Letter to the editor: Value of penmanship instruction

Tom Purcell’s column “Time to embrace cursive again” (Feb. 4, TribLIVE) poses an important question. Along with strong indications of value to be had, he points out that cursive instruction is being reconsidered by many educators.

Rather than alphabet preference, consider ways handwriting instruction can help to improve language skills. The National Assessment of Educational Progress Report and our PSSAs show dismal written language proficiency scores. Can student handwriting skill affect developing language proficiency?

Learning to produce legible handwriting at a proficient rate is challenging with either alphabet. That’s a good thing. That challenge is an incredibly powerful reason to teach handwriting skills. Working to overcome the challenge stimulates new pathways in the brain (learning). But, the challenge is to write fluently. When fluency isn’t part of the goal the potential value disappears.

Does poor handwriting fluency affect kids who struggle with reading and writing? Let’s find the answer. Have you ever heard of a handwriting fluency score? Few teachers measure it. A simple, timed-writing exercise produces the score. Know it and work to improve.

When you can print 80 or 90 legible letters per minute in first grade, it might be time for a new challenge to keep the pathways growing. How about cursive?

Rand Nelson

Hempfield