WHY
IS IT IMPORTANT TO HAVE GOOD HANDWRITING?
Handwriting
is an essential skill for both children and adults.
For
younger children :
Handwriting activates
the brain more than keyboarding because it involves more complex motor and
cognitive skills.
Handwriting
contributes to reading fluency because it activates visual perception of
letters.
Handwriting is a
predictor of success in other subjects, because good handwriting has a positive
impact on grades.
Cursive writing helps
students, both young and old, with dyslexia. Children can have a very hard time
with writing in print because many of the letters look similar, particularly b
and d. Also it can feel very uncomfortable and disjointed writing in print.
Cursive writing offers each letter a very different look and allows the pupil
to write in a flowing, comfortable way. This can decrease their dyslexic
tendencies and make them more confident in their abilities.
As
children get older :
Many standardised
assessments are based on written work, particularly in time-limited written
examinations. Without fast and legible handwriting, students will miss out on
learning opportunities, under-achieve and may fall behind. Good handwriting
remains as a major form of assessment for many formal qualifications.
Illegible handwriting
can cause poor self-esteem. Poor self esteem can trigger loss of confidence.
Children who
experience difficulty mastering handwriting may avoid writing and produce poor
written work. Children with poor handwriting will find it hard to proof read
their own work. They will then fail to spot their mistakes and their confidence
may dip even lower.
Examiners need to
decipher what is written. Otherwise, pupils will achieve lower marks, even
where the content may be good. Many state standardised assessments and
handwritten essays emphasise the importance of handwriting. Without fast and
legible handwriting, students may miss out on learning opportunities and
under-achieve academically.
Handwriting is
critical to creative, well-crafted text affecting both fluency and the quality
of the composition. Legible writing that can be produced comfortably, at speed
and with little conscious effort allows a child to attend to the higher-level
aspects of writing composition and content. Handwriting contributes to better
writers. Children who have mastered it are better, more creative writers.
Handwriting is crucial
for note taking. Taking notes by hand is vital for all students of all ages
because it improves attention, comprehension, and results. Students’ notes must
be self-legible, otherwise they are worthless.
Into
adulthood :
Good handwriting is
essential long after graduation. In our modern world, in all walks of life,
people are judged by their handwriting. Jotting down a shopping list, writing a
birthday card, taking down a phone message, completing a form at the bank,
filling out immigration forms….handwriting is part of our daily lives. It is on
show to others and may be used to make judgments about us.
Learning to write
letters and numbers correctly is especially important when writing down e mail
addresses, website URL’s, and phone numbers. One wrong letter or number can
prevent communication.
Good writing skills
can help you in life. If you’re trying to get a job, good writing skills make
you more desirable to the employer. One of the first things an employer looks
at is your cover letter or resume.
Throughout
life :
Children, students,
teachers, lecturers, parents feel happy, confident and inspired by good
handwriting skills. Good handwriting is the platform for achievement in the
workplace and self assurance in life. It is, and will remain, the key to
progress and success.
