Red Flags in Writing

When one of my daughters was in Kindergarten, I decided to put her in our local public school.

One day her teacher sent a letter home stating that my daughter was having difficulty writing, pronouncing, and identifying certain letters of the alphabet and they were going to pull her a few days a week for extra help with a reading specialist.

"Hogwash!" I thought, as I presumed to immediately draft an email to this teacher who thought she knew my child better than I did.

"Aleena! Come here please." She scurried across the kitchen floor and plopped herself in the dining chair beside me.

"Let's play a game! I'm going to say a letter and you're going to write it down for me, ok?"

We played this game for several minutes. I would recite a letter and she would write it down. I would write down a series of letters and she would read them back to me.

She got them mostly correct, besides the usual trouble letters such as d, b, p, and q.

I continued my email stating that my daughter didn't seem to have any issues and I didn't personally see the need for her to be pulled out of class and receive this extra help.

The teacher responded kindly and patiently, stating that while she understood my hesitation, she was with her on a daily basis and saw some indications of red flags and that giving her extra help would only benefit her, not harm her.

I decided that she was right and allowed her to receive the help.

SubhanAllah, 6 months later the whole world shut down due to Covid-19 and Aleena was once again back to homeschooling with her siblings.

Homeschooling Aleena in her younger years was always a struggle for me as she took a lot longer than her siblings to process new information, read, write, be able to begin math, and work independently.

Alhamdulilah, although there were no symptoms of any larger concerns, I realized that I was grateful for this teacher trying to help my daughter and make me aware of a possible red flag in her academics.

I took her advice and was able to understand my daughter's academic needs. Had I not listened to her, or even known that she just needed some extra time and bit more patience, perhaps her learning journey would have been a very different and more difficult one.

As parents, it's important that we listen to others who are working with our kids closely. They can pick something up that we may not see or be aware of. It may be something simple like a child needing extra time to complete work, but there are also larger signs and symptoms that could lead to life-long struggles if not addressed early.

Here are some signs to look out for:

1. Persistent Spelling Issues

While the occasional typo is no big deal, frequent and persistant spelling mistakes, despite instruction, could signal a deeper problem, like dyslexia. Addressing this early with phonics programs or a specialist can help build confidence and skills.

2. Chronic Writer’s Block

If your child seems stuck every time they need to write, it might stem from anxiety or a lack of confidence. Encourage freewriting or brainstorming, and remind them that it doesn’t have to be perfect on the first try!

3. Flipped or Reversed Letters

Mixing up “b” and “d” or "q and p" is normal for young learners, but if it lingers past the early elementary years, it might point to an issue such as dysgraphia or other learning differences. Specialized exercises can help correct this and build stronger writing skills.

4. Very Slow Thought Process

When putting words on paper feels painfully slow, it could mean your child is overwhelmed or struggling with foundational skills. Break tasks into smaller steps, and try tools like graphic organizers to help them plan.

If you see these challenges happening persistently, and feel they're holding your child back, don’t wait. Seek support from teachers, tutors, and/or specialists.

Early intervention can turn frustration into confidence, setting your child up for success in writing and beyond!