Obviously some of this information is out-of-date but still useful summary
Dysgraphia.
Dysgraphia.
Intervention for Written Language Disorders Intervention for written language disorders depends upon an accurate localization and assessment of the student's specific deficiencies. When difficulties are related to the child's age or grade, age-specific remediation of deficit skills is recommended. When specific deficiencies are present, bypass strategies may be useful. When dysgraphia is the result of multiple deficiencies, remediation and bypass of the problem become more difficult.
- Remediation strategies for early elementary age children with written language problems include writing readiness exercises, instruction and practice using appropriate pencil grip, formation of symbol skills, practice to increase fluency, and direct instruction to improve writing organization.
- Writing studies indicate that students with learning disabilities benefit most from instruction that emphasizes writing as a process (Graham & Harris, 1989; Morrocco & Newman, 1986). This instructional model emphasizes the communicative purpose of writing by creating a social context in which students write for real audiences with real purposes. Secondly, it is based on the view of composing as a problem solving process involving planning, drafting, revision, and editing.
- At the upper elementary level it is often important to begin introducing bypass strategies for the dysgraphic student. Examples include shortening assignments, increasing performance time, grading first on the content of the work and then on the quality, avoiding negative reinforcement, using oral exams and allowing oral presentations from the student, and giving tests in untimed conditions.
- Bypass strategies utilizing computers and other assistive devices are also helpful for students with written language disorders.
- Prior to teaching the use of word processing software, keyboarding skills should be mastered. Keyboarding can be taught by any teacher who can type (Majsterk, 1990). An excellent program to teach keyboarding skills is Keyboarding Skills for All the Grades (1987) by Diana Hanbury-King. Keyboarding skills are best taught on a manual typewriter which requires force to push down the keys. This helps to lock in muscle memory for the position of the keys.
