Writing by hand is important

When having children read and then write about their books, have them write by hand. Give them, or have them pick out a journal that reflects their favorite colors or designs. Writing by hand helps improve the learning of the material.

Associate professor Anne Mangen at the University of Stavanger’s Reading Centre says that the process of writing by hand strengthens the learning process. “The sensorimotor component forms an integral part of training for beginners, and in special education for people with learning difficulties. But there is little awareness and understanding of the importance of handwriting to the learning process,” says Mangen. She adds, “Our bodies are designed to interact with the world which surrounds us. We are living creatures, geared toward using physical objects — be it a book, a keyboard or a pen — to perform certain tasks.”

Read the whole article at Better Learning Through Handwriting, Science Daily, January 24, 2011.