ABCs of Learning

Because it is not necessarily considered an academic subject with a grade, handwriting sometimes garners less attention than it deserves. However, there is great value in receiving strong handwriting instruction during the primary years.

• The ability to effectively manipulate a pencil is essential in sharing one’s ideas on paper. Students who struggle with their pencil grip often experience hand fatigue and find themselves unable to finish writing tasks. Also, for children who have difficulty knowing how to form letters, the act of writing even single words can become a chore. Even though these students may have a rich fund of verbal information, they may write very short, choppy sentences when asked to put their ideas to paper. In doing so, they fail to share all that they know.
• Handwriting is also essential in all academic subjects. In language arts, children must spell and write stories and reports. In science, they have to record data. In foreign language, they must write sentences and paragraphs. Especially as they get older, students have to listen to verbal instruction and quickly record notes. If they cannot write in an accurate and efficient manner, they may miss or fail to understand important information that is required for test preparation and papers.
• Finally, handwriting goes along with the skills that are taught in other areas. As children learn to write individual letters, they make associations with sound sequences and whole words. They begin to make connections among the things they are learning.

Difficulty with handwriting may also accompany the underlying struggles associated with learning disabilities, such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, or reading and writing disorders. As an Educational Specialist at Child and Family Development in Charlotte, I administer comprehensive evaluations to determine the presence of learning disabilities. I also enjoy consulting with parents about their concerns in these areas.