Navigating Dysgraphia: A Guide for Homeschool Parents

ByHomeschool OT

Writing is one of the most foundational skills our children will ever learn. It acts as a gateway to expressing thoughts, sharing stories, and diving into numerous academic pursuits. However, for some children, writing isn’t just another milestone—it’s a monumental challenge. As parents and educators, it’s essential to understand these struggles and discover ways to support them effectively. This is where the intriguing world of dysgraphia comes into play.

Defining Dysgraphia

Dysgraphia is often misunderstood. As Cheri Dotterer explains, dysgraphia isn’t just about messy handwriting. It’s a broader issue encompassing any difficulty with writing skills, whether by hand or computer. The complexity lies in the neurological pathways, memory, visual perception, and motor skills that interplay in the writing process.

Why isn’t Writing Automatic?

One significant insight Cheri offers is the misconception that writing should be automatic. Unlike reading, which develops faster due to its sensory process, writing involves additional motor components, making it a more extended and complex journey. Cheri likens it to a multi-lane highway where both reading and writing roads intersect and run parallel but develop at different speeds.

Understanding the Interventions

In our home, I’ve experienced firsthand the varying levels at which children approach writing. This isn’t a simple issue of practicing penmanship; it’s about comprehensively addressing the root causes. Cheri introduces a conceptual pyramid to delineate intervention types for dysgraphia. The foundational level addresses visual-spatial, motor, and memory-related dysgraphia—essentially the neurological groundwork. Moving up the pyramid, we encounter word and sentence formation dysgraphia, eventually culminating in the more cognitively demanding paragraph formation dysgraphia.

Practical Steps for Parents

  1. Embrace Multiple Methods: Don’t shy away from integrating technology into writing. Tools like Otter AI can serve as excellent companions. Recording conversations and analyzing them can help break down writing tasks into manageable chunks. This method not only makes the process engaging but also allows children to see their spoken words translated into text, bridging the gap between thought and written expression.
  2. Incorporate Memory Aids: As Cheri points out, memory is a big block. Visual aids like Real OT Solutions’ alpha triangle, which provides visual cues for letter formation, can drastically improve a child’s writing capability by offering a constant reference point.
  3. Tailor the Environment: Utilize motivational tools and environments akin to the Montessori method. Creating a space where children can explore and connect past knowledge with new information can significantly improve their learning experience.

Balancing Handwriting and Digital Writing

There’s a tendency to either focus solely on handwriting or abandon it in favor of digital tools entirely. Cheri advises a balanced approach—engage children in both handwriting and computer-based writing, but in different contexts and for different purposes. This dual approach ensures that while children might rely on digital tools for efficiency, they continue practicing and refining their handwriting skills, which remains a critical cognitive exercise.

Building Confidence

One of the standout pieces of advice Cheri shares is that many parents already have the tools and methods they need; they simply lack the confidence. It’s a comforting reminder that our instincts and existing strategies often align well with best practices in addressing dysgraphia. By continuing to seek help when necessary and trusting our approach, we can provide the best support for our children’s writing journey.

OT is IN #55 Understanding Dysgraphia: Tools and Strategies for Homeschoolers

We’re diving deep into the world of dysgraphia with our special guest, Cheri Dotterer. Cheri and I first connected through a shared passion for handwriting education, and our journey since has led to fruitful discussions and collaborations. Cheri shares her insightful journey from recognizing her own child’s struggles with spelling to exploring the intricate connections between giftedness and learning disabilities, particularly dysgraphia. We’ll walk through the neurological underpinnings of writing challenges, dive into the concept of flow states, and explore practical interventions for improving writing skills. She also talks about her groundbreaking work with both handwriting and math education, including her popular book, Handwriting Brain-Body Disconnect, and offers valuable resources like the Dysgraphia Checklist. Lets jump right in!

In this episode you’ll hear about:

  • Sarah and Cheri explain how they met and their work together.
  • Book: Handwriting Brain Body Disconnect
  • Flow State in Learning
  • Definition and explanation of flow state.
  • Impact of flow state on writing skills.
  • Difference between automatic writing and explicitly taught writing.
  • Dysgraphia
  • Defining dysgraphia.
  • Different types of dysgraphia.
  • The neurological, language, and cognitive developmental hierarchy of writing skills.
  • Interventions and Tools for Dysgraphia
  • Addressing memory and visual perception issues.
  • Discussion of tools like Real OT Solutions’ alpha triangle.
  • The importance of memory and visual perception in overcoming writing issues.
  • Fine Motor Skills and Writing
  • Using Otter AI for creating motivated writing prompts.
  • The Charlotte Mason method in homeschooling.
  • Providing confidence to parents in recognizing effective education methods.

Links and Resources From Today’s Show

Connect with our Guest, Cheri Dotterer

Battling writing challenges firsthand, Cheri has emerged as a global authority, pioneering innovative, neuroscience-backed strategies to overcome dysgraphia seamlessly within the classroom setting. Author of “Handwriting Brain-Body DisConnect” and contributor to seminal works, she’s set to release “Math DYS-connected,” co-authored with Jonily Zupancic. She owns Dotterer Educational Consulting and The Writing Glitch Podcast. Living with her husband and son, Cheri’s experiences fuel her passion to revolutionize learning. They also have a daughter in grad school.

Connect with Cheri on her website here and follow her on Instagram

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