To understand handedness in lefties, the first thing to identify in a child regarding writing style is how the child uses his/hers hand--does he/she hook or twist the hand around a pencil or crayon or does he/she hold or grip similarily to a rightie (just with opposite hand position)?
If the child hooks the hand around, that forces the writing tool and consequently their pensmanship in a very very slanted to the right side of the paper looking style.
If the child holds with the pincer-grip or something similar, their penmanship style may lean to the left some depending on the wrist location/rotation with the paper surface. However, the overall production of their writing (printing or cursive) can be held to grading evaluation standards similarily to right-handers once the basics of letter and number formations have been introduced to the child.
For lefties that hook their hand for writing, grading evaluation standards will have to be adjusted. Teachers and parents will need to realize that recognizable letters, numbers, or words needs to be the focus. Working with a "hooked hand writer" will have challenges. Make sure the child is not gripping the writing tool excessively. If the child complains that writing is too painful, check to see how tightly they are gripping/holding. The amount of applied pressure can also be quickly assessed by seeing if the paper surface is tearing/ripping frequently and also by how heavy or thick the pencil lead or crayon wax looks on the paper.
Parents can model writing examples and gripping examples if they sit opposite to their child creating a mirror-kind of reflection. If you have a relative that is left-handed, they also can help model hand-gripping and examples of letter/number formation for the leftie child.
Parents and teachers can also check how a left-handed child holds other items that are included in fine motor skill development: different size puzzle pieces, puzzle or wooden stamps that have a small knob or handle on top, picking up beads, holding food utensils, holding and using scissors, toy tools, and similar household items.
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