Study material - book

Access to the left-hander in elementary school

• writing process from left to right
• specific requirements for holding writing instruments
• reading procedure from left to right
• use of common aids
• job in the classroom
• risks of family exercise
• When writing, the left-hander copes with the requirement, which is difficult for him to manage, to move from left to right, often by turning his hand into a so-called claw-shaped posture so that he can see the written text. However, this posture is non-physiological, often causing convulsions and faster onset of hand fatigue. Therefore, the formation of a claw-like grip must be prevented. What to do to prevent the claw from forming or fixing:
• pay adequate attention to holding a pencil already in kindergarten and in the family of a preschooler
• pay adequate, often greater than for right-handers, attention to preparatory exercises for writing and relaxation exercises (eg shaking hands)
• when there is a hint of claw-holding, consistently perform relaxation and preparatory exercises on a vertical surface
• on the principle of "lesser evil" to accept a more significant rotation of the paper (notebook) than turning the hand into a claw
• cooperation with parents on the principle of a unified approach of the school and the family in writing training
• If the claw posture is already fixed, reeducation must not be stressful, the intervention must not neurotize and stigmatize the child.
• The methodology of writing with the left hand is in general features identical to the procedures in right-handed writing and emphasizes:
• sitting in a bench with a right hand - left, so that the left hand is on the edge of the bench, not in the middle
• posture - straight sitting (prevention of scoliosis, hyperkyphosis), partial support of both forearms, slight forward bending, distance of the eyes from the paper at least 30 cm, the size of the table and chair corresponding to the figure of the student is important
• the paper (notebook) should be placed slightly to the left of the body axis for the left-hander, the upper left corner points slightly upwards (the size of the inclination is individual)
• left-handed way of writing - preferably diagonally from below (palm is below the line)
• font inclination - a large tolerance to left-handed performance is recommended (Křišťanová, 1995), preferably 70 - 75 degrees to the right, vertical font is tolerated (90 degrees)
• font speed - due to the great difficulty of left-handed writing, it is necessary to tolerate a slower font pace
• special aids for left-handers: copybooks, triangular program, pads, scissors, etc.