Students Should Learn Handwriting!

“All I had to do was think of the letter and my hand just wrote it for me!!”  --Josh, Kindergarten student, Solterra Way Cottage School, May 2024

“What the hand does, the mind remembers.”  --Maria Montessori

Handwriting may seem like an antiquated skill in the digital age, but its benefits for students are profound and multifaceted. Learning handwriting fosters essential capabilities that extend beyond the classroom, from cognitive development to motor skills and academic performance. This article delves into the significance of handwriting instruction, drawing on insights from educational experts, and practical examples.

Josh

Josh came to Solterra Way Cottage School for support with reading fluency.  An initial assessment of his handwriting showed inefficient letter formation and messy writing products.  He showed little interest in improving the quality of his writing. 

But in a moment of free time after a lesson, he produced a highly detailed drawing of a set of chess pieces across a horizontal line, with careful attention to the heights and proportions of each. This drawing told me what I needed to know.   

The Cognitive and Developmental Benefits

Handwriting is not merely about forming letters on a page; it is an intricate process that engages the brain in unique ways. Maria Montessori famously stated, “What the hand does, the mind remembers.” This underscores the connection between physical activity, specifically the small motor functions involved in handwriting,and cognitive processes. Students who write by hand activate the regions of the brain involved in thinking, language, and memory, which helps to reinforce learning and retention.

Research supports this connection. Studies have shown that handwriting activates neural pathways differently than typing, leading to better memory recall and understanding of the material. The act of writing helps encode information more effectively into long-term memory, making it a vital tool for learning and comprehension.

Enhancing Fine Motor Skills and Hand-Eye Coordination

Learning to write by hand also plays a crucial role in developing fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. In the early stages of education, activities such as drawing shapes and tracing letters help young learners build the dexterity required for more complex tasks. This skill development is foundational not only for handwriting but also for other everyday activities and academic tasks, such as drawing, playing musical instruments, and even using technology effectively.

Josh

After a few weeks of instruction, Josh expressed the intuitive ease that comes with practice: “All I had to do was think of the letter and my hand just wrote it for me!!” This statement highlights how, with consistent practice, handwriting can become a seamless and automatic process, further enhancing a student's ability to focus on the content rather than the mechanics of writing.

I will explain below about how I led Josh to writing fluency.  

Academic Performance and Literacy

Handwriting instruction has a direct impact on academic performance. According to Learning Without Tears, their comprehensive handwriting curriculum incorporates explicit, direct instruction and purposeful practice, which is essential for mastering handwriting and achieving proficiency. Automatic letter writing is a strong predictor of both text length and text quality in elementary school children, indicating that proficient handwriting can enhance overall writing skills and literacy.

Students learn best grouping letters by the movements required to write them, rather than teaching letters in alphabetical order.  The common problem of b/d confusion is often resolved when children learn this way.  A lowercase c turns into an a; make a taller, it becomes a d. Make an h; turn the line at the end and it becomes a b.  

Letter identification skills are supported by early introduction of handwriting instruction.  Students identify the letters as they learn to write them.  I have my own young students conclude each exercise by announcing the name of the letter; “I wrote Q!”

Furthermore, handwriting practice supports the development of reading skills. The multisensory approach used in programs like "Handwriting Without Tears" engages visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners, making the learning process more effective and inclusive. This comprehensive method ensures that students not only learn how to write but also understand the structure and form of letters, which is crucial for reading development.

The Role of Handwriting in a Digital Age

The relevance of handwriting might seem diminished in this era dominated by technology. However, the tactile experience of writing by hand offers benefits that digital tools cannot replicate. Markham Heid, in his paywalled article for the Washington Post (Opinion  Here’s how teachers can foil ChatGPT: Handwritten essays), suggests that handwritten essays could be a way for teachers to counter the over-reliance on digital tools like ChatGPT. Handwriting requires a level of thoughtfulness and engagement that typing does not always necessitate, fostering deeper cognitive processing and critical thinking skills.

Moreover, handwriting can serve as a valuable diagnostic tool for educators. Variations in students' handwriting can provide insights into their cognitive and motor development, helping teachers identify and address learning difficulties early on. This personalized approach to education is crucial for supporting diverse learning needs and promoting overall academic success.

To foil the overuse or inappropriate use of AI tools, some high school teachers and even college professors have started requiring work to be completed by hand in the classroom.  Students with efficient and fluent writing are able to produce higher-quality written products if, like 6-year-old Josh, they don’t need to attend to the mechanics of their handwriting.  

Practical Applications and Instructional Strategies

Implementing effective handwriting instruction for young children involves a combination of direct teaching, guided practice, and independent writing.  Mnemonic devices help some students recall letter formation as well.  When practicing the capital letters C, O and Q, I often hear my students echo my words as they whisper to themselves, “C..C…C…O…O…O…Stop at the top! And (add the line) Q!”

• Watch and Imitate: Students observe their teacher demonstrating letter formation.

• Guided Practice: Students practice writing by copying a model.

• Independent Practice: Students write letters, words, or sentences without assistance.

This progression from observation to independent writing helps students develop confidence and competence in their handwriting skills. Multisensory materials and activities can make handwriting practice more engaging and effective. Building letters with wooden pieces, writing with sponges on slates and with chalk before taking pencil to paper helps build tactile memory and adds some interesting variety to a potentially tedious task. 

Josh

Josh was a willing student and followed my guidance for his writing instruction, but it took a mathematical connection to win his full buy-in. I showed him that, just like the pieces of the chess set, the size of his letters was less important than the proportional relationship of one letter to another.  

Josh carefully wrote the same word three different times, in huge letters, then in a more typical kindergarten size and finally, as small as he could, all while keeping the “small letters small, the tall letters tall and the descending letters in the right place.”  He was very proud to show his mother his meticulously-crafted 6 point font, and after that, his writing became more consistently legible and fluent.  

Conclusion

Handwriting remains a crucial skill for students, offering a range of cognitive, developmental, and academic benefits. By engaging the brain in unique ways, enhancing fine motor skills, and supporting literacy development, handwriting instruction plays a vital role in education. As we navigate the digital age, maintaining a balance between traditional and technological learning methods will ensure that students develop well-rounded skills that prepare them for future success.

Handwriting instruction works best with an in-person teacher. I am available for students in Chapel Hill and Durham NC, and I'm sure you can find an instructor in your area.