Need to Wiggle? Teacher Tips

Tips for those kids who need to wiggle to stay alert but should not leave their seat:

1. Chew gum or suck on sour candy (if allowed in school; allow at home if no problem with choking or swallowing)

2. Tie a stretchy exercise band around the front legs of the chair.  Place your legs and feet behind the band.  When the need to get out of the chair arises and you should not, push against the band to help release the “wiggles”.

3. Try a “Sit and Move Cushion”. This has bumps on one side and air inside which allows “wiggling” without getting out of the chair.  Purchase at www.funandfunction.com or www.therapro.com

4. Place tennis balls on the back legs of the chair to provide gentle rocking movements.

Other tips you can think about?

Just a thought: For I know the plans I have for you….Jeremiah 29:11

Dysgraphia: Copying from Near Point

Copying from near point (from a book or paper on the desk):  If writing is tedious, decrease the amount of board and desk copying when possible.  If copying is a requirement and there are no modifications try the following:

• Ask to shorten the copying assignment by having the student only copy half of it.
• Try folding the page to be copied in half so there is less visual distractions.  The task may look less formidable if broken in half.
• Some students prefer to work vertically rather than left to right.  Try placing the page to be copied at the top of the writing page rather than to the side to see if there is greater ease of copying. 
• Make the task more fun by copying on colored paper or raised lined paper (www.proed.com or order from me).
• Make sure the light source fits your child’s needs.  If sensitive to light, move away from fluorescent lighting and toward natural lighting.

However, some students do better with copying  from a legibility standpoint than creative assignments as they do not have to spell, punctuate, etc.

Monday: Week 4:HANDWRITING QUESTIONS: POSTURE

2. Can the student maintain an appropriate posture for writing?

Last week we discussed the importance of having the correct size of furniture for your student when he writes.

This week we will look at what is necessary for good posture.

A. Good muscle tone (tension of muscles at rest) and good muscle strength: These are developed through movement.  Playground play is very important to developing good strength.  Encourage playing, reading, watching t.v. while lying on the stomach supported by forearms.  Keep your child moving with fun activities.

B. Balance: There are two kinds of balance: dynamic and static.  Dynamic balance helps us stay upright while we are moving such as jumping, running, hopping.  Static balance helps us stay seated in an upright position. 

C. Good body awareness based on the input we receive through our joints.

D. Stability which is developed when all the above work well together.  Our body needs to feel stable before we are able to move from one position to another such as reaching across the desk for a book or leaning down to pick up a pencil from the floor.

Purposeful movement helps develop good posture.  Keep your children moving!

Next week we will look at why some children are late establishing a hand dominance.  Have a good week!

HANDWRITING QUESTIONS: POSTURE

2. Can the student maintain an appropirate posture for writing?

• a. check the funiture size:  The environment should encourage good study habits and good writing habits.  The chair that the child sits in when writing should allow his feet to be flat on the floor.  To determine how high the desk or table should be, have the child sit in a chair, place his arms at his side and bend his elbows at right angles.  The top of the desk or table should be two inches above his bent elbows.  This will ensure good posture and decrease sitting fatigue. 

During the next Mondays we will explore the gross motor skills needed to have good posture, establish a hand dominance and be able to plan the movements needed for each letter formation.  Stay tuned!!