letter formation and writing

[Brit]

has anyone ever heard of corrilation between early printing skills and reading? I mean, I know that if you read well, you're going to write better, but I have been told that if kids don't print their letters correctly, they're reading will be lower?

I'm sure it's correlative, but causitive? anyone know of any studies?

[irish223]

I've heard the same thing, but I couldn't find anything in a quick google search.

Although this may be true in general (I don't know?), I can say from experience that it doesn't always seem to be the case. During my years teaching third grade, I had several students with horrific printing who read at 4th and 5th grade levels. Some of them were not very good spellers either. I also had high readers with excellent printing and spelling skills, and very low readers with excellent printing and spelling skills.

In a few cases, I was so concerned about the student's printing ability that I consulted the OT and previous teachers. It turned out the OT was familiar with my students from previous years since their former teachers were also concerned. Their handwriting problems had existed from their earliest experiences in school, and yet they had excelled in reading.

Of course, I know this doesn't disprove any results from any study. I guess I'm just saying that correct letter formation is not always an accurate predictor of future reading ability. Or, maybe it is, and my students could have been reading at even higher levels if their printing had been better! Who knows?!? Now I've confused myself!

[upnorthteacher]

I don't know of any research on this, but I know it certainly didn't hold true for my son. He has always had horrendous handwriting, yet reads several years above grade level. Now that he is in high school, it is a relief that many of his assignments can be dompleted using a computer! At a recent talented and gifted conference, one of the speakers discussed varying develoment of different skills. Many very high ability children have poor small motor skills. She attributed it to them being impatient with not being able to get their ideas down quickly and easily.