- Tuesday 25 July 2017
- 0 Comments
The explicit teaching of handwriting is a topic that has polarised the teaching profession for decades.
- Why do we need to teach handwriting in the day of digital communication?
- Does it really matter if students write without fluency and automaticity?
The simple answer is YES! Legible, fluent handwriting is necessary for these reasons:
- Legal and application forms require legible handwriting.
- University and high school exams require students to write quickly and clearly.
- Not every member of our community has access to a computer.
Reasons why handwriting should be encouraged:
- Improvement of fine motor skills
- Promotes positive writing attitudes
- Constant practice allows for the development of skills
Continued teaching of handwriting will avoid these common problems:
- Incorrect letter formation
- Lack of fluency and automaticity, often resulting in illegible and slow print script
- Lack of coherency and consistency under time constraints
By developing a whole-school handwriting policy, teachers can be assured that students consistently progress at the appropriate rate and develop the handwriting skills necessary for them to progress in life.
R.I.C. is developing a whole-school handwriting program in 2017. Click here for more information.
