Handwriting
One thing that Anna will be working on with her occupational therapist (O.T.) is handwriting. Handwriting and presentation of work is very important in the French system, and there is a lot of it.
So, here is why, according to testing in July, Anna's handwriting isn't good:
She has a problem with visual perception when there is too much going on visually. French writing paper looks like this. It is the definition of too much going on visually.
During our telephone appointment last Thursday, our O.T. said she saw American lined notebooks at one of the large, Wal-mart type supermarkets, so I hopped on the tram and found these. They weren't cheap, over three euros each, but a bargain compared to finding them online and shipping them here.
Anna still needs a few small notebooks, which are not available here, but our O.T. had a friend who was traveling in Sweden and picked some up. So, we'll have them next week, when we have our first face-to-face appointment since testing in July.
Another issue with too much going on visually is the way French third grade exercise books and worksheets look.
So, here is why, according to testing in July, Anna's handwriting isn't good:
She has a problem with visual perception when there is too much going on visually. French writing paper looks like this. It is the definition of too much going on visually.
During our telephone appointment last Thursday, our O.T. said she saw American lined notebooks at one of the large, Wal-mart type supermarkets, so I hopped on the tram and found these. They weren't cheap, over three euros each, but a bargain compared to finding them online and shipping them here.
Another issue with too much going on visually is the way French third grade exercise books and worksheets look.
Since this is definitely too much visual information going on, we cut the exercise that she needs to do and put a maximum of two on a page. We glue this into her snazzy notebook.
There is also some issue with processing information on the right side of the page if she is searching for information on a page. Practically, if we had a Where's Waldo (Wally for British folk) book, she would be better able to find him on the left than on the right. Fortunately, she isn't tested in her finding Waldo skills, but I'm sure it comes into play as she visually processes school work throughout the day.
Copying from the board is extremely difficult, partly because of the muscle movement involved in moving her head up and down as she copies. So, she is given a paper to copy from on her desk. Easy fix.
Anna also has trouble adjusting the amount of pressure needed to hold her paper in place and to write. There are fine motor issues as well, and she tires easily.
Handwriting is a concrete example of a seemingly simple daily activity that is so very complex for my kid. Some of the fixes are relatively easy, like photocopying, cutting, and pasting exercises. Some are less so, like searching for non-French notebooks. Others will only happen with time and with the aid of a professional.
Even the easy fixes involved composing e-mails in French, appointments with both the O.T. and the teachers, and shopping trips (including a person I have never met before shopping for me in Sweden).
There is also a lot of advocating involved in helping Anna get what she needs, a role that stretches me. I like for people to like me, and I don't like to push. And now that I know what we are dealing with, I do need to act and be pushy sometimes. Lately, a lot.