Students sort and match purple paper cards with geometric terms and diagrams on a gray classroom desk.

Embedded Classroom Support

Dysgraphia & Writing Challenges

Students with dysgraphia or other writing challenges often have bright ideas but struggle to get them on paper. At McLean, we build the skills, confidence, and strategies that help every student express their thinking with clarity and creativity.

A child in a blue shirt reaches up to attach a flashcard to a whiteboard labeled "verbs," with other verb cards like "write," "grow," "jump," "go," and "sing" displayed.A teacher sits with a group of elementary school students at a table as they work on worksheets and write with pencils in a classroom.Students sit on the floor in a school hallway, some holding laptops or notebooks, writing and talking, with a green wall and posters in the background.A young person in a blue hoodie sits cross-legged on the floor, writing on a clipboard, with desks and other people nearby.A child in a blue shirt reaches up to attach a flashcard to a whiteboard labeled "verbs," with other verb cards like "write," "grow," "jump," "go," and "sing" displayed.A teacher sits with a group of elementary school students at a table as they work on worksheets and write with pencils in a classroom.Students sit on the floor in a school hallway, some holding laptops or notebooks, writing and talking, with a green wall and posters in the background.A young person in a blue hoodie sits cross-legged on the floor, writing on a clipboard, with desks and other people nearby.
Two male students in a classroom, one seated and speaking while gesturing with his hands, and the other sitting casually on a desk, both wearing dark shirts.Three students sit at a classroom table, using tablets and writing in notebooks, with classroom supplies and books visible in the background.A child writes with a pencil on a worksheet that says, "I can help the earth." The child's name is being written on the line.Two students sit on a wooden bench under a staircase; one holds a phone while the other uses a laptop. Backpacks are on the floor beside them. Colorful artwork hangs on the wall nearby.Two male students in a classroom, one seated and speaking while gesturing with his hands, and the other sitting casually on a desk, both wearing dark shirts.Three students sit at a classroom table, using tablets and writing in notebooks, with classroom supplies and books visible in the background.A child writes with a pencil on a worksheet that says, "I can help the earth." The child's name is being written on the line.Two students sit on a wooden bench under a staircase; one holds a phone while the other uses a laptop. Backpacks are on the floor beside them. Colorful artwork hangs on the wall nearby.

How We Support Every Student to Become a Confident Writer

Dedicated Writing Instruction

Handwriting and written expression are taught as distinct subjects (K-4), with separate English (writing) and literature (reading) classes from grades 5-12.

Ongoing Teacher Guidance

Teachers guide students through brainstorming, planning, and revising their work. Through regular check-ins, idea development, and feedback, teachers help students bring their creativity and thinking to the page with confidence.

Integration Across Subjects

Writing is reinforced across the curriculum, allowing students to practice and apply skills in science, social studies, and other content areas, strengthening both written expression and critical thinking.

Creative Expression Encouraged

Students are encouraged to experiment with different genres, styles, and formats, fostering originality, curiosity, and a love for writing.

Holistic Support

Our Occupational Therapists (K-8), Speech Language Pathologists (K-8), and Coordinators of Learning Services (K-12) partner with teachers to ensure each student’s unique learning profile is understood and supported from the start.

Technology that Opens Doors

Speech-to-text, graphic organizers, and digital tools help students focus on creativity and content—not the mechanics of writing. Keyboarding instruction begins in grade 3, giving students practical tools to express their ideas with ease.

Consistent Frameworks

A research-based writing curriculum provides structure, scaffolding, and predictable routines that help students grow into confident writers.

Celebrating Growth & Achievement

Regular opportunities to share writing—through classroom presentations, school publications, or portfolios—help students see their progress, build confidence, and take pride in their work.

When a Student Has a Story To Tell, But a Hard Time Writing It

Dysgraphia can make handwriting, spelling, and organizing thoughts a real challenge—but it doesn’t stop a child from being creative and brilliant. We combine specialized instruction, assistive technology, and embedded classroom support to help students express their ideas with confidence.

Read more about how we help students with dysgraphia find their voice
A student in a black hoodie sits at a desk holding a pen and looking forward, with papers and other students visible in the background.

Dive Deeper

Six young children stand in a circle with their arms around each other, smiling, in a classroom setting with educational posters and shelves in the background.
ADHD
A young girl adjusts a wall clock in a classroom, with a daily schedule and time-related posters visible in the background.
A student with long brown hair writes math equations on a whiteboard at a desk, with a calculator and eraser nearby in a classroom setting.
Dyscalculia & Math Challenges
The entrance to McLean School.

Discover the McLean Experience

It’s critically important for a child to be in a school that respects them for who they are, and supports their academic strengths and challenges. This has always been true for McLean. 

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