coloring in doylies. 8. Juggling 9. Swimming 10. Jigsaw puzzles


 * Hand Strengthening (from the Dyslexia Lady - Dyslexia A2Z Blog):**

1. Squeeze balls 2. Play tennis


 * Other Suggestions for Skill Development (from the Dyslexia Lady - Dyslexia A2Z Blog):**

1. Space organization 2. Directional awareness 3. Sequencing


 * Teaching Modalities and/or Methods:**

1. Multisensory Teaching 2. Assistive Technologies
 * iPod Touch
 * LiveScribe Pen
 * [|Embed text behind a Livescribe PDF]
 * [|Big Key Keyboards]


 * Famous People With Dysgraphia:**

Albert Enstein George S. Patton Henry Winkler


 * Professional Learning Communities for Teachers:**

1. Twitter [|Dyslexia Lady] 2. Facebook [|Dyslexia Lady]


 * Where Do You Look For Help?**

//**Websites:**//

[|Learning Disabilities Association of America]

[|National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke]

[|Dyslexia A2Z]

//**Books:**//

[|Dyslexia and Other Learning Difficulties] by Maria Chivers

[|The Source For Dyslexia and Dysgraphia] by Regina G. Richards

[|Dysgraphia: Why Johnny Can't Write] by Diane Walton Cavey

//**Courses:**//

[|Touch, Type, Read, and Spell]

//**Blogs:**//

[|Dyslexia A2Z Blog]

[|Bonnie Terry's Blog]

//**Videos (dysgraphia, dyslexia and ADHD):**//

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