
This allows the child to feel the difference in the letter formations through movement, not just visually.

Using the whole body, or at least the top half of the body to air write is also a great option. I also like that the I Can Build Letter magnets won't move around once you place them on the magnetic surface (something that can be frustrating for young learners if you just use wood sticks to build letters). Both of these provide sensory input with multiple sensory systems. I also like the Muscle Mover Cards from Fundanoodle and I Can Build Letter magnets. Using tactile writing methods such as sandpaper letters, sand writing, or the Handwriting Without Tears Wet, Dry, Try approach are great options. For each letter line and stroke, change up the color so your student can see the difference in the strokes.Īny handwriting practice should include more than just a pencil and paper. Visual cues and prompts are often helpful for those struggling with letter reversals.
#Sononym for letter reversal how to#
This will give your child time to master one before adding in another variation of that letter.įor more information on how to introduce letters in groups, I suggest checking out my friend Jaime's How to Teach Letter Formations in Groups. You will notice that “d” and “b” (the most common reversal) are not in the same grouping here. Some common groupings include c, d, g, o, q and t, l, f, h, and b. Letters with diagonal lines should be last since this is the developmental progression of pre-writing lines. If you look at it from the development of pre-writing lines, starting with letters that have horizontal, vertical, and circle shapes should come first. Many of us would think that starting with “A” would be the best place to start, but teaching letters in groups are often the best way to address many handwriting and reading concerns. So we will be looking at a lot of different visual processing ways to address letter reversals. Reading is not my specialty, although reading and writing are closely connected. Since I am an Occupational Therapy Assistant, I am coming at this purely from a handwriting perspective. Ways to Help Stop Letter Reversals in Handwriting So let's look at some ways you can help support good habits with handwriting and address letter reversals. This can lead to bad habits forming with handwriting which can cause issues later on.

If you have a younger child, it doesn't mean you should wait till 3rd grade to address any letter or number reversals.

If your child is entering the 3rd grade and still has issues with letter reversals, you will want to consider some additional evaluations to see if your child could be struggling with a learning difficulty.Ĭommon letter reversals include “d” and b”, “p” and “q”, “w” and “m”, and “n” and “u”. It is not as simple as this since Dyslexia is much more complex than just letter reversals. It can mean that they lack the experience as a reader and writer to tell the difference between letters.Ī common misconception is that letter reversals means your child could have dyslexia. This does not mean your child has a learning difficulty. The reason for this has been suggested to be poor working memory and also a lack of visual processing skills.

Occasional reversals past age 8 are common too. Letter reversals can be common in many children up until age 7, or 3rd grade. You might be feeling concerned that your child or an older student is dealing with letter reversals (and don't forget number reversals). Should I Be Concerned About Letter Reversals?
