Pencil Grip

Today I have attached an article showing the correct methods of holding a pencil.

There are also some images shown of inefficient methods of grasping a pencil. It is important to try to correct this grip to enable children to become more efficient writers as they get older.

Eyesight/Hearing

If you are concerned about your child’s learning, a good place to start is ensuring you have their eyesight and hearing checked. Attached is a vision checklist that could be used as a guide.

Vision Checklist

If you are concerned about your child’s learning and/or vision be aware of the following signs and symptoms:

• one eye drifts or aims in a different direction than the other. This can be very subtle
• turns or tilts head while reading or during other visual activities
• head is frequently tilted to one side or one shoulder is noticeably higher
• squinting or closing of one eye
• excessive blinking or squinting
• poor visual/motor coordination skills (often called, "hand-eye coordination")
• problems judging distances while moving in space, frequently bumps into things or drops things
• becomes easily confused when in motion
• frequently loses things

While reading or doing close work your child:

• holds the reading material or object too close
• closes one eye or covers eye with hand
• twists or tilts head toward book or object so as to favour one eye
• uses finger or ruler to read
• frequently loses place and/or skips or repeats lines
• fatigues easily and/or becomes drowsy
• rubs eyes during or after periods of the reading or close work
• reports that words move on page or run together
• has a tendency to knock things over on a desk or table
• exhibits avoidance behaviours

Child demonstrates or reports:

• headaches or eyestrain
• nausea or dizziness
• motion sickness or car sickness

DOUBLE VISION!

If your child reports seeing double, please take your child for a binocular vision evaluation.

Early detection of visual problems is vital for successful learning!

Autism Workshop Postponed

Please be advised that the "Two for One Workshop" advertised in an earlier newsletter that was supposed to be on April 6, has been postponed.