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Recently posted on a Teacher Talk group, this got me thinking. I understand our younger students are involved in a curriculum called Handwriting without Tears and that this topic might be really timely...for all of us. Hoping to spark conversation among those of us who are
teaching handwriting and /or those of us who embrace the skill or
...don't...I've posted one article on the topic (below).
What do you think? I have wavered on this one for years but
am leaning leaning leaning and ready topple. Must we, should we teach children the skill of handwriting? Does it matter in the real
world? Will it matter to our students and their future real worlds? Do
you believe handwriting makes you think better?
From the NY Times Science section: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/03/science/whats-lost-as-handwriting-fades.html?_r=2
I am totally in favor of continuing to teach students the skill of cursive handwriting. It is a topic I have read up on for several years. Everything I have read indicates that the benefits of learning cursive handwriting are many. Fine motor control, visual tracking are just a couple. One of the articles below explains how learning the visual tracking necessary for cursive writing is beneficial for the tracking children need to do to read. The progression of learning cursive writing just before the transition 5th grade year, when students go from reading for the purpose of reading to reading to gain information, is not accidental. They have learned the tracking skills in writing that are necessary to become good readers.
ReplyDeleteOn an emotional level, I want children to know how to read cursive handwriting so that they can read some of our Founding Fathers' documents ... most notable the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-03/finland-scraps-cursive-writing-lessons-in-schools/6066826
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/memory-medic/201303/why-writing-hand-could-make-you-smarter
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/memory-medic/201502/improve-reading-hand-eye-coordination-learning-cursive
Thank you, Jo. You write a compelling argument for the need to teach children cursive handwriting. I am in agreement. Last week I discussed the science behind handwriting processes with grade 8 when I told them their first draft of a speech would be handwritten. Interestingly, no one argued or balked. Actually one girl did and I gave her the choice as she was also quite convincing.
DeleteJo, thank you for your time and insight as well as the resources to further explore this topic.