There are many reasons that a student might experience difficulties with writing. Dyslexia, ADHD, and other learning differences affect many of the skills needed to sit down and pen an essay without feelings of frustration and anxiety. At Currey Ingram Academy, we work with students throughout the process so that they can best refine their writing abilities.
Is writing really that important?
Writing is a skill necessary for all aspects of life. Just like reading, learning how to communicate effectively via the written word is crucial in both the classroom and, later on, the workplace. Overcoming obstacles in the writing process is something that our learning differences boarding school (located near Nashville, TN) teaches to all students.
At Currey Ingram, we focus on the fundamentals of self-regulated strategy development (SRSD). These are not easy to learn as a whole, so our educators try to teach them individually and then build on each student’s progress. Some of these tactics are:
Analyze the task.
Students at our learning differences boarding school are first taught how to analyze their assignments. This is a crucial first step because many adolescents are naturally conditioned to jump ahead. For example, the student may write a summary of a book chapter before realizing the assignment asked for an opinion on the events in those same pages.
Get organized.
Organization is difficult for many students, particularly those with learning differences. Our day and boarding school students are provided with all the tools necessary to organize their writing materials. They are also given the time to collect their thoughts so that they can get a handle on what they need to write.
Set goals.
Even when a student understands the task, is organized, and ready to begin, having goals in place can keep them on an even straighter track. One example of a goal a student might set for themselves is to allow a character’s intentions to shine through in dialogue with others as opposed to merely descriptive text.
Evaluate vocabulary.
Boarding school students with learning differences in grades 9 through 12 are often asked to write pieces that require a specialized vocabulary. We help our students learn to recall the types of words appropriate to get the point across based on subject matter. Similarly, we work with our students to ensure they have the knowledge to select the right type of language for each situation. For example, when texting friends and family, abbreviations, alternate spellings, and slang terminology are perfectly acceptable. However, more formal vocabulary and attention to grammatical rules are expected when writing an essay for history class.
Refine handwriting.
Although keyboards and smartphone screens are the preferred means of communication for many young learners, the physical act of writing remains crucial to their academic and professional success. Holding a pen or pencil requires motor planning, fine motor control, and coordination. We help our students master this physical process so that it becomes automatic and no longer requires constant focus.
Master spelling.
Spelling is akin to math. If you understand things like addition, subtraction, and multiplication, you will have little trouble moving on to higher-level problem-solving. Instinctively knowing how to spell most common words does the same with writing. If students are not hyper-focused on letter order, they can tune their mental energy toward other writing skills, such as grammar and sentence structure.
Self-evaluate.
Self-evaluation is essentially the process of self-editing. Professional writers must continually self-evaluate to ensure they remain on track throughout the course of their work. For students enrolled in a learning differences boarding school, self-evaluation skills are taught during each stage of the high school experience. Teachers might, for example, remind their young writers to read over each paragraph before moving on to the next. Doing so may help the student identify any pertinent details they might’ve missed and whether or not they are following the provided writing prompt.
Time management.
Teachers at our learning differences boarding school do allow students additional time to complete complex classwork. However, time management skills are taught, prioritized, and emphasized. This is especially important to students who find it difficult to keep their attention on a single task.
Self-reinforcement.
If you have ever watched a student that struggles with writing try to complete an assignment, it is usually quite clear that they dislike the process. Negative thoughts over simple spelling or grammar mistakes often become an obsession and can hinder their progress. One tactic that educators at our learning differences boarding school employ is to commend students for completing goals and hitting milestones. This can help them learn to essentially praise themselves when they meet and exceed a goal, which can provide them the encouragement they need to continue on without any undue distractions or stress.
Reflection.
At the end of each assignment, we ask our students to reflect on how it went. We want them to pay attention to what writing strategies worked and which ones did not. By taking the time to complete a full evaluation at the end, our students get to know what tactics they need to use on similar writing projects in the future.
Currey Ingram is the only learning differences boarding school campus in Nashville, TN. As such, it is our duty to provide the highest quality of education for our students possible. Our caring and educated staff have chosen a career in service to the next generation, and their dedication shines through in the academic success of our student body.
