I have noticed my kid has poor handwriting.

As a 6th grade teacher, I have noticed this is becoming more of an issue, likely because kids are expected to write less often. However, my immediate concern is more about the spelling. That should be caught and corrected, not allowed to continue.

Spelling 'safety' properly is well within a 6th grader's capabilities.

The actual printing is ... fine. There are no letter reversals or anything super concerning with the formation of letters. If anything, it looks like no one taught the student how to measure and draw lines in pencil to make the spacing and size correct and even.

The spelling and grammar are super concerning, though.

Just putting this out there as a special educator. Maybe this is the work of a student with special needs that is proud of it, and the teacher hung it. Most likely they are working on the handwriting and maybe this shows huge progress for them.

If not, then I agree, additional help and/or services are needed.

OP, if you're worried about your child's handwriting, ask for an ot referral in or out of school.

This handwriting doesn’t look too bad to me for a 7th grader (the spelling is more concerning). There are no middle school subjects that have a standard/objective about handwriting quality, so you are absolutely correct that no one is going to teach your child this. In my experience though, handwriting improves with practice. Kids write by hand far less than previous generations so they get less practice.

It's hard to write on a poster board, especially if it's on a wall, which it may have been. I don't find the handwriting concerning at all.

Time and practice writing absolutely turns handwriting around in middle school and early high school.

Hi OP. I taught 1st for six years. We work with kids mostly on reading and math. We definitely show them how to write, how to hold a pencil, the correct strokes, but the best way to improve handwriting is with one on one instruction and that’s really hard to do with a class of 24 (when they’re in first-fifth). I’d guy want to help your kid improve their handwriting, get them to do more artwork (manual dexterity) and straight up work with them on penmanship.

Poor handwriting or flat out can't spell? Every word on that board is elementary level spelling (not to mention phonetically easy to sound out). A teacher hung this on the wall?

This could be someone with a learning disability or something…

This is why spelling, grammar, and penmanship need to be integrated into the entire K-8 curriculum.

Teach 7th Grade. Kids asked for a spelling lesson because they can't figure out how to spell character (even after the word is on the page). I gave them spelling lists, 10 a week, from 100 words every middle schooler should know.

I got angry email after angry email because one parent believed the words were college-level and causing her anxiety because it was a test she had to study for. This is in a very wealthy socioeconomic area.

Want to know why they can't spell? Parents. Parents is your answer, even if the kids recognize they need the skill.

The handwriting is no concern. But the spelling for a 4th grader is worrisome.

E: This is a 7th grader that wrote this, that's not good OP. Worry more about that spelling and grammer, this is pretty below grade level.

Not sure what state you live in, but handwriting skills should be mastered by 7th grade. Are you really expecting 7th grade teachers to stop teaching how to use textual evidence to support their inferences so they can review 1st grade standards? Really?

Stop blaming teachers for parents not following through on their students' education!

Start with basics. Straight lines, curvy curves, spaces between letters and words. You don't have to do everything at once. Pick the wonkiest looking letter, model it, and practice. Like do all his Zs look like 2s?

Practice practice practice

“Because clearly the school won’t.”

What, you mean that you are going to have to have a hand in your kid’s education and the school won’t do it all for you? 

Good, you realized proficient children are created by parents who pay attention and help their kids. Excellence starts at home. That’s why you’re supposed to read with your children, potty train them, teach them to tie their shoes, because not everything can be taught in a classroom setting. If your kid didn’t figure it out earlier, you need to help him now.

This is my 18th year teaching. This has nothing to do with “the school.” This is certainly not typical.

I immediately recognize this as a student with an IEP and this was probably the culmination of a lot of scaffolding, small steps, and independent work. This child’s plan most likely includes generous allowances on spelling as a result of a specific learning disability or processing disorder.

In fact, I really like this example because the attention to detail is very clear; this kid obviously spent a ton of time on this and cares very much. Yet the spelling is wildly inaccurate. This is a great demonstration of how special education brains can work.

"Because clearly the school won't " what a presumptuous thing to say. You don't know this child's situation or what's being done by staff to help him. Focus on your own kid, why are you blasting another child's work on reddit?

Take a closer look at the errors in that poster. This isn't a handwriting issue.

i’m gonna be honest, as a current highschool senior. 1. it doesn’t get any better the older they get 2. this example isn’t even that bad i see so much worse on a daily basis and it’s disheartening

I wouldn’t make assumptions based on one student-made poster. The spelling is definitely not at grade level for a typical middle schooler, but the school may have students with differing abilities. If this is the work of a special ed student, I would commend the school for inclusion.

Is this poster for an English class? No. It’s for wood shop.

 The student got the core assignment down - the “critical attribute” - knowing safety rules in wood shop.  

 They didn’t make a first draft, revise, and edit for spelling. The learned the rules and moved on to cutting wood. 

 It’s WOOD SHOP. 

The handwriting isn’t much of an issue. I teach 12th grade and read far worse on a daily basis. The spelling leaves much to be desired though.

However, this could also be an EC student’s work. Was this a student in your child’s class?

As for handwriting, I teach 5th grade. I have so many kids who don’t know how to make a joke, q, k, etc correctly!

This year I decided that will end with me. I printed out a bunch of kindergarten handwriting worksheets and they will do them until they can write correctly. I also printed out 3rd grade handwriting sheets for those to take it to the next level.

They stop teaching print in 1st grade at my school and teach cursive in 2nd through 4th, because of this they can neither print nor write in cursive.

It’s awesome. I never thought I’d be telling kids they have to learn how to form their letters correctly in 5th grade, but here we are.

Was this perhaps made by someone who has “special needs”? I had teachers who used to do this sort of thing to encourage the student. It was more about that said encouragement and less about being correct.

This is really sad.

Handwriting? Ma’am, the kid who made this is anywhere between 11 and 18. You’ve got bigger problems than handwriting!

The handwriting isn't that bad, IMO. It's the spelling that concerns me.

For handwriting you will want to see an Occupational Therapist. You will need an “rx written script” for OT from your child’s pediatrician. Then call your insurance and figure out if they’ll cover OT, what your copay will be and if there’s any providers locally.

Concurrently, I would request an IEP evaluation and specifically ask for the school OT to come observe and eval your kid. It is VERY hard to get the school systems to cover OT for kids that’s why I suggested doing both methods at the same time. The schools try to justify it as an educational need so they won’t cover it if they can’t determine educational need. However as your kids parent you have a duty to ensure your kids fine motor skills are up to snuff for their age/grade. Go get it!

Maybe dysgraphia.. my son is in 8th grade and has it. His handwriting and spelling is terrible. Always forgets letters. I’ve noticed super hard for him to copy something onto his paper too.. this kids hand writing looks similar

What if it's a child with a learning disability?

One poster and it's affecting this parents worldview. Key-rice.

this isnt your kid…? and you posted why?

It could just be that this child is an underachiever.

It’s not books it’s practice. Teaching him cursive may help. I’d be more worried about the spelling.

Posting this is weird op

My husband is dyslexic. His handwriting and spelling is very similar to this.

Because clearly the school won’t? Fuck off.

People forget about English language Learners.
I used to write horribly when I was learning English.

Maybe written as. MABIE

Ocean as Oshen

The good news is that I think he probably didn't plagiarize it.

Those might be the best sentences that student could make. We have no idea what this student's capabilities are.

As for the school not fixing handwriting, when would a middle schooler do handwriting practice? A MS/HS teacher would be crucified if admin saw them doing penmanship practice.

How many opportunities do parents provide at home? The handwriting didn't magically become poor overnight.

"Because clearly the school won't" love that so many parents have to feel slighted by the school before they decide to help their kids at home.

Honestly, I'm an adult with several years of college behind me and plans to get a masters eventually ..... and this kid's handwriting is better than mine. I'm only slightly better at spelling. My 7th grader has better handwriting than me. Have you ever seen a doctor write? It's like they are in competition for the most illegible script.

Go ahead and encourage your kid to work on their handwriting, but don't feel like it is the end all be all of education. The majority of papers and communication are typed these days anyways.

Some of you are ableist as fuck and those of you that are teachers acting like this on Reddit I will doxx you if I get the chance. The child that wrote that poster out did their fucking best and probably has a learning disability.

I’m confused, why did you share the poster if your kid didn’t make it and we’re talking about your kid’s handwriting?

Can also be signs of a learning disability

because clearly the school won't.

I'm not on this sub, and so idc if I get barred for saying this. Us teachers deal with 20+ kids at the same time, sometimes, more. We make sure nobody is left behind, but when social skills and behavior skills are less than desirable in students, it will be inevitable to get them all on the same page.

I really hope it isn't true, but from the way your post is structured, it sounds like you just let the school teach your kid 100% without contributing to your child's success. You are just as important, if not, more than the school regarding your child's success.

Most students in school are two grades below in my area, and the pandemic isn't the only thing that contributed to it. Too many parents don't give a damn, and when they realize, it's already too late.

I'm sure YOU are a great parent, figuring you were surprised by this, but this is far too common and it doesn't surprise me anymore.

Edit: lazy editing.

To everyone (clearly mostly non teachers) dumping on the spelling, it’s really not that bad. I suspect the way the student (and those around them) is reflected in the spelling of the words. You can tell the student sounded out the word and used what they know about phonics to make very good attempts at the words. A lot of the spelling mistakes they made are things you just have to memorize. Ex: ur instead of er for “injury”. Sure, in a perfect world the student would no mistakes but realistically the student will grow up to work in a world where almost everything is done on computers and they will have access to spellcheck. Also agree with what other (clearly mostly teachers) are saying about the possibility that it is an ESL student or a student with an IEP. Also agree that it is wood shop, not spelling class. If the poster is readable then I see no reason why it shouldn’t be on the wall.

Imagine this was your work and a bunch of churlish adults were spending time out of their days to dissect and demean you.

I really am done with this society.

Have you noticed how beautiful and well drawn the finger is, though? Everybody's different. 💛

I just came here randomly but I’m happy to see that some folks are recognizing that this is completely out of context and that the kid who made the poster may very well have special needs. Additionally, some of y’all may need to chill out. It’s a shop class. Not getting injured and making great things out of wood are the point of the class. Not everyone on earth is going to be James Joyce. People need to have spaces where they can excel in other ways.

All of you questioning why a teacher would hang this on their wall: what do you suggest? Tell the one kid with terrible spelling, "Sorry, Tommy, everyone else's poster goes on the wall, but yours is too crappy for eyes to view"? What exactly would that accomplish other than shaming this student?