‘Tips for students to improve handwriting’
Who could have imagined decades ago that handwriting would be on the endangered list in less than a century?
Is the digital era taking us back in time?
Are we going back to the ages when there was no formal schooling, thumb and finger impressions being used in place of a signature?
We must not allow handwriting skills to die
We, at Aditya Birla World Academy, fondly referred to as ABWA, which is one of the best IB schools in Mumbai, believe that handwriting must go hand in hand, even with technological advancement. It is an important skill that contributes towards the overall growth of a child.
Develop an interest
One of the key factors to good handwriting skills is to cultivate an interest in the child.
Is white board the new black board? Allocate space to the child to allow them to explore their creativity. At ABWA, we encourage games that use words to be handwritten.
Gift children stationery instead of gizmos and let them know the importance of putting pen to paper. If we undermine the importance of this skill, there will be a day when we will see handwritten letters and documents only in the museum. Show the children the beautifully handwritten Constitution of India.
Tools
It is said that a bad workman blames his tools!
Make sure the tools don’t become an excuse. Let the children use anything they take to comfortably. E.g. pen, pencil, crayons, etc.
Introduce them to the evolution of handwriting. Allow them to dip a feather or quill in a pot of ink.
Let them use a wooden stick shaved to a point like a nib. This is similar to an activity most children enjoy of writing with a twig on the wet sand.
Let them enjoy filling a fountain pen with ink and using it with a flourish to pen words.
At ABWA, which is one of the best Cambridge schools in Mumbai, we familiarize the children with letters by making them follow a dotted outline.
Importance of reading
Reading is the start of a lifelong adventure.
At ABWA, children are encouraged to embark on this adventure with dedicated time for reading. We have classes such as Get Caught Reading and Book clubs to pursue reading as a hobby. Reading is a habit that helps to cultivate many skills like writing, memory, vocabulary, and spelling. Familiarizing a child with written matter helps them to improve their handwriting. The ‘Learning to Write’ series across Junior School is one of the tools which have helped us at ABWA to achieve this successfully.
A well-stocked library covering a range of authors and subjects, with a special reading corner, is one of the many things we are proud of at ABWA, one of the best schools in Mumbai.
Calligraphy and Handwriting
Children who take on calligraphy as a hobby naturally develop good handwriting skills.
The art form of calligraphy which involves the use of different nibs at different angles to achieve different strokes, teaches the child to use the fingers with dexterity, encourages creativity, and good handwriting. Calligraphy is introduced at ABWA as a part of the curriculum.
Drawing and Handwriting
Children love expressing themselves through pictures. Every child loves to doodle. In fact, children can tell a whole story through doodles and drawings, mastering the use of pen on paper. Good handwriting would be a natural outcome of this in most cases.
There are 7 elements of Art, ‘Line’ being one of them which is explored vastly through the works of different artists at ABWA. This gives the child a sense of proportion, balance, and perspective which work towards developing good handwriting skills.
Sports and Handwriting
Physical training and sport play a vital role in developing a strong core that is directly related to fine motor skills. It helps in the development of pincer grasp (the ability to pick something up with the thumb and forefinger), sharpening of reflexes and hand eye coordination. A child needs all these to come up with good handwriting. At ABWA which is the best IB school in Mumbai, students are encouraged to engage in sporting activities across a diverse range.
Brownie Points
Incentives for good handwriting encourages healthy competition. Every child wants a star and at ABWA we help him/her achieve it.
Also read,
How do IB schools help children follow their passion? Which are the IB schools in South Mumbai to look at?
https://www.adityabirlaworldacademy.com/blog/how-do-ib-schools-help-children-follow-their-passion-which-are-the-ib-schools-in-south-mumbai-to-look-at
Why is holistic learning important? Which IB schools in South Mumbai offer holistic learning?
https://www.adityabirlaworldacademy.com/blog/why-is-holistic-learning-important-which-ib-schools-in-south-mumbai-offer-holistic-learning
How much do best international schools focus on extra and co-curricular activities? What are the activities included?
https://www.adityabirlaworldacademy.com/blog/how-much-do-best-international-schools-focus-on-extra-and-co-curricular-activities-what-are-the-activities-included
