Notetaking

I just have to share with you this handwriting program I am using. If you go to Peterson-Handwriting.com talk to a guy named “Chick”. I know, it is an odd nickname, but this guy knows his stuff. I am using it with my LD kids per recommendation of a lady who owns a tutoring business . I have to admit that my own handwriting has improved. Chick has spent a lot of time with me on the phone. He even sent me a video tape from a few years back that I am watching. It helps kids improve handwriting. There is a CD for the kids to show the strokes via computer. Give this guy a call and you might be amazed that you can help this kid even if he as already tried “Handwriting Without Tears.”

My 2nd grader (daughter) has been begging me to teach her cursive and I am using this program. ANd the great thing is, the program is dirt cheap too. Cusotmer service has been outstanding. When I was watching the video I saw a product which I just sent for and will try tomorrow. There is a triangle that peels and sticks onto the desks with the alphabet on it for quick reference. It shows the kid exactly where to put the paper for a right handed kid or left. There is even a “glove ” available for poor handwriting postion. Anyway, when I saw you were mentioning handwriting I thought I ‘d tell you about this. Even kids with poor handwriting can use this and improve. So far, so good but it is still early in the year.

If you want to improve this kids handwriting to help him write faster, call this guy Chick. He has the tools to help even kids with CP.

Sounds like this teacher is trying to pass this “difficult” case off. Not sure. No good advice here.

Michelle AZ

I don’t know about Peterson, but I agree that improving handwriting is a very worthwhile goal as a useful life skill. Even if it takes time and effort, it is a bonus.

Meanwhile back at the ranch, since improving handwriting is a long-term goal, you need some short-term coping.

The student can pair up with a fast writer and go to the photocopier in the library (or your office, or wherever) at lunchtime. No muss, no fuss. It isn’t the end of the world to be a messy writer and the other student probably won’t think it’s much of a big deal, if the “wonderful” teachers don’t make a big deal out of it.

If the teachers are of the super-organized type, they can photocopy their own notes and pass a copy to this student. I’m not this kind of teacher, so it will work in some cases and not others.

The student can just do the best possible and the teachers can simply be requested to back off on demanding notes.
If notes are required for studying for tests, the student can have a study buddy who writes faster. There is nothing unusual in studying for a test together.

If the teachers do a lot of verbal explanation (variable in math and science; some concepts are visual and don’t come across this way) the student can tape-record as a backup to notes.

If there is a textbook or a reference text used by the teacher, the student can get an extra copy to keep at home and then the notes are not required for information purposes, and again the teachers can be asked to back off until the handwriting is improved.

Except for tape-recording and teacher’s notes, my daughter and I have done all of the above at one time or another. We got along fine even though we wrote at a level four or five years behind our reading and math skills.

I agree that you should continue to work on the handwriting and try to remediate the underlying deficit there. I have had some kids who have trouble with handwriting, and keyboarding is very difficult too. (visual-motor difficulties)

In my reg. ed. classroom to help with note-taking, I give the students who need it, a paritially filled in study guide which is in t-note form. I draw in blanks for each word that needs to be filled in. This helps with the kids who don’t space correctly. This also keeps the students involved with the rest of the class. I have found with some students that just giving them a copy of the notes isn’t enough. During classtime that are not participating and lose attention.
The term definitions all the students get from their text. The rest of the information is discussed together and filled in during class. I use an overhead.
This works well for me. When I pass out the study guides, nobody knows there is a difference in them.

Thanks so much for your input. We did complete HWT over a year ago, but it was a struggle. I’ll look into Petersons. Interestingly enough, my student is independently expressing interest in cursive right now, so the time may be right to readdress it.

I also like the idea of modified notetaking sheets. Currently the students are given a blank outline to fill out, so it shouldn’t be too hard to add some of the content to allow my student to keep up.

I really appreciate your quick responses!
keb

It is a very common accommodation to allow a student like this to have copies of another student’s notes. They sell NCR paper with holes like notebook paper, so you don’t necessarily even have to use a copier. I totally agree with working on handwriting, but I do not think this child should be punished because he has handwriting problems.

Janis

I think Shelia has a good idea,but if the child is like mine, he may not be able to fill in the blanks legiably. He may need voice recognition software. That is the reccomendation the psychologist gave us. JAN

If the science teacher is ‘terrific’ as you say, couldn’t that teacher be approached on this matter? A terrific teacher should be able to think outside of the box a little bit. Does this terrific science teacher really want a student to have a ‘watered-down curriculum’ just because of notetaking? Or does the science teacher believe the student needs a watered-down curriculum?

I’d ask this terrific teacher that question because having a student move to a different class because of notetaking alone is like the tail wagging the dog. Couldn’t another student’s notes be xeroxed for this student? My own dysgraphic son would xerox the notes of other students.

As it turns out, I was able to attend the conference with the parent. As I had previously spoken with the homeroom teacher, the school was aware that we were concerned about a lack of access to curriculum due to the special needs of my student. They had done a terrific job of brainstorming solutions.

The short-term solution is that the parent will be provided with the teacher’s notes prior to the lesson. We don’t really want the student to be provided with the notes directly from another student, because she has been known to use her special needs to avoid personal responsibility (as I said, she is very bright!) We are refocusing on handwriting fluency.

Mom liked having me along at the meeting, but I actually was not very effective. Mom really did it all. She is terrific at basically saying to the school that she knows they are the experts, so what do they recommend…and then interjecting comments that lead the team in the direction she wants them to take. Needless to say, they are providing acomodations, not dropping my student down a level. I really appreciate all of the input I received from you. I think that it help the parent and me to focus our concerns accurately.

Thanks again!

keb