K-5 Writing Basics

Learning handwriting:  Youngest students can work on writing lower case letters. The Handwriting Without Tears workbooks are helpful, or the Getty-Dubay workbooks.  If pen and paper is challenging, try tactile letter cards, write on a window, big white board, or trace with a stick in the sand.  Focus on where to start and end each letter.

Sentences and Paragraphs:  Older kids can work on putting thoughts together.  The Spectrum or Evan-Moor language arts workbooks are fine for this (online or at Lakeshore).  Or use a curriculum that encourages reluctant writers, such as Write Shop or the Just Write series.  Don't worry about too much grammar yet, other than basic punctuation and capitals.  Just get the words flowing.

Tips if Writing is Hard:  

• Many neurodiverse kids have difficulty with the fine motor control needed for fluency in handwriting. 

• Let them dictate their replies or stories, while you write.  They may need this until they are old enough to type.

• Use voice-to-text software or an app to let them dictate for themselves.

• Teach them to type eventually.  Around age 10 is old enough to make satisfying progress, depending on ability.  And of course, spell-check is very helpful!

Whatever your child likes to write about - let them!  Many ASD kids think literally and only like to write facts. That's ok!  Others like to tell imaginative stories but have trouble summarizing. That's ok too! 

For a more thorough list of resources, see the Curriculum Planning pages.