In my experiences teaching at all levels of education from elementary to high school, writing has always been a struggle. This de-emphasis on writing is to the detriment of children. In a time when schools are under pressure to include more than academics such as social-emotional curriculum yet still are held to rigorous standardized testing mandates, it’s not surprising that the importance of handwriting and writing instruction has gone by the wayside (after all, handwriting and writing ARE not traditionally tested subjects). A 2014 study found that high school students who hand wrote their notes performed much better on conceptual questions than those students who typed their notes on a laptop. This benefit of hand writing versus using keyboards extends beyond the primary grades, too. James and Laura Engelhardt, provides a correlation between the process of handwriting and reading acquisition not found in comparison to when children type letters. It requires more cognitive function and brain power than ‘writing’ with with technology.Ī study by psychologists, Karin H. This report from Psychology Today explains that handwriting may actually make you smarter. Due to the significance of writing, I’d say writing is second only to reading in importance, in my humble teacher-opinion. Writing is necessary for success in higher education, and almost any career a child can imagine.
Teachers will tell you that writing is painstaking to learn for many children (and for many teachers to teach)! Though the actual acts of printing and cursive writing (handwriting), as well as the content of writing, are probably the most important skills students learn in school. Pen pal volunteers are needed in the Marysville School District.įor more information, contact Staci Tuck by e-mail at or call 36.Three year old Kayleigh works on her ‘letters’ when writing to Oma (that’s me). Kristi O’Harran: 42, to be a pen pal volunteer “Just tell me the year she was born and I’ll figure it out.” She said her husband received a letter from one of his pals, asking the age of his wife.
“I never dreamed it would happen like this.” In May of each year, the gang gets together to meet one another and party. One took their pal and classmates to the movies. When adult pals go on trips, they often send postcards to their young friends, Staci Tuck said. “At school, I am writing poems,” Alma wrote. Emily asked Aaron Tuck if he thought the book was silly. A student named Emily wrote to Aaron Tuck and mentioned she was excited that she was going to Guatemala for a visit. Tuck’s husband, Aaron Tuck, is a pen pal. Those students speak 32 languages including Russian, Spanish, Turkish and Thai.Īs part of the program, the pals read the same books. In the Marysville District, Tuck said, they have more than 750 students who qualify for English Language Learner services. “Many had never received mail prior to this, nor had they written letters.” “The teachers shared how excited the students were when they got a letter,” Leider said. They shared likes, dislikes, favorites and family news with their pen-pal. In the program, Leider said retired teachers made posters with pictures to introduce themselves. The National Retired Teachers’ Association, a sub-division of AARP, recognized the retired teachers for “outstanding service to youth” through the pen pal program by giving the group a “With Our Youth” award. “I wish I had thought of doing this program when I was teaching.” “Those of us who participated were on the whole pleased with the relationship we had with our pen pals,” Leider said. Pen pal Brenda Leider, president of the retirees, was a reading specialist at Hawthorne Elementary School when she retired. “There’s a city councilwoman,” Tuck said.
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