Help - my son hates writing! | ExpatWoman.com
 

Help - my son hates writing!

260
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 March 2011 - 09:26

My 7 year old is very bright, has a reading age of 10, loves reading books but hates writing. Consequently he writes the simplest and fewest sentences he can for any piece of written work, whether a story or a single sentence. He has had handwriting problems due to dyspraxia but they are all resolved now; he writes well and no longer finds it painful in any way. His teacher is keen to encourage him and praises any written work he does but like me, she is frustrated because he has a lot of ability. He has basically decided he doesn't like literacy work in or out of class. He loves maths and would rather do that or read instead. He is quite strong-willed too. If you have any suggestions for how to motivate him or make literacy more fun for him, please let me know, as I'm running out of ideas. Thanks.

42
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 March 2011 - 17:49
Tried to answer this before - but got deleted as "not authorised user" - so will be brief - I believe some people have a genuine physical difficulty with the precise nature of writing accurately and neatly. Nothing to do with laziness etc. I also think using a computer is a lot easier as a "physical skill" than writing - thank goodness that is what will mostly be used now!
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 18 March 2011 - 15:29
Always better when the teacher sits on him rather than us poor mothers having to do it!;) Not sure either would be much fun for the child. LOL
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 18 March 2011 - 15:29
Always better when the teacher sits on him rather than us poor mothers having to do it!;) Absolutely - it's liberating!!!!!!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 March 2011 - 15:28
Always better when the teacher sits on him rather than us poor mothers having to do it!;)
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 18 March 2011 - 15:24
Sounds just like my 7 year old - comes up with the most amazing excuses - fact is - he CAN do it but doesn't enjoy it. I think it's true of most of the 7/8 year old boys I know - they'd far rather be on the football pitch or computer!!!!! A really good teacher will help with this. I've seen huge improvements since we decided that the teacher would come down on him like a ton of bricks!!!!!!! What the teacher sat on him? No!!!!! She's on at him and boy can we see a huge improvement. I think she's worn him down!!! He's loving it now and can see that he can do it and is pleased with his work now. Love that I don't have to be on at him all the time now! *no comment* LOL
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 18 March 2011 - 15:20
Sounds just like my 7 year old - comes up with the most amazing excuses - fact is - he CAN do it but doesn't enjoy it. I think it's true of most of the 7/8 year old boys I know - they'd far rather be on the football pitch or computer!!!!! A really good teacher will help with this. I've seen huge improvements since we decided that the teacher would come down on him like a ton of bricks!!!!!!! What the teacher sat on him? No!!!!! She's on at him and boy can we see a huge improvement. I think she's worn him down!!! He's loving it now and can see that he can do it and is pleased with his work now. Love that I don't have to be on at him all the time now!
1511
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 18 March 2011 - 14:26
Sounds just like my 7 year old - comes up with the most amazing excuses - fact is - he CAN do it but doesn't enjoy it. I think it's true of most of the 7/8 year old boys I know - they'd far rather be on the football pitch or computer!!!!! A really good teacher will help with this. I've seen huge improvements since we decided that the teacher would come down on him like a ton of bricks!!!!!!! What the teacher sat on him?
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 March 2011 - 13:09
you could try something like these for developing creative writing http://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/en/make-your-own/story-maker http://littlebirdtales.com/ there are many others online that add fun and prompts
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 18 March 2011 - 11:46
Sounds just like my 7 year old - comes up with the most amazing excuses - fact is - he CAN do it but doesn't enjoy it. I think it's true of most of the 7/8 year old boys I know - they'd far rather be on the football pitch or computer!!!!! A really good teacher will help with this. I've seen huge improvements since we decided that the teacher would come down on him like a ton of bricks!!!!!!!
671
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EW GURU
Latest post on 18 March 2011 - 09:31
To be honest it sounds as if the dyspraxia might still be an issue, as getting ideas onto paper is something some children w dyspraxia find difficult. Can he do the task on the pc any better? My 7yo is allowed to do his lit he on the pc as he is dyspraxic, and he writes complex (and witty!) sentences. Can't do that on paper. May I ask how you addressed the difficulty w handwriting? Still struggling here, would love any suggestions.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 17 March 2011 - 21:06
My tuppence worth - I think it is because nobody actually writes with pen and paper in the home anymore, if children see parents doing it they think it is ok, when they see parents doing all the writing on computer, mobile phone etc thats what the kids want to do, they do not want to use pen and paper. My 5YO loves reading and doing arty stuff cos mummy does, she loves gardening cos daddy does. Hates writing cos nobody writes with a pen and paper. Just my thoughts on it.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 March 2011 - 21:02
I am actually feeling the OP's pain as I read her post!!! My son is now 12 and still hates writing but when he is allowed to write a story on the PC, he amazes even himself! I think it's easier because he can go back and check and edit as he wants to without scratching out all over the paper and having to rewrite 3 or 4 times because nobody can read his hand writing. Take heart, boys will be boys and try to be positive about the things he does well, the rest will come in time!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 March 2011 - 20:09
I was given the advice to get mine to learn to touch type as quickly as possible - they can then express themselves and write down all their thoughts -after all in future, when do we write ? that what I was told by an expert and on bbc there is something called star mat dancing or star dance mat ?? something like that. BUT - I had him with Bakti at the dubai community health centre for a term and he hated it but got so much better and now does not mind writing at all.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 March 2011 - 09:56
I agree with Sticky Wicket...great advice! ETA - it most definately is a BOY thing :-) SH <em>edited by sleepyhead on 16/03/2011</em>
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 March 2011 - 09:54
I am very much of the opinion (having homeschooled and had my kids in school here off and on over the last few years) that the writing problem with 6-8 year old boys is completely normal and something that they will grow out of, especially if they are good readers. They hate 'Literacy' class and writing assignments, partially because these curricula are absolutely constructed for girls. I also think that so many schools put far too much emphasis on this too early, including many homeschool curricula. So I can offer you two bits of advice. 1. Relax and see what happens as he gets older. Two of mine, at 7, would whine, cry and work themselves up into absolute fits (as dramatic as throwing up) anytime they were asked to write more than two sentences. By the summer after one's 2nd Grade year (US curriculum), he had started keeping a journal, wrote every day and did most assignments without any complaints at all. The other did composition and writing grudgingly, following the dramatics of 2nd Grade, but by age 10 he was perfectly fine doing writing assignments and now occasionally takes jobs as a sports reporter (at 15!- mom's moment of pride) for an online magazine... 2. My youngest went through this as a home-schooler last year. We had great success with creating our own writing prompts based on things he enjoyed (describe your favorite lego set, explain why you like it etc.) and made sure that he did a little bit of writing each and every day. This year, he is perfectly fine with his writing assignments and gets them done without so much as a squawk. I have found that there is definitely a light at the end of this tunnel, again especially if he is a good reader, and you have to find the patience to wait it out and stop torturing yourself over it.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 16 March 2011 - 09:49
Very normal for boys, he is not alone in this. Maths is easy as quick gratification and reward. How inspirational is his english teacher and the course work they are writing about? What rocks his boat? Books and reading will inspire and help literacy, getting him to write about things he finds interesting, silly stories, gruesome gory stories, anything that will engage him to put pen to paper. Your main focus is to get him to write and write with passion, not overly corrected and rewarded for writing funny crazy stories. Try this way around first. Also narrow down everything else that distracts him from sitting and writing. You could also suggest he writes his story on a PC first then re writes it out by hand later when he is happy with it. Don't panic he is only 7. <em>edited by Sticky Wicket on 16/03/2011</em>
 
 

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