https://www.reddit.com/r/Teachers/comments/1j7ly01/what_now/
created by No_Set_4418 on 10/03/2025 at 00:21 UTC
62 upvotes, 18 top-level comments (showing 18)
I've been communicating with a parent regarding her student's horrendous handwriting. There are accomodations in place and I agreed he could type the answers on a word doc and submit them to me. I also discussed that instead of the cursive writing practice that kids do in the morning homeroom, we should try manuscript because it's dumb to do cursive when his print is illegible.
I got an email from parent saying that he is vehemently opposed to either option - ( he's 6th grade) because it would not be the same as other kids
The manuscript practice, fine, whatever, don't do it. That's not a hill to die on. The big problem is I ABSOLUTELY cannot read what he writes. His writing looks like he never moves his hand to the right. Even his name is illegible.
Does anyone have ANY ideas for accomodations for this? Him giving me the answers orally would be just as mortifying for him - he's also extremely shy. I just don't know what else to offer?
Do I tell his mother that since he will not make use of accommodations (typing the answers for things that are usually handwritten) that I will mark things incorrect that I can't read? I'm willing to work with the kid here, but I can't grade what I can't read.
Again, does anyone have any idea that would not stand out and make him different from peers?
Comment by LaFemmeGeekita at 10/03/2025 at 00:40 UTC
166 upvotes, 0 direct replies
“He can write but I can only grade what is legible.” And make a reasonable effort to read it. If it’s illegible, ask for it to be done again.
In the meantime, contact counselors/admin for guidance.
Comment by aly8123 at 10/03/2025 at 00:26 UTC
69 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Has the student ever been referred to occupational therapy? Is there a possibility of dysgraphia?
Comment by biglipsmagoo at 10/03/2025 at 00:47 UTC
49 upvotes, 2 direct replies
So, dysgraphia is a neurological disorder that affects fine motor functions and motor planning. OT helps and should absolutely be done early and often. However, severe dysgraphia is always better off accommodated bc the amount of work you have to do in OT and outside of it to see any difference is never worth the payoff.
If he's in 6th grade he's already missed the years that will be most helpful as far as intensive therapy to help it get better.
If the child's handwriting is that bad, no- you absolutely do not just mark the answers wrong- you refer him for evaluation. Situations like this is exactly what Child Find is for. He is suspected of having a disability that hinders his access to FAPE. That doesn't mean you mark it wrong, that means you refer.
The ball has been dropped, though. It's almost the end of the year and he's going to 7th next year. Middle school. This should have been done years ago.
You're going to have to tell the mom that she needs to have a serious talk with this child because he has to pick an accommodation. He doesn't have a choice. If he needs therapy, then the mother needs to get him into that.
Another thing- this child isn't shy, he has debilitating anxiety. Refer him for that, too, when you refer him for the dysgraphia. His anxiety is what is causing him to not want to appear different in any way and why he won't accept any accommodations. I'm willing to bet that he is usually very quiet, too.
His anxiety is also a disability hindering his access to FAPE.
We know we can't dx, obviously, but it's easier to say "dysgraphia and anxiety" in casual peer conversation than to write out "the behaviors that are indicative of..." every single time.
Comment by thecooliestone at 10/03/2025 at 00:57 UTC
8 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I think you email him with a CC to counselors and admin. You need him to type or you cannot read his writing. You cannot grade what you cannot read.
She either works with him to improve his handwriting, or lets him type. Or he fails, and that sets him apart even more.
Comment by heirtoruin at 10/03/2025 at 01:31 UTC
7 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I don't have a solution... just reminded me of a student I had in AP chemistry that would speak so softly I still couldn't understand a word even if I got in her personal space. I couldn't deal with it and asked her to be moved out because she was going to fail, and I couldn't communicate with someone who wouldn't speak above 1-2 dB.
Comment by RadioGaga386 at 10/03/2025 at 02:20 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Could you give him different paper? Bigger lines with the dotted middle? Then you can highlight the bottom half of the lines. I teach first and I do this a lot for kids. They even make paper with the highlighting already done.
Comment by legomote at 10/03/2025 at 03:51 UTC
2 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Try uploading an image of his handwriting and see if AI can figure out what it says. If it works, you can just grade that, and if it doesn't, it gives you objective evidence that the handwriting is not legible.
Comment by Allel-Oh-Aeh at 10/03/2025 at 01:28 UTC
3 upvotes, 1 direct replies
So I was "THIS" student and here's why I did it. I had undx dyslexia, and my spelling was TERRIBLE. I was very embarrassed about it, and I hated being marked down for the bad spelling. I also likely on the ASD spectrum, so I was always extremely annoyed when the teacher said things like "write me a story about a cat." I complete the assignment, a wonderful gripping tale, and my paper comes back all marked up in red. Why? Because my spelling, grammar and punctuation sucked. I was never actually graded on the literal assignment of my story. I was never told "write me a correctly spelled, grammatical correct, story about a cat, because what I'm actually grading isn't your story telling ability, but your spelling, grammar and punctuation." So I decided to make my handwriting as messy as possible. I came up with a symbol that could be 13 different possible letters. I would semi erase the E at the end of the word on a spelling test because I was never certain if the word was spelled with an E at the end. If asked I would say "obviously it was erased/not erased" depending on the correct answer. When the teacher gave back my illegible paper, saying she couldn't read my story about a cat, I would take it and recite for her what I wrote. My paper would receive full marks because I actually did write a decent story about a cat. As I got older I got better about hiding my lack of spelling ability, to the point where if anyone did notice and try to help I would have been extremely against is, and embarrassed by it because I was so far behind my peers. I wouldn't have wanted the help.
What did help? The invention of spell check and the normalization of computers. One teacher in 5th grade that introduced journalling. This was especially critical as it was a place for me to practice writing without the judgement of someone criticizing my handwriting, grammar, or punctuations. The integration of my art, eg creating comic strips which required word bubbles, learning about different symbols eg zodiac symbols, which lead to me trying to copy them through drawing. Finally, just time. As I grew up my handwriting did improve. I gained greater control over fine moter movements (often through art), and this resulted in my handwriting being able to be more legible if I chose. As student advance they're less likely to take spelling tests, and that was a huge relief for me, as I did put a lot of stress on myself due to this. It cause me to shut down, to reject help, to find creative solutions out of the problem.
I would recommend you check this kids spelling to assess for dyslexia, and talk with him about WHY his handwriting is so messy. Just be aware, he may lie, I know I would have at that age because my entire goal was to make it illegible, but to pretend I would definitely try harder next time. Also look at his art. If he has good painting/drawing control this will mean he is likely purposely making the handwriting illegible. If his drawing/painting is also a mess, then he likely has poor fine moter control, and this could indicate a development delay, or other issues.
Comment by 12BumblingSnowmen at 10/03/2025 at 01:28 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
As someone with pretty bad handwriting, I’m going to offer a few things that I think are worth considering.
Firstly, if you’re in a place where Sixth Grade is in middle school, it could be worth asking some of the other teachers who have the student what they’re doing, or if they can read his handwriting. In my experience at least, the ability to understand the writing can vary from teacher to teacher. Like, not to be an ass, but speaking from personal experience, if the student is only encountering this degree of difficulty in your class, that frustration is going to tinge all their interactions with you related to this problem and make them more likely to be resistant to the accommodations.
Secondly, again this is a personal anecdote, practicing cursive actually improved my print writing somewhat, so that could potentially help.
Thirdly, in general if you’re in the student’s position, this is something they’re probably already a little insecure about, so anything that brings attention to it is going to make them uncomfortable.
Comment by Lucky_Valuable_7973 at 10/03/2025 at 01:47 UTC
1 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Does he get OT if not, maybe he should be evaluated and get OT occupational therapy. You can also have him do speech to text or have him type his answers. Our Jarvis teacher said to take obstacles away now put obstacles in front of students
Comment by Formal-Paramedic3660 at 10/03/2025 at 01:53 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
This is a case for a physical therapist. Our school provide these services but Mom has to ask. It helps a lot of kids and nobody knows.
Comment by THEMommaCee at 10/03/2025 at 02:26 UTC
1 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Please tell this parent that no two students’ work is the same! Some kids need one thing, some kids need something else. Their kid needs to use the tools that are available so they can demonstrate to you what they know and can do. All the other kids already know that this cherub has miserable penmanship - they work in groups, they pass out papers, they already know and no one is judging anyone about it. It’s not a thing unless the parent makes it a thing.
Comment by Artemisia-obscura at 10/03/2025 at 02:33 UTC
1 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Give everyone the option to type. Now it’s not “different from the rest of the kids.”
Comment by opportunitysure066 at 10/03/2025 at 02:42 UTC*
1 upvotes, 1 direct replies
After I taught my daughter cursive her handwriting got better. If your school teaches it…maybe that will help.
Comment by Mean-Equal2297 at 10/03/2025 at 10:18 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I'm stuck in the fact that cursive writing is in your curriculum. I wish we still had it. Where do you teach?
Comment by Legitimate_Emu_5074 at 10/03/2025 at 11:18 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Hey Nero spicy kid here to say when my hand writing was illegible they made me write on graph paper because I would smash everything togather too the gaph paper gives a box for every letter
Comment by Counting-Stitches at 10/03/2025 at 11:25 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Is there any option to allow the others to type or write. In my experience, many kids who prefer to type will give more detailed answers when given the choice. I’ve also had some who prefer to write because typing is slower. Maybe if it’s an option for all, he will choose to type.
Comment by Aromatic_Tourist4676 at 10/03/2025 at 00:50 UTC
-2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Can you tell the child to ‘feed his letters’ and make them all much fatter? Make it sort of fun like they’ve all been at a party and are very full and they need more space now etc etc… I’ve seen this work before in helping with legibility otherwise I think a PC is the only way forward and you’ll have to make a fuss about him being lucky to use one because he’s so mature or similar and that many other children just the years above use them…