Have you ever known or possessed an underrated expertise that 43% of the world has?
Handwriting is writing that is done by hand using a pen, pencil, digital stylus, or other instrument. Different types of handwriting, whether it be neat, straight, cursive, calligraphy, or some other form, have been a stable part of humanity for 5,500 years.
With their handwriting, individuals can create a style all their own. When someone writes something, it can contain more than just what the sentences say: their handwriting can help to reveal their thoughts, feelings, and neat statements.
As an MCPS student who learned it as early as second grade, I have always had neat handwriting. Neatness of writing is a complex skill to learn over time, and for me that began in about second grade. Over that period of time, writing art skills have significantly improved, and the reason is very simple: it is mostly from the way I hold my pen or pencil. Writing in a unique way uplifts me and builds confidence in my schoolwork and professional settings.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic when we shifted to computers at home for a year-long period, writing in school has slowed. It has not become obsolete but it has been overshadowed by the normalization of computers and school Chromebooks. However, some writing has been put in place in certain courses and assignments to foster an interest in the writing arts.
According to Louise Spear-Swerling, “Because handwriting is a basic tool used in many subjects — taking notes, taking tests, and doing classroom work and homework for almost every content area as well as in language arts classes — poor handwriting can have a pervasive effect on school performance.” Based on what Spear-Swerling states, it seems clear that handwriting skills increase the ability to put more effort into writing in tests and have a positive effect on performance in school.
According to Cindy Long, a senior writer at NEA Today, more than half of the journalists on this website agreed that handwriting is important and ideal. They explained collectively that it trains the brain to learn functional specialization, improves memory, and it improves fine motor skills, meaning that students who have illegible print, often have legible cursive handwriting. She submitted that cursive writing can improve memory. This website shows that a majority of writers have interest in handwriting art skills.
Creating a curriculum of art styles of writing in younger elementary grades can lead to increased focus and academic success in education. My personal experiences have really helped me build up my writing art skills, which has also helped me be more invested in my schoolwork and allowed me to put more thought and effort into my assignments.
