BACKGROUND: therapy with textual genders in a group of school children. PURPOSE: to analyze the therapeutic results from the introduction of textual genders as a therapeutical tool in a group of children with difficulties in the acquisition of written language. PROCEDURES: five children enrolled in 5th and 6th grades in distinct schools of public education in the city of Santa Maria/RS, age group ranging between 10 and 13 years and a school report of failure and repetition. The textual production analysis with free thematic was carried out by using the scale of Lubian (2007). The therapeutic intervention occurred between September 2007 and June 2008. The textual production was again analyzed, at the end of the therapeutic work, according to the same scale. RESULTS: the work with textual genders increased motivation for reading and writing and, thus, showed improvement in textual progression and cohesion, as well as adjustment to the formal aspects of writing, such as orthography and punctuation. Group work was essential to enable the members of the group to give a new sense of meaning on the complaint through the constant dialog, with exchange of school and family situations. CONCLUSION: the therapy with textual genders motivated other practices in reading and writing in the studied group. Additionally, the case studies show no reference to real disorders, but lack of efficient practice in written language.
Learning Disorders; Language; Speech Therapy; Reading; Handwriting
