By Christopher Bogart, Ph.D
Writing shapes a child’s academic success, yet standardized testing reveals a troubling decline in proficiency. According to the 2022 Nation’s Report Card (NAEP), more than half of eighth and twelfth graders perform at only a basic level (and below grade level) in writing assessments.
Writing is so much more than putting words on paper. It’s a fundamental skill that affects a child’s ability to communicate, organize thoughts, and succeed academically. Students spend nearly 60% of their school day engaged in writing-related tasks, from taking notes to composing essays. Yet despite how crucial writing is, inconsistent teaching methods and a lack of structured writing curricula have left many students struggling.
Dysgraphia: A Writing Disability
Dysgraphia used to be a term that was applied to students with messy handwriting, but recent research has uncovered a much more complicated picture. We now know that it is a neurological disorder that affects written expression in different ways. Some children struggle with letter formation and spacing, making their writing difficult to read. Others can form letters but have trouble spelling words correctly or organizing their thoughts on paper. And for some, the challenge lies in structuring sentences and maintaining logical flow.
Understanding the type of dysgraphia a child has is key to providing the right support. Here are the three subtypes of dysgraphia based upon current research:
- Graphomotor Dysgraphia makes handwriting slow and laborious due to fine motor difficulties.
- Dyslexic Dysgraphia is tied to spelling and phonological deficits that impact written coherence.
- Executive Dysgraphia, the most common type, results from difficulties with working memory and executive functions, making it hard for students to plan and organize their writing.
The Neural Pathways of Writing
Writing is one of the most complex academic skills because it engages multiple brain regions at once. The brain’s motor planning centers control fine motor skills for handwriting, while the language processing areas store and retrieve vocabulary and grammar. Working memory plays a crucial role in structuring sentences, and spatial awareness helps with letter placement and spacing. On top of that, anxiety can impact the brain’s ability to retrieve and organize thoughts. Because so many neural pathways are involved, writing disorders require individualized interventions tailored to each child’s specific challenges.
Identifying Dysgraphia’s Root Causes
To effectively support children with writing difficulties, it’s crucial to identify the root cause. A thorough assessment can help determine whether a child’s struggles stem from motor impairments, phonological deficits, or executive dysfunction, or most often, a combination of the three. This process includes intelligence testing, writing achievement evaluations, visual-motor integration assessments, working memory and executive function tests, and even anxiety screenings. Once the specific challenges are identified, appropriate interventions can be put in place.
Whether you are a teacher guiding students in the classroom or a parent supporting your child at home, your encouragement and understanding can make all the difference in their writing journey.
How You Can Support Writing Development With the right interventions, children can overcome writing difficulties and become confident, capable writers, reducing behavioral manifestations of their disability. Following are suggestions to help you support your child’s writing development: Ensure that your child’s teacher is aware of tools and strategies such as these to support writing development in the classroom:
Christopher Bogart, Ph.D is the Executive Director of the Sasco River Center located in CT, and is a member of the Smart Kids Board of Directors.
Related Smart Kids Topics
- Dysgraphia: An Overview
