Research

J. Richard Gentry, Psychology Today

The article emphasizes the enduring importance of handwriting instruction in education despite the increasing reliance on digital tools. Here are the key points:

1. Cognitive Benefits: Handwriting engages multiple areas of the brain simultaneously, promoting cognitive development. This includes motor skills, memory, and learning processes that are not as deeply activated by typing.
2. Reading and Writing Skills: Writing by hand helps children learn to read more quickly and retain information better. Handwriting activates a unique neural circuit in the brain, which enhances learning and idea generation. This is especially important in early education, where forming letters by hand supports reading acquisition and comprehension.
3. Memory and Comprehension: Handwriting improves memory and comprehension. Students who take notes by hand tend to remember information better and understand it more deeply than those who type their notes. This is because the act of writing by hand requires processing and summarizing information, leading to better mental engagement.
4. Motor Skills and Letter Recognition: Handwriting supports the development of fine motor skills and letter recognition. It requires precise control and coordination, helping children distinguish between different letters and shapes, which is crucial for literacy development.
5. Educational Recommendations: The article suggests maintaining handwriting instruction in schools to support literacy and cognitive development. It argues for a balanced approach that includes both handwriting and typing skills to prepare students for academic success and everyday tasks.

Maria Konnikova, New York Times June 2, 2014

This article discusses the decline of handwriting instruction in schools and its potential impact on cognitive development. Here are the key points:

1. Educational Shifts: The Common Core standards in the United States now prioritize keyboard proficiency over handwriting, with most instruction in handwriting ending after first grade. This shift is driven by the increasing integration of digital tools in education.
2. Cognitive and Developmental Benefits: Despite the reduced focus on handwriting, psychologists and neuroscientists argue that handwriting plays a critical role in children's cognitive development. Writing by hand engages different brain areas than typing, fostering neural connections that are beneficial for learning.
3. Reading and Idea Generation: Research indicates that children learn to read more quickly and retain information better when they write by hand. Handwriting activates a unique neural circuit that enhances learning and idea generation. The act of writing by hand requires physical, mental, and visual engagement, making it a more comprehensive learning activity compared to typing.
4. Memory and Comprehension: Writing by hand helps with memory and comprehension. When students take notes by hand, they process information more deeply, leading to better retention and understanding. This is because the process of handwriting slows down the thought process, allowing for more reflective and critical thinking.
5. Broader Implications: The article suggests that as handwriting fades, we may lose more than just a mode of communication. The benefits of handwriting extend beyond mere writing skills; they encompass broader educational development, including critical thinking, creativity, and cognitive processing.

Psychology Today, J. Richard Gentry, Ph.D., July 20, 2017

This article outlines several key benefits of handwriting:

1. Cognitive Engagement: Handwriting engages multiple brain areas simultaneously, enhancing cognitive development and learning.
2. Reading Development: Writing by hand helps children develop reading skills by reinforcing letter recognition and phonemic awareness.
3. Memory Enhancement: The physical act of writing helps encode and retain information more effectively than typing.
4. Motor Skills: Handwriting involves fine motor skills crucial for overall development and coordination.
5. Emotional and Creative Expression: Handwriting provides a personal touch and can be a creative outlet, fostering emotional and expressive skills in children.

The article emphasizes the importance of maintaining handwriting instruction in schools despite the increasing reliance on digital devices.

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

Frontiers in Psychology on August 13, 2020

Key Findings:

Impact on Writing Fluency:

• The study found that handwriting fluency interventions significantly improve students' writing speed and legibility. Effective interventions include direct handwriting instruction, multisensory approaches, and consistent practice.

Cognitive and Academic Benefits:

• Handwriting fluency is closely linked to improved cognitive development and academic performance. The study highlights that students who develop fluent handwriting skills early are more likely to achieve better outcomes in reading and writing throughout their academic careers.

Effective Instructional Practices:

• The meta-analysis identified several successful instructional practices, including:
  • Direct and explicit handwriting instruction.
  • Multisensory methods that integrate visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning.
  • Frequent practice and feedback to reinforce skills.
  • Use of lined paper, visual aids, and guided practice to improve letter formation and consistency.

Long-term Benefits:

• Consistent handwriting practice not only enhances writing fluency but also supports overall literacy development, helping students transition from learning to write to writing to learn.