By: Kendall Hunt RPD with contributions from the editorial team of Pathways2.0 and ByDesign Science

In today's fast-paced digital world, the art of handwriting is often overshadowed by the convenience of typing. However, the timeless skill of putting pen to paper holds significant value that transcends more than mere nostalgia.

Imagine receiving a beautifully handwritten letter—its unique curves and flourishes conveying a personal touch that typed text simply cannot match. While we may marvel at the elegance of old-fashioned cursive, the practicality of legible handwriting remains crucial. Despite the stereotype that "smart people have bad handwriting," the clarity of your script can influence how others perceive you, making it an essential skill in both personal and professional settings.

Beyond readability and appearance, handwriting practice enhances reading fluency in young students. Reading specialist Brooke MacKenzie explains that “There is a strong connection between handwriting and brain development. As students improve their handwriting, they also become more fluent in recognizing letters.”

J. Richard Gentry supports this statement, noting that “Learning to write letters sets up neural systems essential for reading, writing, and spelling. Handwriting fluency also frees the mind for more complex writing tasks.”

Despite these benefits, explicit handwriting instruction is disappearing from curricula, often replaced by keyboarding practice. While technological skills are important, MacKenzie warns that switching to screens too soon can hinder letter recognition.

Kendall Hunt Religious Publishing emphasizes the importance of handwriting in the Pathways2.0 reading and language arts program (grades 1-8). Although Pathways2.0 does not include a specific handwriting curriculum, it allocates time for direct handwriting instruction within the daily Writing Workshop.

Pathways2.0 integrates handwriting with phonics instruction, promoting phonological awareness from an early age. Students learn the sounds of language through conversation and modeled reading, while phonics teaches the relationships between sounds and spelling patterns.

Handwriting practice and phonological connections are emphasized in grades 1 and 2, as these are strong predictors of a student’s reading ability. After grade 2 , the focus shifts to spelling, but handwriting instruction continues until grade 6, setting Pathways2.0 apart from other curricula.

It is worth noting that Pathways2.0 does not reject keyboarding instruction but introduces it at an appropriate developmental stage. This balanced approach ensures that students develop both handwriting and technological skills, essential for success in the 21st century.

Handwriting in Science

The skill developed with Pathways2.0 extent into the ByDesign Science programs (grades 1-8). When teaching the fidelity of this inquiry science program, students utilize the Student Science Journal to communicate their understanding of important scientific concepts, they engage more deeply with the material. For example, drawing and labeling diagrams of cells or the human body helps students understand and remember complex information. Writing lab reports by hand can also reinforce the scientific method and improve observational skills.

Learn more about how Pathways2.0 and ByDesign Science can help your students succeed on our website.

How does your current handwriting program compare?

Sources:

https://www.edutopia.org/article/how-teach-handwriting-and-why-it-matters

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/raising-readers-writers-and-spellers/201609/5-brain-based-reasons-teach-handwriting-in-school