A literacy specialist says she has been “horrified” to hear that some school teachers have been told by advisers that children no longer need to be taught handwriting.
Ros Lugg, a remedial literacy specialist and assessor, says any claims that handwriting is less important in the digital era than earlier times are simply wrong.
“Quite apart from the fact that it’s still handy to be able to write your shopping list on a piece of paper when your battery goes flat, there’s loads of research about the developmental importance of handwriting.”
Ms Lugg says that international research findings highlight a very strong link between handwriting skills and the ability to express ideas. There is also growing evidence that comprehension is better when notes are hand-written rather than digitally produced.
As the developer of the StepsWeb online literacy programme, she is well aware of the potential of technology, but believes there has to be balance and that teachers should not be throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
She says a recurring theme from teachers attending her courses, particularly the older, more experienced teachers, is that children are not taught the basics any more.
“When I heard that an advisor had told teachers they should not teach handwriting as it is no longer needed, I was horrified. You can teach a dyslexic learner how to spell a word on a screen and then find they can’t write it on a piece of paper.
“While I think that most of these teachers recognise that modern approaches and technology offer some exciting possibilities, they are concerned that children don’t get taught basic skills any more. They are seeing children who are doing wonderful things on Minecraft and other programmes, but can’t write a sentence on a piece of paper.”
Ms Lugg says with children using computer devices from a younger age, they can easily become accustomed to not using handwriting. She says parents, not just school teachers, need to be aware that handwriting is still a key element of a child’s development.
As a kid I did lots of rhythm games, skipping, hopscotch, had to memorise the alphabet backwards as well as forwards, ditto tables. I could read timetables to get to school. Lots of singing. Memorising formulae, and colours of the rainbow using handy mnemonics.
To my horror I discovered I had been the victim of ROTE LEARNING. Oh Shock! Quelle horreur! What were they thinking, these teachers and parents? Damaged for life! I even knew the square numbers to 30!
But it was too late. My tables were phenomenal, spelling was superb. Read voraciously.
If only I had known how damaging ROTE LEARNING could be. My friends were similarly afflicted. A generation scarred.
There just weren’t enough EXPERTS to point out that everything a child does deserves the highest praise. Everyone’s a Picasso! Thank goodness we know better now. Standards are improving. Yes, Minister!
Here’s the winning formula.
Buy iPad. Get addicted to the ease of instant answers. Yippee look at the colours! So easy to share,. Must send my contacts that cool pic of my breakfast yesterday. Hours of games that apparently teach strategy, but without vocabulary, you can’t raise questions for you to apply the strategy. Too bad. Go everywhere in the car, pick up McDoh! on the way. Time with friends means going to the mall with lots of healthy air conditioning and fluorescent lights. Don’t go fishing, that’s all right, nothing to catch anyway. Don’t skip, could fall over. School liable for dangerous playground.
Above all, avoid ROTE LEARNING. Look what its done to me.
I agree. It is a California Standard and should continue to be taught.
I am an e learning proponent and firmly believe it is a ridiculous suggestions that the teaching/learning of handwriting is not important.
Get a grip on reality instead of throwing all of your eggs in a single basket and then having to turn back in ten years.