Handwriting and Typing, An Intentional Philosophy

Handwriting, and more specifically cursive writing, are two subjects that have recently found themselves at the forefront of many debates related to the Common Core Standards that have now been adopted in forty-six states. Rather than rehash the well-worn debate regarding Common Core standards and the removal of handwriting from the curriculum of many schools, I would like to share a few quotes from recent articles to answer the rationale of why Woodland teaches cursive and handwriting.

-       “studies have also found that adults write better and longer prose when they are faster at writing by hand” Moyer, 2014

-       “in children, writing by hand helps improve letter recognition, which is the strongest predictor of reading success” Karin James, Ph.D, Indiana University

-       “Dr. Berninger goes so far as to suggest that cursive writing may train self-control ability in a way that other modes of writing do not…” New York Times, What’s Lost as Handwriting Fades, Maria Konniko, June 2, 2014

-       “When we write, a unique neural circuit is automatically activated,” said Stanislas Dehaene, a psychologist at the Collège de France in Paris.

-       “learning to write in cursive is shown to improve brain development in the areas of thinking, language and working memory. Cursive handwriting stimulates brain synapses and synchronicity between the left and right hemispheres, something absent from printing and typing.” Asherson, 2013

The “do you teach handwriting” question at Woodland represents a microcosm of Woodland’s approach to education. At Woodland you will see an appropriate mix of innovative and “tried and true” teaching strategies and curriculum being taught. The teaching of cursive handwriting and typing is just one example of the not “throwing the baby out with the bath water” approach to education that Woodland has embraced for decades. Over time, educational trends and bureaucratic decisions come and go but there are certain developmental milestones that all students must reach and certain teaching methods and curriculum that have helped students reach those milestones for generations. Without an intentional effort from independent schools to keep valuable curricular strands like handwriting in the curriculum, schools could be developing students who will not be prepared for the post-school world.

One of the most valuable aspects of an independent school is that they are not forced to adopt particular curriculums or “fads” but each school is empowered to make decisions based on what is truly best for their students. In my opinion, in order for students to fully develop and reach their potential, a school’s curriculum should have a healthy mix of innovative and “tried and true” methods and pedagogies like cursive handwriting and typing.