Benefits of Teaching Handwriting This School Year

True or False? There are no benefits to teaching handwriting in the classroom because it is too time consuming and the cons outweigh the pros.

That was my exact thought process at the beginning of every school year. I was overwhelmed just by the idea of adding handwriting to an already packed-full curriculum.

Raise your hand if you have ditched teaching handwriting just because it seemed to be too steep of a hill for you to climb.

C’mon, raise your hand so I know I’m not alone!

Something shifted in my reasoning when I started to research the benefits of teaching handwriting. Ironically, a subject I once dreaded is now one of my favorite things to talk about. 

Let’s dive in!

Benefits of Teaching Handwriting: What Research Shows

In theory, handwriting may sound like a good idea, but implementing it in the classroom (sometimes with limited time and resources) can seem like a daunting task.

I knew that if I was going to implement handwriting in my curriculum then I needed to use cold hard facts as my motivation. I’m going to hyperlink you to some great research throughout the rest of this post. Take time to read up on the research and keep it on hand as motivation while you create handwriting goals for the academic year.

#1. Benefit of Teaching Handwriting: Handwriting Improves Literacy and Motor Skills 

Research shows that one of the many benefits of teaching handwriting is monumental in helping kids develop fine motor skills. The more that your students have pencil to paper, the more they are blossoming as young learners!

Research has taught us that even 5 minutes of handwriting practice a day can help kids hone their writing skills and increase their literacy capabilities.The Journal of Early Childhood Education and Development did a study on the correlation between handwriting and literacy. The study analyzed 1,000 students when they were in pre-K and then later in second grade. They found that pre-K students with good fine motor skills—from handwriting instruction and practice—outperform their peers on both reading and math by second grade!

That is surreal and a great motivator as you implement handwriting in the classroom this year.

#2. Benefit of Teaching Handwriting: Handwriting Improves Mental Focus

A 2012 study in the Journal of Child Development stated, “Handwriting supports executive function by engaging a child’s attention and developing her ability to focus.” Because handwriting often takes up so little of a curriculum, kids seem to be nudged to retain the general letter shape instead of perfecting them in sentences and paragraphs. 

Because we live in a tech-run classroom now, kids tend to lose patience with their handwriting and teachers are distracted with the next thing that is planned for the school day.

With the facts in front of us, we should create classrooms that put handwriting as a focal point. The benefits that handwriting has on improving mental focus can positively affect a student’s entire academic journey!

#3. Benefit of Teaching Handwriting: Handwriting Improves Understanding

How many of you have heard the phrase, “Write it out.”. Sometimes we run across this phrase reading self-help books. The act of “writing it out” helps us to get everything out of our brain and onto paper. It helps with stress management and also creating goals. 

When you take time to teach your class handwriting, you are providing your students the chance to enhance their understanding of themselves and the world around them. 

How exciting! 

Becoming proficient in handwriting allows students to effortlessly navigate a subject in their mind and then come to a clearer understanding by “writing it out”. Skilled, fluid handwriting is an asset to learning! Effortless writing allows time for the focus to be on the academics alone. This is such an amazing benefit of teaching handwriting!

How Can I Teach Handwriting Virtually?

It’s possible to adopt a great writing practice even for students that are distance learning. Sure, the initial logistics may seem intimidating, but it can be done! Kids that are distance learning are most likely going to be typing more than writing. Getting in daily practice will be a great habit for them to nurture.

Coming up with fun ideas that translate into distance learning can be a challenge, but now is your time to get creative! 

For example, create ‘Silly Sheets’ for kids to work on. Assign a small handwriting assignment with a fun theme and have kids upload their practice pages up to Google Classroom. 

[These are perfect for “big kids” 1st-6th graders who know the alphabet and are past working on this.]

If you’re looking for step-by-step guidance in making handwriting a priority this year then you will probably love my silly handwriting pages.

Drum roll….

Presenting 180 Days of Handwriting!

Curious to know what’s inside of the 180 Days of Handwriting?

– 180 days of pre-planned material! Every day of the entire year is planned for you! (I’m not even kidding!) 

– Options for cursive, print, and D’Nealian cursive/print!

– Assessments to gauge the child’s needs. Pre-test and post-tests help parents and students see progress!

– Glossary so students can record information on new vocabulary words!

– The “Handwriting Hero Pass” allows them to have a “no homework” day, etc.

– A “Cursive License” can be given when students become experts in cursive! This allows them to use cursive on any assignment and is a huge motivator for them to do their best!

Each new month of handwriting practice has a fun theme!

• 26 pages of Silly Alphabet Sentences
• 20 pages of Positive Affirmations
• 20 pages of Awesome Animal Facts
• 20 pages of Gross Facts
• 20 pages of Marvelous Math Facts
• 20 pages of Space Facts
• 20 pages of Strange Sport Facts
• 20 pages of Wacky Holidays
• 20 pages of Weird Weather Facts

Fun Handwriting Ideas:

• Create monthly handwriting books! 
• Have students draw pictures to go with their silly sentences.
• Keep content engaging and allow kids to show their unique personalities.
• I suggest starting with the alphabet and then “choosing your own adventure” with the pre-planned material!

Here’s what other teachers are saying: 

As I was creating the 180 Days of Handwriting, I asked teachers what they needed and they gave me great information to go off of. This was created for teachers essentially by teachers just like you! 

Grab a copy of 180 Days of Handwriting:

BONUS: As a thank you for checking out the blog, use the code: HANDWRITING10 for a discounted price. 

• PRINT version!
• CURSIVE version!
• BUNDLE of both!
• D’Nealian teachers, I didn’t forget you! Grab a D’Nealian copy here!

(The difference between D’Nealian and regular print is just the “tail” on the end of each letter. Most schools use regular print and cursive.)

I’m curious! Have you been teaching handwriting from a distance? How is it going and what tricks do you have to share? As always, let me know how you loved the handwriting bundle. 

Happy writing!