#53: Effective Strategies for Supporting Students with Dysgraphia with Natasha Gray
Let’s talk about a challenge many of our students face but often flies under the radar—dysgraphia. Picture this: You’ve got a bright, creative student who can chat your ear off with amazing ideas, but when it comes to writing those thoughts down, it’s a whole different story. The letters are jumbled, words don’t stay on the lines, and sometimes they avoid writing altogether. Sound familiar?
Dysgraphia is a real struggle for many kids. It’s a neurodevelopmental learning disability that impacts a student’s ability to form letters, space words correctly, write at a reasonable speed, and organize their thoughts on paper. And if we don’t support them properly, they can quickly feel defeated.
In this episode of The Science of Reading Formula podcast, I sit down with Natasha Gray, an educational diagnostician and dysgraphia specialist, to unpack what dysgraphia really is and how we, as teachers, can make a difference. Natasha shares practical, classroom-tested strategies that empower students to overcome writing struggles and build confidence in their abilities.
Key Signs of Dysgraphia Teachers Should Watch For
If you’re wondering whether a student in your class might have dysgraphia, here are some telltale signs:
- Messy, inconsistent handwriting—letters of different sizes, slanted words, and writing that’s all over the place.
- Slow writing speed—they take twice as long to get words down compared to their peers.
- Frequent erasing or avoidance of writing—they start and stop a lot, or they flat-out refuse to write.
- Complaints of hand fatigue or pain—writing physically hurts them.
- Struggles with spacing and letter formation—words are squished together or too far apart.
- Difficulty copying from the board—they fall behind because they can’t get things down fast enough.
Recognizing these signs early can make all the difference in helping these students succeed.
Effective Classroom Strategies for Supporting Students with Dysgraphia
1. Give Students More Ways to Express Themselves
Let’s face it—not every student needs to show what they know with a pencil and paper. If a child can verbally explain something clearly, then why not let them? Some great alternatives include:
- Speech-to-text technology (Google Voice Typing, Dragon NaturallySpeaking)
- Typing assignments instead of handwritten work
- Verbal responses instead of written tests
- Recorded responses where they explain their thinking
Encouraging students to talk through their ideas first before writing can be a game-changer!
2. Use Assistive Technology
We live in a time where technology can make learning so much more accessible, so let’s use it! Here are some tools that can help:
- Handwriting apps like LetterSchool and Writing Wizard
- Portable word processors or tablets
- Pencil grips and slant boards to help with fine motor control
- Digital graphic organizers like Inspiration Maps or Kidspiration
These tools allow students to focus on content instead of struggling with letter formation and spacing.
3. Adjust Writing Expectations
We all know that practice makes progress, but that doesn’t mean every student should be forced to write pages and pages when it’s clearly a struggle. Instead, try:
- Giving extra time on writing tasks
- Shortening written assignments (quality over quantity!)
- Letting them use bullet points instead of full sentences
- Providing graphic organizers to help them organize thoughts first
Breaking up writing tasks into smaller, manageable steps can reduce frustration.
4. Provide Note-Taking Support
For many students with dysgraphia, taking notes is a nightmare. They struggle to write fast enough, and by the time they’re done, they’ve missed half the lesson. Some simple fixes:
- Give them printed notes or fill-in-the-blank worksheets
- Let them take pictures of the board instead of copying everything down
- Pair them with a note-taking buddy
- Use color-coding strategies to help organize information
We want them to focus on learning, not just trying to keep up with note-taking.
5. Try Multi-Sensory Writing Techniques
Writing isn’t just about putting pencil to paper—it’s about how students experience and process letters and words. Some engaging multi-sensory strategies include:
- Tracing letters in sand or shaving cream
- Using air writing (writing letters in the air with big arm movements)
- Writing with colored markers or highlighters
- Building letters with clay or pipe cleaners
These hands-on activities help reinforce letter formation in a way that sticks.
6. Offer Oral Assessments
Why should we judge a student’s knowledge based on their handwriting? Instead of forcing them to write everything down, consider:
- Oral quizzes and discussions
- Project-based assessments (presentations, posters, videos)
- Recording their answers instead of writing them
This allows students to demonstrate their learning in a way that works for them.
7. Create a Supportive Classroom Culture
One of the hardest things for students with dysgraphia is feeling different from their classmates. They often feel embarrassed about their handwriting or slow writing speed. Let’s change that by:
- Celebrating effort, not just neatness
- Teaching classmates about learning differences so they understand and support each other
- Pointing out students’ strengths (many kids with dysgraphia are creative, analytical, and great problem-solvers!)
- Using growth mindset language—remind them that practice leads to progress!
When kids feel safe and supported, they’re more willing to try.
8. Teach Self-Advocacy Skills
As students grow, we want them to feel empowered to ask for what they need. Teach them to:
- Speak up about their struggles in a way that’s confident and respectful
- Request accommodations (extra time, assistive tech, oral responses)
- Find strategies that work best for them (typing, dictation, graphic organizers)
Giving them the tools to advocate for themselves will serve them for life.
Bringing it All Together
Supporting students with dysgraphia isn’t about lowering expectations—it’s about giving them the right tools so they can succeed. With the right accommodations, encouragement, and strategies, these students can thrive in the classroom. Every little change we make can build their confidence and help them become strong, capable learners!
Want More Support?
If you’re looking for more strategies on how to support struggling writers and build literacy skills using the science of reading, join The Science of Reading Formula today! Click here to enroll.
LINKS
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