Dysgraphia- a lesser-known problem but a bigger challenge. Every child is different, and so is their learning potential and ways to adapt to their respective learning experiences. Among the other learning disabilities, dysgraphia is another one which is neglected by many parents and teachers and this ignorance results in the severe damages caused to a child’s learning experiences and prospective future. Dysgraphia is a learning disorder of the nervous system that causes difficulty in the comprehension of written words and handwriting.
Children often complain that they are unable to understand what is written and when it comes to jotting down what is said, they get confused in words, and their formation of words makes their handwriting an uphill task for understanding. Dysgraphia is like putting a location on Google maps and reaching the destination but from a longer route. While the other kids take the highway to reach the destination, children suffering from dysgraphia come through the uneven road that does reach the destination but takes longer time to reach.
Symptoms of dysgraphia-
- Lopsided formation of words
- Misspelled words or misplaced letters
- Illegible handwriting
- Cramped grip
- Sore hands because of improper grip
- Unusual body or paper positioning while writing.
- Frequent erasing etc.
How to help children with dysgraphia in the classroom?
In a classroom environment, when a teacher raises concern about a child who might be suffering from dysgraphia, the parents and the school staff should come together to help the child making their learning experience a good one.
While noticing the red flags of this problem, hiring a specialist trainer for the students is the foremost thing to plan combat against dysgraphia. The professional trainer is capable of understanding the depth of the problem and then plan a course that would help the child take on the learning sessions enthusiastically rather than making it a burden.
When friends help other friends, no teacher needs to sweat about their class’s performance. The motivation that a closed one or a friend gives encourages the student to put in more efforts to fight this disability. It is wisely said, a friend in need is a friend indeed.
Medical and educational therapy would improve the chances of developing better cognitive skills and body positioning for improving comprehension and writing abilities. Educational therapists are professionals who outline a course and tactics for the children and the teachers to ease out the classroom session for both the highway and longer route kids and the teachers.
Bringing the parents in. The first teacher of any child is their parents, and when it comes to teaching children with dysgraphia disability, parents have to understand their role in their child’s education and future career prospects. Parents have to join hands with the trainers and teachers to help the children understand that their problem is not unsolvable. This can be done only through proper care and love. Children understand the language of love better than the language of instruction.
Using varied tools and methods for a better classroom session like games, music and dance would help the children suffering from dysgraphia to move around confidently. Learning when mixed with fun activities, stimulates the brain to perform better and get a better hold of the physical environment. Music and dance are soul foods and are often considered as the best art form to bring the brain and body in coordination and sync these two faculties to improve the nervous system shortcomings.
Dysgraphia is different from dyslexia, and these two are often mixed. Dysgraphia is the problem of delayed understanding of the words, while dyslexia is the complete absence of understanding. To work on dysgraphia, one has to understand the depth of the problem as to how serious it is and what would be the best course of action for its treatment. Misspelt spellings can be worked on with putting in some effort, and if these efforts are put together by teachers, parents and friends altogether, the problem doesn’t remain that big a problem as such. All we need is to be empathetic towards people, especially students, around us.
