So last week I started my left handed letter writing practice worksheet series but I am going have to call it “Learning with the Scruggbugs” or something similar from now on. You see, I went to Open House last night and I learned something from another parent and my son’s first grade teacher.
The other mom was concerned because her child was still writing letters his letters backwards.
The teacher went on to explain that this practice is common in kindergartners and first graders. The habit would fade as the year progressed and they practiced letter writing more.
Wait, what? I had to butt in and say, “It doesn’t have anything to do with being a lefty!?” The teacher laughed.
And several others laughed because their kids do it too.
So I apologize to all of you parents of lefties that downloaded my last printable because it was geared towards left handed children. Our kids are not especially challenged by writing letters in the correct direction! They are commonly challenged.
Here’s to all of our common mistake making kids!
Though I say that jokingly, I really do think that kids these days are so propped up on their extraordinariness (I think I made that word up) that it puts extra pressure on them to be “special.” In other cases, children may feel that normal things that they should be doing (like helping with household chores or being kind to a friend) is some grand accomplishment that they should be rewarded for doing. This goes along with my feelings about “participation trophies” and soccer games where there is no “score” kept so there are no winners/losers.
Hello–the kids keep score. We all win sometimes and we all lose sometimes. That happens throughout life so shouldn’t they be used to it?
Okay, I will jump off my soapbox. Here is the next printable in the series. Click on the worksheet to print it!
I am not going in order of the alphabet. I am actually doing the worksheets in the order of most-frequently-messed-up-by-my-kids. These letter writing worksheets are used in my house. Since this is only the second week of school, my kindergartner doesn’t have homework yet but my first grader does. She works on my practice sheets while he does his homework.
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Echo says
MY son is a dominant lefty and I had to go in and force the school, when he was in school, to let him use his left. They tried to make him use his right. I’ve always known he was a lefty. I even bought him left-handed scissors!
Echo recently posted…Back To School…
Herchel says
Mine have always used their left hands for everything. That is weird that they didn’t let him use his left hand without you saying something! When my husband was in Catholic school the nuns used to pop him on the knuckles if he wrote with his left hand!
Tamara says
Both of my kids seem left-handed already. I know Des is too young to tell but Scarlet is five and does EVERTYHING lefty – and with her left leg too.
Very curious to see how handwriting will develop more.
Tamara recently posted…Taking It Easy With Old School Blogging.
Herchel says
That is too funny! I have to tell Pork Chop to use his hands because if I let him, he would use his feet to pick things up. He dribbles his toys to his room when I ask him to put them away.
Lisa says
Great printable! We have been using line sheets all Summer for our youngest to keep him in practice. Now that we only have a week and a half until school goes back we need to step up our game:)
Lisa recently posted…Dress Your Little Ones Up With Just Pretend Kids
Herchel says
My youngest is so intent on keeping up with my oldest that she likes to do practice sheets. School started for us last week. I was sad that I wouldn’t see them all day anymore but I prefer the structure of the school year. It would be harder if my daughter didn’t like it. So far she loves kindergarten and I couldn’t be happier!
Rebecca says
Oh yeah- my sister wrote “e” backwards through elementary school. I don’t think she shook the habit until 3rd grade or something crazy like that. I wont lie…I kind of think it’s cute when kids do that!
Rebecca recently posted…Cuddling Toddlers Is Overrated
Herchel says
My daughter does it more than my son and I think it is cute too! Then she writes from 1-10 and every number that can be written backwards is backwards. My son corrects her. She cries…and mayhem ensues! 😀
AwesomelyOZ says
That’s very cute 🙂 My son’s penmanship is awful but he’s still learning – it’ll get better, I hope.. I also hope they still teach cursive in the 3rd grade. 🙂 Love the new site design Herchel! Happy Hump Day -Iva
AwesomelyOZ recently posted…GTFO: 8 Sad but True Facts on Suicide
Herchel says
Thanks Iva! I stayed up all night on the new design so I hope I don’t get tired of it anytime soon. I’m an adult and my penmanship is HORRIBLE!!! That is why I always prefer to type. Really, I write like how I would imagine a drunk doctor would.