The connection between handwriting, reading and success in school

Once again, I have been reading.  I have witnessed students that have poor handwriting skills that also exhibit poor success in acquisition of new knowledge and of the ability to produce and explain coherently complex thoughts.

That has led me to explore the development and instruction of handwriting.  I have come to the conclusion, through reading multiple studies and research articles that handwriting and learning are definitely  connected.  The connection between handwriting and reading acquisition is definitely evident. Without the acquisition of adequate handwriting skills students will habitually struggle with conveying complex thought on paper and developing an ability to analyze complex thoughts which they read.

I know the argument is (with the development of computer technology) "why teach handwriting, you don't need it."  I object, I believe otherwise.  The physical act of typing on a keyboard is extremely different from handwriting the letters.  The sensory processes that are involved are complex and involves many different areas of the brain to produce handwriting.  The learned processes in the brain that are activated during automatic handwriting leads to the greater ability of the student to produce complex thought.  Without practice and the mastery of handwriting skills the brain struggles with the process of writing, thus using memory that can not be used in more complex higher order thinking.

That being said, the process of cursive writing or writing in long hand, is conducive to more fluid thoughts being expressed in essays and papers.  The automaticity of the act allows for the student to not only express more complex ideas but also to write more physically.  This skill will benefit college students during lecture.  Early education should build the foundation for success in those students who do continue their education through college.

So, is you child learning manuscript and cursive?  Perhaps they should be. . .especially if they are poor readers or are not experiencing success in school because they can not write legibly.