The Grip

These days, we expect more and more from students. So why aren’t test scores keeping up? We’re seeing that keyboards are replacing pencils, text messaging and email are replacing complete thoughts and sentences, and emphasis on test scores is replacing instruction of some core subjects, including penmanship.

Yet handwriting still belongs in the classroom because it helps children develop fluid, three-dimensional thinking and creativity. When we write by hand, we aren’t limited to text. We can illustrate our thoughts by using diagrams, arrows across a page, annotation, and so on. Keyboarding, on the other hand, hampers creative thinking.

Handwriting provides other benefits, including the ability to listen and quickly take notes. It’s also a necessary skill for taking final exams, SATs, state standardized tests, workbooks, and other classroom activities that require fast, legible, efficient writing.

Balancing Time and Requirements

In addition, handwriting instruction can actually give you back more time in the classroom and help students improve their performance on tests. A recent study released by Vanderbilt University professor Steve Graham concurs. Graham found that, “a majority of primary school teachers believe that students with fluent handwriting produced written assignments that were superior in quantity and quality and resulted in higher grades—aside from being easier to read.”

Activities for Handwriting Integration

You can easily incorporate handwriting instruction in the classroom and save time while helping students improve their writing immediately.

Memory

First, you want to ensure that children can recall all letters from memory. Here’s some fun and simple games you can try:

• Play a type of translation game with spelling words. Write a word in uppercase on the board and see if students can write the lowercase form (and vice versa). This exposes children to spelling exercises and helps them learn the words of the week.
• Have children line up in teams of two at the board. Give them a silly spelling test by calling out individual spelling words for the week. The child that starts and forms the letters correctly in the word earns a point. Although you will be spelling the word, students will still be getting exposure to the word list while focusing on their handwriting habits.

Math

Teach number formation during math class. There’s no need for separate handwriting instruction. In fact, one of the best strategies for immediately improving math scores is to focus on number reversals, one number at a time.

• Circle the lowest reversed number on any math paper, helping the child correct that number and then correcting the next highest number. This ensures that children who reverse several numbers are not overwhelmed by having too many reversals. They start to have immediate success by focusing on one number at a time.
• Give basic math questions and ask students to give their answers on a slate chalkboard or whiteboard. By using the boards, children are writing numbers quickly while focusing on orientation. This also helps you see which students may need additional number practice. Be sure to model the correct number formation on a board of your own
• Practice numbers using slates. Slates are very portable, and you can send them home with children who need extra practice. Using the Wet-Dry-Try technique (see HWT teacher’s guide for your grade level) five minutes a night is all the practice they need.

Reading

Handwriting instruction also helps with reading skills because it teaches students letter recognition and formation.

• Give a letter sound and have students write the corresponding letter(s).
• Put simple comprehension questions in a basket, and when one is drawn, children write the answer.

Grammar

Many of the HWT handwriting lessons relate to grammar. Use the table of contents in your teacher’s guide to cross-reference activities that may relate to a grammar lesson you are teaching.

• Challenge students with spacing and punctuation by writing sentences on the board with no spaces. Then ask them to figure out where to put the spaces. They will delight in visiting the Sentence Clinic and being the sentence doctor.
• Play Punctuation Police. You write a sentence on the board with incorrect punctuation and call a student to the front of the room to correct the punctuation.

Integration with All Subjects

Handwriting integration doesn’t have to stop at reading and math. It fits seamlessly with other subjects, allowing you to save time in the classroom. Here are some fun lessons ideas your students will love:

• Teach spelling and handwriting with Greek and Roman roots.
• Reinforce lessons about capitals, paragraph structure, and grammar with lessons on biographies, poems, letters, plays, and more. 
• Teach geography by playing capital letters/capital city games.
• Bridge science and history lessons by incorporating the appropriate activities from your HWT teacher’s guide.

Teaching children to self-edit by having them check their letters, words, and sentences is the best way to instill automatic, natural habits they can use continually throughout their course work and on tests. In addition, setting handwriting expectations in the classroom and holding children accountable for good writing will encourage them to slow down and think about their writing habits.

Ten minutes a day of handwriting instruction and integration is all you need to help students improve their confidence and overall performance.