Can anyone tell me what I can do with a kindergarten student who writes words and even complete sentences backwards? If you hold a mirror up to her writing, it is perfect. In all other respects, the student is normal and even advanced. Thanks for any help you can give.
This is a shot in the dark...
I once knew of a fellow who did the total mirror writing thing. His dad was a preacher and he was always “over his dad’s shoulder”, so to speak and therefore only ever saw words upside down and whatnot until he went to school. I am just putting that out there because it was the only time I ever saw that. Well, except for the notebooks of De Vinci, like Victoria made reference to.
Re: mirror writing
I once worked with a neurologist who was able to write with his right hand and mirror image what he wrote at the exact same time with his left hand! It was amazing to see.
I agree with Victoria - use a whiteboard and encourage the student to work on the feel of the flow from left to right - waves, mountains, hills, etc. Does an OT come to your school? Ask them for some suggestions as well.
Well, Leonardo da Vinci did the same so it isn’t all bad.
Work with the student with a whiteboard or blackboard mounted on the wall and making *large*, loose, quick motions with no pressure, making lines left to right and top to bottom, and circles counterclockwise. Once she is consistently moving left to right, then move to making letter forms *large* and loose on the board, watching directionality constantly, and then (after days or weeks) moving to word forms and sentences.
You are trying to train a kinesthetic sense; to favour one direction over another, which is not especially natural, so take time and work on it as coaching a physical skill, not as trying to teach an intellectual concept — it is more physical than intellectual, so all the explanation in the world will not work.