Dysgraphia—a learning disability which affects the ability to write—can turn an expressive kid full of positive energy into the very picture of “quiet anxiety,” writes second-grade teacher Jessica Hamman. Faced with a writing assignment, a student named Jeremiah twists his hair nervously and won’t make eye contact. Dysgraphia has “received relatively little attention from researchers,” but kids like Jeremiah may represent between 7% and 15% of students, and many suffer from the same symptoms of shame and withdrawal. They need early diagnosis and specialized interventions. Signs to look out for: difficulty gripping pencils, labored writing, inconsistent and illegible letter formation, inaccurate spelling, and poor phonological awareness. Classroom accommodations—extra time on written assignments, speech-to-text tools, written copies of whiteboard notes—are critical. Ideally, refer the child to your school’s special education team or an occupational therapist so they can recommend ins...