Why do school-age children need handwriting instruction in the 21st century? That question will be addressed on January 23rd, 2012, National Handwriting Day when hundreds of educators, researchers, and citizens concerned about the demise of handwriting convene in Washington, DC. This summit may impact the future of handwriting in America, answer your questions about handwriting, and remind me of my recent medical scare.
I plan to attend and hear from the top handwriting experts and researchers from across the country. Here are my 5 hounding questions:
- Does eliminating handwriting instruction harm children?
- Is it important to teach cursive?
- How will technology impact handwriting and learning in the 21st century?
- Is there research support for handwriting instruction?
- Does handwriting instruction help children learn to read?
If you have a hounding handwriting question and you are not attending, leave it below in my comment box and I'll ask the experts.
Handwriting, Healthcare and Opinions
Opinions about handwriting are like the nose, everyone has one. I began writing this post as I sat in the MRI/ CT SCAN Suite of my local hospital waiting for a CT Scan to determine the location of a terrorist kidney stone that had been wreaking havoc with my lower abdomen on and off for eighteen days. The moment I walked in, the volunteer receptionist shoved a clipboard in my hand and forced me to fill out a form. Describe "in my own words" it said, why I'm getting the procedure, my symptoms, my history with this problem, and the like. (This was after a referral from my physician and numerous previous forms I had filled out by hand.) It seemed the only way to communicate directly with the radiologist, who was safely ensconced behind a thick glass window and never said a word to me throughout the entire visit, was through handwriting.
The technician directed me to point out the exact location of my excruciating pain. As the scan made its second pass over the abdomen, and my Vicoden wore thin, I thought how much I would like to thank all those handwriting teachers for giving me a dependable and stable tool for communicating with the radiologist behind the glass wall. As I eyed him through the thick glass, I looked at the technician and said, "I hope you guys find the damn thing." My handwriting teachers, long gone, will have helped the radiologist find my kidney stone.
In 2012 it's still important to be able to write legibly and for the person on the other end to be able to read it, and there are times when nothing beats pens and pencils.
Sign Up to Receive Information After the Handwriting Summit in Washington, D.C.
If you would like to learn more about the state of handwriting instruction in America, go to www.hw21summit.com and register to receive follow up information at the conclusion of the summit.
Handwriting in the 21st Century? An Educational Summit
When: January 23rd, 2012–all day event
Where: The Newseum, Washington, DC
Event Website: http://www.hw21summit.com
Sponsors: American Association of School Administrators (AASA) in partnership with Zaner-Bloser Publishers a subsidiary of Highlights for Children
Dr. J. Richard Gentry is the author of Raising Confident Readers, How to Teach Your Child to Read and Write-From Baby to Age 7. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn and find out more information about his work on his website.
