Correct letter/number reversals as we go or just let it go?

My husband and I are discussing ways to help my homeschooled 6yo son. The problem is that he writes his numbers backwards; almost all of them. I realize this is not uncommon at this age, but my husband believes that we should just let him write the numbers backward when he is doing his math facts work and not worry too much about it then. His idea is that it will encourage him to develop his mathmatical abilities without being frustrated by his writing difficulties. Instead, he recommends that I have our son write his numbers 0-9 three times each everyday. (Of course, he doesn't know how long it will take for him to write the numbers three times each since the pencil must come off the page and be twirled around and most likely dropped after each and every number.) That would be the only time during the day in which I would correct his number reversals.

I'm not opposed to his suggestion, but I worry that by allowing him to write his numbers backward on his math facts sheet (25 problems) and his math worksheet that he will be reinforcing a bad habit that his daily number writing exercise will not be able to counter. My husband's logic is that he has met many adults who have a hard time calculating quickly in their heads but he has never met one who still writes his/her numbers backwards, therefore, he thinks the writing problem will fix itself, but he worries that if I focus on it during the math lesson, I may squelch his enthusiasm for math.

What do you think?

 

I think you can correct his writing without it squelching his desire to do math; it just depends on how you're doing it.

When I correct my kids' writing issues [they're 5 & 6] while we're doing lessons that aren't actually about handwriting per se, I always praise their work [e.g. you did a great job figuring out that problem!] and then gently correct the problem [e.g. the only thing I think you need to do differently next time is work on your '7' - you see how you wrote it backwards?]. Then, I reinforce the praise [e.g. Other than that '7', you did a really good job here].

Of course, I'm also a person who's big into specific praise and constructive criticism going hand-in-hand. Perfect practice makes perfect. If my kids think their handwriting can slide when they're doing anything besides formal handwriting practice, then there's not much incentive for them to do it correctly at all.

I wouldn't make a huge to-do about it, but I don't think a little nudge with a "let's try to get that '5' facing the correct direction next time, OK?" is going to hurt that much.

 

My kids used to do that also. It always freaked my dh out! LOL. I just had them correct the mistakes. It never seemed to upset them. I asked them to correct it casually. Sometimes, I would even correct it myself. Then for handwriting time I would focus on the letters or numbers that were causing an issue. So...correct but not obess over it is my advice.

 

I like Shelley's advise. Whatever you decide, always praise him.
Personally, I think three times a day for a six year old is too much. He might become frustrated. Perhaps you can purchase those number books that teach how to write numbers by following the dotted line. I would only do this a couple times a week, unless he likes it then you can do it every day. The main thing is that he is young. He has many years to learn how to properly write the numbers.
Good luck!
Patty

 

I think that was good advice. My now-6-years-old daughter was having the same problem with a lot of her numbers last year. She still writes them backwards now, but she usually catches it and fixes it herself. I sit next to her as she does her homeschool (or she'll be off!), and if she writes the number backwards, I have her fix it then. It doesn't have to be a big deal... just "oops! Try again!" It helped her to have models of the numbers nearby so she can see which way they are supposed to go. Maybe you can write the numbers correctly at the top of the page? Or have them on another sheet of paper on the table, too?

Practicing writing them separately is a good idea, too. I'm not sure I would have had Joy do ALL of the numbers everyday... That's really boring - for both of us. I would have taken a week, though, and done 3 numbers at a time every day, having her write them several times each. On the 4th day, I would have her do the hardest ones again. Then on the last day of the week (assuming we did homeschool 5 days that week.. sometimes we only do it 4...), I would have had her write all of the numbers in sequence a few times so she could see them all.. Does that make sense? We did that with numbers and letters last year, and it really helped a lot.

 

I correct mine when it's written backwards. I'll just say look at the number does it look right (usually there are other numbers on the same sheet), looks at the others. If it's not recognized as being backwards I'll show the "correct" number. Eraser is used & fixed the number!!! Usually though he fixes it on his own!!!

Also when I taught another great way to help learning letters/numbers was to use a highlighter. You use the highlighter to write whatever you're working on & the kids use their pencils to trace over it!!!

 

My Jeannie is 7 and sometimes reverses her c's, b's, and d's. I point it out when I need to, but she most times catches it herself.

 

Please correct it now or you will be later !
The PS didn't correct it in K-1 and I have been correcting their letting that go ever since. Be aware that is a sign of dyslexia . If it continues no matter what you may want to get your child checked.

 

My 7 year old has had this same problem.

Last year I mostly ignored it but this year I have had him practice writing numbers correctly. I would either make up or print off a sheet with all of the numbers on it and have him fill up a line of each number written correctly. I've had him do this probably once every 2 or 3 weeks this school year and now he is doing much better.

There are still always at least a couple of backwards numbers on his math sheets, I just point them out and have him re-write them. Which he seems to be able to do without any difficulty.

 

My dd's left-handed, and I've heard that they tend to reverse letters more often. She actually did mirror writing for awhile when she was 5 and a little at 6. We had journals back then. Whatever they wrote in their journals was NOT corrected. You want them to enjoy writing, and learn to express their thoughts. So being afraid of being corrected wouldn't help them at all! I didn't do much with it when she was 5....I did more like your dh said. She did fine! When she was 6, I did some of the "gentle correction/positive reinforcement with her, and she would change it with no problems. By the time she was 7 she didn't reverse the letters any more.

I don't know about the 3 times per day, that seems like too much for one that age! And, I may be the only one, but other than that (the 3x a day thing) I did more what your dh said and my dd worked it out fine.

 

A friend had a similar experience with her dd's spelling in school. While in K-1 and I think even 2???....she spelling was never corrected. They allowed the children to spell things out how they sounded. The girl is 18 and still can't spell a lick! LOL. (Now, I am not saying her lack of spelling skills could not have been corrected in all that time, of course.)

 

Thank you all for responding. Based on what you all have said, I compromised with my husband. Today, I did the focused attention on the numbers by having my son write 0-9 correctly (once not three times), then he immediately did his math sheet with those correct numbers in view. He did much better. Out of 25 problems, he only reversed the number 6 three times.

You have to have sympathy for kids learning to write. There's no easy rule. 2 and 3 starts out going clockwise with the first stroke; 6, 8, 9 start out going counterclockwise and the curve in five goes clockwise after the straight line down. Maybe we should officially reverse the 2,3 and 5 so that the rule will be "counterclockwise first" as it is with most curved letters. While we are at it, maybe we can get rid of the non-phonetic spelling of words too(-:!

Thanks again for your help.

 

Practice! Practice! Practice! Model the correct way to make numbers. Have a number chart / line in a place your child can see it easily. I don't know if writing the numbers three times a day will help, but when he is doing math gently point out that the number is backwards. You can refer back to the number chart. Point out numbers on street signs, at the grocery store and anywhere else he sees them. Expose him to numbers and he will catch on.

 

My mom is a horrible speller. She just can't remember how to put the letters together the right way! She always said she was going to make her own dictionary so people learn to spell the words the PROPER way (which, of course, is her way)! :lol: She hasn't gotten around to it yet, though!

 

Keeping the numbers available where he can see them as he works will help. I would tell my kids remember to check the chart if you are unsure which way it goes. No pressure.

 

My son does this. It's not uncommon at his age at all. . .keeping the #'s in view is a great way to do it. I actually have my ds do his facts orally. For his math worksheets I do correct it very casually. . ."Oh that's great and the answer's right. Let's just turn that '5' around. . ." Then for handwriting practice, we'll work on correctly writing numbers. I find that practicing every day, a little at a time tends to work well with younger children.

 

I've let it go, my son has corrected most of them himself. Sometimes he will write a number or letter wrong and look at it and say "Wait" erase & fix it.

 

Tell her to "go for it"! Who put Webster in charge, anyway? :lol:

 

my ds is dyslexic, and he can't even SEE the reversed letters/numbers....so i correct them. Interestingly, the letter/number involved changes. One day it will be all the letter C's, the next it might be number 3's, but the C's are all good. Some days they are all right!
I suspect that if there are no underlying problems though, it will self correct in time, as others have said.

 

I actually read the book "The Gift of Dyslexia" because my then 6 yo ds was constantly reversing his letters, numbers, words, and even his name. But after reading the book and finding out dyslexia is so much more than reversal of letters, I found that having reversals is so very common and it justs takes time. A year later and he still reverses d, b, j, z and some of his #'s but he usually catches himself now.

I did purchase Textured Touch and Trace Cards that we use. Also in the dyslexia book it says to have them make the letters & numbers with playdo, clay, write it in sand or pudding. All of this has helped.