It is still really developmentally normal in first grade to write things backwards. I saw still quite a few kids do it up through second grade, and not so many by third grade.
Practicing writing the numbers correctly can help.
It's developmentally normal for neurotypical kids, or kids who don't have either an LD or physical disability that is impacting handwriting skills. Kids who have dysgraphia, for instance, look somewhat developmentally "normal" in K-2nd grade simply because NT kids go through a slow-writing and reversing letters/numbers stage. Practicing writing numbers correctly will help those NT kids, and it can help dysgraphic and physically challenged kids *to a certain limited extent*... but it will not take away the dysgraphia or physical challenge, it will not really help learn to write if it's done in a punitive, exhausting way.
I think jack'smoms comments touch on what is probably happening with the teacher - it's easy for a person who isn't familiar with these types of handwriting challenges to think practice will help in the same way it helps a typically developing child.
Yup. That is why I love coming to this board for help... most other places/people do not get it at all. They say things like what Jack's mom said (no offense, Jack's mom) and I find it frustrating to have first keep explaining/educating over and over before (if ever) getting support/help. I have a particularly short fuse for it because I have to do the same thing over and over with the school! I had hoped that DS' teacher with a background in special ed would be way more knowedgeable about this stuff but she isn't... And with DS' asynchronous traits it's even harder. It's hard to understand a kid who seems so intelligent (scored so high in werbal and resonng sections of his tessting) and grasps the math more quickly than everyone else in the class, but can't seem to write or tell which way b and d go (no matter howmany times he's told or made to write them over).
Your posts are wonderful, Polarbear and Howler! Thank you so much! I used both to draft an email to the teacher. We will be having another IEP meeting anyway based on DS's most recent evals/testing so I will address it then, too.
I have been looking into the P.A.C.E. Program (processing and cognitive training program )
http://processingskills.com/ps/index.htm I am hoping to get DS to do it this summer and hoping it helps his issues we don't have to do as much 'educating' next year.
