Understanding the challenges faced by left-handed students is not always easy for teachers. Younger children in a classroom might be unsure of which is their dominant hand. They may also try using their right hand for many tasks to conform with other classmates. However, facilitating a young student’s laterality is key to setting up the child for success for the short and long term. With that in mind, here are 3 skills teachers need in order to help their left-handed students.

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An excellent article, well worth reading to help understand some of the potential difficulties left-handed children may face.

Thrilled to announce that we held our first meeting of the Global Group www.Left-in.org with like-minded colleagues from Australia, Brazil x 2, Canada x 3, China, USA and UK x 3.

We are a global interest group formed in 2021 with the aim to improve the information and education available to the educators of left-handed children around the world.

We enjoyed a great TES SEN exhibition at the Design Centre, Islington with Sue on her #morrellshandwriting stand! Some great conversations and interest in all the excellent #handwriting resources 🙂

A new global initiative kicks off today to improve learning for left-handed children.

www.left-in.org is the website for LEFT-IN, the Left-Handers Education Forum and Training International Network. LEFT-IN was formed in 2021 aiming to improve the information and education available to the educators of left-handed children around the world.

Left-handed children make up around 15% of today’s classroom population. But, through no fault of their own, many early childhood and primary school teachers are failing to teach their left-handed students correctly because they are underprepared by their university course. This is a worldwide issue.

The Founding Members of LEFT-IN are all passionate about the education of left-handed children in their own part of the world: UK, South Africa, Brazil, Australia and China. They now come together as one voice, working with educators and legislators to improve the education of teachers for the benefit of left-handed children across the world.

Mark and Heather Stewart initiated  and are Founding Members of Left-In. “Gone are the days, thankfully, where children were punished and made to change hands when writing”, said Mark. “But for too long, understanding the specific needs of left-handed children has not been part of Initial Teacher Training  or Continuous Professional Development, and remains that way even in 2021! Appropriate teacher training and guidance for the children will give the child  a better chance to achieve their full academic potential  and improve their life chances; “Win/Win” all round!

“We are really excited to be able to kick off this great initiative on Left-Handers Day”, Mark said.

Robin Walker MP who has supported Mark’s campaign to help left-handed children says: “Being left handed shouldn’t hinder access to opportunity for anyone, particularly when there are so many support options   available. That’s why Mark and his team are providing an important service to ensure that left handed doesn’t mean left out.”

Celebrate with us at:

Aunty Ems Tea Emporium            (1st Floor) 6B ,City Arcade Worcester                                          Friday 13th and  Saturday 14th August  – 10am to 4pm

Try/buy various left-handed resources: from can openers to corkscrews, scissors to pencil sharpeners!

The first British man to win gold in the modern pentathlon was encouraged to take up the event because being left handed would “give him an advantage”, his former coach has revealed.

Joe Choong won gold yesterday at the Games, making him the first British man to win an individual Olympic medal in the sport, which has been in the programme since 1912.

It has now emerged he was encouraged to take up pentathlon by a coach at the Whitgift School, Croydon, in 2008 after he realised being left-handed would give the young athlete an advantage in fencing.

Charlie Unwin, a professional sport psychologist, noticed Choong’s talent as a swimmer when was just 13-years-old.

Mr Unwin said: “He stood out in the pool, so I convinced him to complete a “bleep” test to see if he could run – which he could.

“I also noticed he was left-handed which can offer a distinct advantage in the fencing discipline of [modern pentathlon] because by holding the weapon in the other hand it creates an unfamiliar profile for the right-handers fighting against you.

“Effectively it changes the nature of the target they are trying to hit.

We are thrilled to announce the launch of 2 new handwriting resources for left-handed children!