Writing by hand builds reading, writing and thinking skills

Handwriting is an essential part of literacy, advises the Ohio Department of Education and the Workforce (DEW). reports the well-named Laura Hancock for Cleveland.com.

Writing by hand "forces students to slow down, think about word spelling and sentence structure – especially important when artificial intelligence in text messaging apps and word processors suggests words and spellings – and question whether the word they’re about to write precisely conveys what they’re trying to communicate," say researchers.

“The more easily you are able to write, the more time and energy that you have to actually focus on the generation of the text that you’re putting down on paper,” said Liesl Huenemann, DEW’s assistant administrator or English language arts, in a January interview.

Studies support the "multifarious benefits of handwriting from boosting brain development and reducing stress to improving memory, retention, and creativity in the classroom," writes Chiraag Shah in Varsity. To prevent AI cheating, more professors are requiring students to write essays in class.

But many young people can't write cursive and aren't great at printing either.

Third-grader Vivienne Johnson, who attends Coastal Christian School in Pismo Beach, California, is a winner in the Zaner-Blosser National Handwriting Contest, which honors penmanship.