Tools to Help Students with Writing Difficulties
Know a child or teen who struggles with writing? Wonder what tools can help? In such a fast-growing field, it’s hard to keep up. But don’t stick with the old technology (like my old manual typewriter shown here). Try something new. I’ve found three resources this week:
- The mother-daughter team of Darla and Kaila Hatton produced this list of twenty-five apps for students with dysgraphia for the National Center for Learning Disabilities. As they point out, many apps and programs that are not designed specifically for those with learning disabilities may help you or someone you know.
- Shawn Lemon tells us how to ditch our keyboards and pick up a mic. I’ve downloaded the free software to my Macbook just now. Maybe I won’t have to type my next post! In fact I’m dictating this sentence using my microphone. So far, so good!
- Any tablet owner, Android or iOS, can use Dexteria, which provides therapeutic hand exercises to develop fine motor skills. They’ve got several other apps for iOS which I’m eager to explore: for preschoolers, for teaching basic math concepts and spatial reasoning, and for overcoming letter reversals.
Remember our children and their challenges differ. These tools won’t all help everyone, but if you find a few that help you or your child or teen, let me know. What other tools help your or your child with writing difficulties?
Hi Kathy,
One of the best tools a student can have to help overcome writing difficulties is learning how to type. I can’t tell you how many students who struggled with dyslexia and dysgraphia improved their writing skills because they learned how to type with Keyboard Classroom.