My daughter is in the 3rd grade and has been diagnosed with LD. Her teachers are at a loss with her writing. Her sentence structure is okay, but when she is given a topic to write about, her thoughts are totally unrelated to the topic she was given. How can we help her formulate thoughts and write her thoughts down and have them be on the topic given? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Re: LD and Written Language
I understand how you feel. My son is LD and also in third grade. His teacher has been doing concept mapping and that seems to help him.
Also, there is now software for writing that prompts the correct writing organization necessary to write a good paragraph and or story. I have heard it really helps students with ld until they develop these strategies and write in the correct manner automatically.
Linda Lanza
Re: LD and Written Language-
Jillian, I have posted on a somewhat related topic on the Teaching Reading Board. Please take a look there—I am looking for views on the Institute for Excellence in Writing program. You may wish to look at their website (see my post for URL on other board) and particularly the article “Writing Without Tears.” It discusses from an interesting angle the issue of kids not knowing what to write about and a method for addressing it a parent could do. Would be interested in your reactions.
Re: LD and Written Language
Really make use of graphic organizers. There are a variety of them being sold in bookstores. I know Scholastic has some. It’s not unusual even for a non-LD kid in third grade to have trouble getting started and staying on topic. Like anything else, it’s a skill that needs to be learned, in small chunks, and practiced all the time. Using a graphic organizer will keep your daughter thinking only about the topic. Then she can use her notes from the organizer as her basis for writing a story or report.
Even if her teacher doesn’t do this, it’s something you can use with her at home. Most kids with LD’s embrace these organizers because it takes what seems to be an insurmountable task - writing a paper - and breaks it down into little do-able chunks.
Re: LD and Written Language
I am an elementary EC teacher in NC. Our system adopted two commercial programs called “Thinking Maps” and “Write from the Beginning” that have made my LD-W students make great strides. Thinking Maps help them with organization and planning. WFTB works with them on narrative and expository writing, which our state tests in 4th and 7th grade. The structured way you teach writing using this system with the heavy reliance on graphic organizers, teacher modeling of writing, and group stories make this very user friendly for my kids. They have a website - www.thinkingmaps.com - if you want more info. Some samples of their thinking maps are included in the website.
Try not to worry about the written, start out with oral. Use a tape recorder. have her focus on her thoughts, then, down the line work on her writing.