Lefty Leon's First Day at School

This book was written as an educational guide for Parents and Teachers with Left-Handed children.  The book is available at Amazon.  And, if you just want to read it, look under the MORE tab labeled forms - Lefty Leon's Book.    

We have been able to work with two schools so far.  It took four years, however one of the schools did change out all of their "Right-handed only" desks for new modular desks.  

Left-In is a Global organization for the betterment of Left-handed children around the world.  They are working with their local teachers and officials to help teach the teachers.   More affiliates to add soon. 

Teachers have a few paragraphs that talk about helping Left-Handed children now.  However, without follow up, tracking, someone to contact when needed, this training is minimal at best.

There is an article written in the “We Are Teachers” website which offers a guide titled, “What Teachers need to know to help left handed students succeed”.  Here is the link:   www.weareteachers.com/lefthanded-students/  

Next, I will be asking Teachers if they know about the “We Are Teachers” training site.   .  

 Teachers Guide for Left Handed Children I'm not clumsy--I'm left-handed    

Betty Winslow. Teaching Pre K - 8. Norwalk: Oct 2001. Vol. 32, Iss. 2; pg. 60, 1 pgs  Copyright Early Years, Inc. Oct 2001      

Five tips for right-handed teachers to keep in mind when working with southpaw students    

A photographer took a picture of Becky Rodia, now Teaching K-8's Senior Editor, insisted that Becky, a lefty, hold the pen in her right hand. Her dismay is apparent!    

Eight to 10 percent of the average class is left-- handed, either doing everything left-handed or some things left-handed and others right-handed. Does it really matter? It certainly does if you happen to be a lefty. In fact, being left-handed can make the difference between a successful school year and one that's bitterly remembered years later.  

Consider the following:    

1. Paper and pencil. If you have your right-handed students slant their paper, be sure to add that it's okay to to slant it the other way. This allows each child to choose what works best for him or her. Same thing with pencils. Some lefties hold pencils with their fingers closer to the paper, which allows for easier manipulation, while others keep them further away, allowing them to see what they've written. Whichever way works best for the student is the way to go.    

2. Sensitive language. When giving directions, "right" and "wrong" can be confusing when used with "right" and "left." Try saying "correct" and "incorrect" or "appropriate" and "inappropriate." If children begin to think of "lefe' as an antonym for "right" and "wrong" as an antonym for "right," they may also begin to associate left-handedness with being wrong. This may seem like a minor concern, but if changing our language keeps even one child from losing some self-esteem, isn't it worth it?    

3. Cutting remarks. Don't let your left-handed students grow up thinking they're clumsy. Insist on having left-handed scissors for every left-handed cutter. Some lefties may cut right-handed because they've never used left-handed scissors. (I was 27 when I tried my first pair.)    

4. Measuring. Tape measures and rulers made for righties are hard to use if you're left-- handed. Try to get one left-- handed model of each for use in class. If that's not possible, encourage lefties to pair up with righties and have each of them do the project's measurements and compare results.    

5. Classroom furniture. When furnishing your classroom, order table-and-chair style desks. These make work easier for both right-handed and left-handed students. If you have no table-and-chair desks and no left-- handed desks available, make sure the left-handed child sits at a desk with a large desktop, allowing him or her to find a comfortable position in which to write. 

Writing Help for left handed Children 

by Jennifer Lang.  (2007, September). 

Writing Help for Lefties. 

Parenting, XXI(8), 158.  Retrieved January 25, 2011, from Research Library. (Document ID: 1323645821).    

If your child's left-handed, she may need some assistance now that she's old enough to begin learning to write.  While most people naturally write from left to right, lefties move from right to left at first. The same goes for drawing circles: Righties do it counterclockwise and lefties clockwise, which is why they tend to reverse letters (like a, c, d, f, g, q, and s) that are made with a counterclockwise stroke.  

To help her adjust:  

* Teach her to hold her pencil between her thumb and forefinger, resting on her middle finger, at a 45-degree angle--except it should point toward her left shoulder, not her right.  

* Buy pencils, notebooks, and other supplies designed for lefties. Soft, molded pencil grips with an "L" marked where her thumb should go will teach her the correct grip.  

* Slightly raise the left corner of the paper she's writing on to keep her wrist from curving, and her muscles from straining.  

* Help her orient herself from left to right by drawing a thick green (for "go") line down the left-hand side of her paper. Tell your child to move away from the green line to the right.  

* If your child is sitting in a group or next to a rightie, have her sit on the left, so she doesn't bump elbows with her neighbor.  

* Most lefties make smudges as their fist moves across the page. That's okay! What's important is that she gets the basics down.  

A site we love  Looking for somewhere close by (and safe) for your child to play? Go to kaboom.org and click on the Playspace Finder. There, you can enter your city and state or zip code to locate a playground (suitable for ages 2 to 5 or ages 5 to 12), field, skate park, or ice rink near you. You can also rate ones you've visited, read other parents' ratings, and add your own favorite outdoor space.  [Author Affiliation]  Jennifer Lang