Dysgraphia Tutoring for NYC Middle School Students

For the last two decades, CATES Tutoring has been NYC’s go-to source for one-to-one, in-person or virtual LD tutoring. Dysgraphia, like other learning disabilities, has little to do with intelligence. Middle School students with dysgraphia face different obstacles than their peers during their educational journey, especially if they have more than one type of dysgraphia. But under the tutelage of an experienced tutor, NYC LD students can learn to compensate and evolve into compelling writers.

What is Dysgraphia?

Students with dysgraphia have substantial difficulty mastering the written language despite having formal instruction. Relating to issues with fine motor coordination, Dysgraphia – sometimes called “written expression disorder” – is a type of learning disability affecting a student’s ability to recognize forms in letters, to write letters and words on paper, or to understand the relationship between sounds, spoken words, and written letters. There are also three specific classifications of Dysgraphia:

• Dyslexia Dysgraphia: Written work is illegible, copied work is fair, and spelling is bad. Finger tapping is normal.
• Motor Dysgraphia: Due to motor clumsiness, written work is illegible, copied work is illegible, normal spelling & abnormal finger taping speeds.
• Spatial Dysgraphia: Due to defect in understanding space makes written work illegible, copied work illegible, normal spelling & normal tapping speed.

While LD academic specialists often recognize dysgraphia when students begin learning how to write, older students or even adults may develop dysgraphia after a serious trauma or stroke. Comprehensive psychological and educational evaluations can assist in the diagnosis of dysgraphia through resources such as diagnostic writing tests. Furthermore, dysgraphia may accompany the manifestation of other learning disabilities such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, language disorders, or ADHD.

How is Dysgraphia Treated?

Writing something down helps most of us to recall, organize, and process information, but children with dysgraphia who struggle with writing, typically struggle more than their peers. As a result, dysgraphia students may push off or avoid writing assignments.

Treatment for dysgraphia varies and may include treatment for motor disorders to help control writing functions. Students with dysgraphia respond well to multi-sensory approaches that use auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile senses. Students with dysgraphia often respond well to:

• Utilizing pencil grips and similar tools and writing exercises
• Revisiting the stages of writing, like planning, writing, editing
• Using metacognitive strategies such as self-monitoring and self-regulation

Other treatments may address impaired memory or other neurological problems. Some LD experts recommend that individuals with dysgraphia use computers to avoid the problems of handwriting.

Online Tutoring in the Lower East Side for Middle Schools Students with Dysgraphia

The Lower East Side (or LES) is arguably one of Manhattan’s most charming and unique up-and-coming neighborhoods. Bordering nearby Chinatown and Little Italy, the Lower East Side has food options that satisfy the pickiest eaters. In the “city that never sleeps,” Manhattan residents and tourists never struggle to find a trendy place to sip on drinks in this quaint neighborhood. The Lower East Side of NYC is home to many breathtaking views. A pathway along the East River yields a scenic option for walking, biking, and even fishing. From here, residents and tourists can access great views of the Williamsburg Bridge. Meanwhile, the Museum at Eldridge Street perfectly captures and shows off NYC’s architecture and Jewish culture while the Tenement Museum is also a favorite to New York natives.

Middle school students with dysgraphia need ongoing, explicit instruction in handwriting, spelling, and composition; unfortunately, many schools do not offer these services. Recognized throughout NYC for excellence in online learning disability education, CATES Tutoring has a team of qualified LD specialists with advanced qualifications. Having helped students with learning disabilities such as ADHD and various degrees of Dyslexia, like Surface Dyslexia, Rapid Automatic Naming Dyslexia, and Double Deficit Dyslexia, the CATES LD team has assisted thousands of NYC students to earn better grades and transform into more confident, life-long learners.

Whether students in middle school benefit from in-person sessions or online tutoring, CATES can meet your student’s needs regardless of his or her learning differences. Dial (212) 359-4208 today to schedule a private, 1-on-1 meeting with the academic LD specialists at CATES Tutoring.