Handwriting issues/fine motor skills

DD is 5 and one of the youngest in her kindergarten class. She was a very late talker, possibly had some sensory issues which she seemed to grow out of but has had some fine motor issues. We did ot for a little while but we stopped bc she seemed fine. But we just had her conference and her teacher us very concerned about her handwriting. She has difficulty forming certain letters, she can't write letters in a stwight line, when the teacher gives her a word to try to spell on her own, she can pick the letters out to write it.

She recognizes all of her letters and can write capitals and lowercase but mixes them when writing words. They think it's an issue with fine motor. The teacher wants her evaluated by the school bc it's affecting her work.

Now if she quLifies for services, does this mean she is classified? What are the pros and cons of that? Should we just get her private services?

I'm so confused and prety upset about this. She's very bright and has an amazing vocabulary but is really struggling. And at this point because she us so young (oct bday with a dec 1 cut off) the teacher says possibly hold her back. She has kids in her class who are a full year older than her. Thanks for reading this - I know it's long. Any advice would be appreciated!!

Re: Handwriting issues/fine motor skills

1. I just recently found this out - schools cannot hold children back, the parents have to agree to it. (for NYS - not sure about NJ)

2. Second grade is a time when most students even out/catch up.

3. Testing for just fine motor skills sounds to me that she might be OHI (Other Health Impairment) or that she would just have a 504 (rather than an IEP/classification) that set OT times. If she is only qualifying for OT, I believe it has to be 2 standard deviations below the mean.

4. My cousin reminds me all the time that she received speech/OT in elementary school. She is now Chief of Pediatrics at her hospital.

Re: Handwriting issues/fine motor skills

Definitely get her screened for OT if that is what the teacher is suggesting. If she qualifies, she will NOT be classified or get an IEP or 504 plan. Qualifying for OT idoes not entitle a student to one of those documents. She will receive OT as a building level service NOT a special Ed service. Not all SD offer this. it is called ERSS (educationally related support service). I usually service about 60 students a year and only about 20 have either an IEP or 504. Most are just regular ed kids with poor fine motor/handwriting that just need short term therapy to help them.

I would also ask the teacher for a copy of the handwriting workbook the use in class and practice leter formation, sizing letter, spacing letters and words and targeting the line. Most important is letter formation and size of letters.

Re: Handwriting issues/fine motor skills

Thank you both! This helps alot. I think the bigger issue is if I should hold her back because of this issue, (and a few smaller ones), but I know that's a big issue that everyone is talking about.

Re: Handwriting issues/fine motor skills

I would not hold a child back because of fine motor/handwriting delays. The only time I've seen holding a child back being effective was when the child was really immature. Or they were absent so many times that they needed to repeat the grade due to lack of exposure to the curriculum. What are her reading/math skills like? Can she draw a simple picture? Follow the routine of the class? Is she able to remember what she learns? Is her rate of aquirinq skills adequate?


Also consider that reading/math support is offered in 1st grade. Not every SD will provide reading/math support in Kindergarten.

Re: Handwriting issues/fine motor skills

I'm having the same exact issue with my son. He was having a lot of trouble with writing. He's not classified. They tested him for OT, and he qualified for 10 sessions. He's already done 2 and his writing is getting a lot better.

As for being held back, that's up to you. I've asked his teacher about it and she said def. not. He has an 11/29 birthday. She said I should send him to summer school though so he has the support. He went last year and loved it, so that's what we're doing.

If it's just the writing I don't see why they would hold her back. Does your district offer summer school?

Re: Handwriting issues/fine motor skills

Re: Handwriting issues/fine motor skills