As discussed in the previous article, the old skills of reading, writing and ‘rithmetic are still needed, even in a society as technologically advanced as ours.
And the question remains.
How are our children going to learn the basic three “R”s that the older generation had to learn in school, if the schools are not able to teach that stuff anymore because of all the technological advancements that they have to teach now?
Writing
Problem: The time needed to practice handwriting skills is being expended in keyboarding classes.
It is important for students to know how to write legibly and grammatically correct, especially when writing assignments at the primary and secondary levels produce bonus points for neatness and clarity. It is a skill that is laughed about when referring to doctors and engineers that don’t write legibly, but it is also a skill that is important throughout a person’s lifetime.
The automatic response of anyone today when asked to write a letter is “What is the email address?” When my daughter was asked to write a business letter to someone and found out she was not allowed to write an email to the person, she complained that taking the time to write neatly is difficult and frustrating.
There are plenty of reasons why children should still be taught how to write and how to write well.
Admittedly, most people use their computer, iPad, or cell phone for note taking, but in the academic environment, using personal electronic devices is still frowned on. In the process of taking notes, if the writer is not taking the time to write legibly, the chance for errors increases. I don’t know how many times I have heard someone say that they couldn’t read their own writing.
While acknowledging that typing professional papers is the expected effort today, there are also times when a personal touch is called for. But, the impression of the personal touch is offset by the ability of the writer to write in a legible, cohesive manner.
Through a Google search, there are some terrific articles about why children should still be taught to write legibly. In the Oct. 5, 2010 article How Handwriting Trains the Brain, in the Wall Street Journal, author Gwendolyn Bounds quoted studies that suggest there’s real cognitive value in learning and maintain the skill of writing. She went on to say that most schools still include conventional handwriting instruction in their primary-grade curriculum, but it amounts to just over an hour a week.
According to Livia McCoy, blogger for schoolfamily.com, teachers everywhere have strong opinions about teaching students to write legibly. Some feel that being able to write is part of being literate. They state that students learn to read better when they also learn to write.
According to some researchers, learning to write is not just about learning how to write efficiently, but learning how to write beautifully. Writing involves fine-motor skills and areas of the brain that are not accessed while using a keyboard.
Solution: Dr. Shelbie Witte, an assistant professor in English education at Florida State University in Tallahassee, in the School Family article, “Help Your Child Build Writing Skills,” by Peggy Ghezzi, Oct., 2011gives these examples of how to help our children to learn to write better…
• Let your child know that every occupation requires writing. Doctors write. Artists write. Athletes write. Look for examples everywhere you go of people writing as part of their professional lives. Encourage adults in your child’s life to point out examples of writing and revision.
• Encourage your child to write letters. Not the electronic kind but old-school, handwritten letters. Whether she writes to a grandparent or a pen pal in another state or country, she’ll gain valuable practice expressing herself through words. “Writing a letter is such an emotional, personal thing,” Witte says.
• Show your child how writing can help him work through problems and find a solution. If something is bothering him, have him write about it. Or if your family is having a problem, such as feeling overscheduled or not being able to stick to a budget, have your child write down potential solutions.
• Help your child tackle math problems with writing. Sometimes writing a paragraph about how you plan to solve an equation can help. Really! “If ever there were a skill that crosses every curricular area, it’s writing,” Witte says. “Writing can help you get a better handle on an abstract concept.”
• Emphasize reading and writing as two of life’s great pleasures that go together. “Writing shouldn’t be held in isolation,” Witte says.
• Read your child’s writing and comment on it. Take time to praise your child’s writing, even if it’s a routine assignment that comes home in the backpack. “Audience is a big part of motivation,” Witte says.
C. S. Lewis once said, “You can make anything by writing.” As parents it is our responsibility to make sure our children are learning the skills necessary to remain competent in their world. Writing effectively would be one of the skills necessary.