A couple years back I remember reading an article about how fewer and fewer schools were still teaching kids how to write script (cursive). My first thoughts were, “How will kids learn to sign their own name? How will they read historical documents? Or even understand pieces of family history like my Grandpa’s letters home from his time in the Navy during World War II?” I find this seeming lapse in education completely baffling.
Last summer my cousin who is a high school teacher mentioned an article from The New York Times that she had recently read. We then had a very interesting conversation about how science was now providing evidence of something I had long known myself. Namely, that both printing and cursive writing are important. You can find a link to that and other articles at the BIC Fight For Your Write campaign website HERE. We also discussed how I was incorporating writing into the homeschool curriculum I am using for my girls.
When the opportunity came up to share the BIC Fight For Your Write campaign with our readers I jumped at the chance. Teaching kids how to write, helping them succeed because of all the benefits they receive from writing, is something I feel rather passionately about.
Did you know that handwriting improves cognitive development, improves reading skills, and increases memory recall? Oh yes, all those college students across the nation who have perfected their speed typing skills and want to have better retention of their class lectures from note taking should think about giving up the laptop and switching to pen & paper.
Handwriting also helps with eye-hand coordination, spatial perception, and language skills. The benefits of writing are many and because of this I was excited to get my girls equipped to enjoy writing this school year with some new tools from BIC. Today was our first day of school and one of the first things I had each of the girls doing was to practice writing.
With so many great tools from BIC it’s easy to find the right tool for everyone in your family! My 6-year-old was beyond excited to discover and begin using our 4-Color Mini Pen and her little sister was quick to lay claim to the BIC Kids Pen and Pencil which are perfect for her little hands and developing writing skills. While the kids had their new tools to practice with, I made sure that they knew the 4-Color Metalic Body pen was mine, along with the BIC Kids Stylus (which I found is perfect for using with my iPad but I’ll gladly share when they practice educational writing games).
You can learn more about the BIC Fight For Your Write campaign at their website. There you will also find tips, downloads, links, and tools to help your kids excel with handwriting.
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I learned that I need to work with my kids for at least 15 minutes a day on their handwriting!
I learned that a great way for Family’s to Fight For Our Write is to get children to spend time writing to help their confidence and helps provide a tool to demonstrate their creativity.
I learned writing helps creativity. Thank you for the chance 🙂
Writing Sharpens Critical Thinking Skills, I have my daughter practice her writing every day to help strengthen how her writing looks, to help her practice spelling and to keep her mind active.
I learned that Handwriting sparks creativity, and students should do 15 min a day of handwriting! I will fight for our write by having my kids write more each day.
I learned that writing Sharpens Critical Thinking Skills.
I learned that hand writing promotes individualis. We have a dry erase board that everyone leaves notes on.
I didn’t know writing helped kids be more confident. I will be trying to have my kids write based off a prompt once a week.
75% of american students grades 4-12 scored lower than their grade levels on national writing exams.
I learned that experts recommend children spend at least 15 minutes a day practicing their handwriting. I’m going to start encouraging my kids to write more.
I learned that 75% of students grades 4 to 12 were writing at below grade level. My 12 year old granddaughter loves to write stories and plays, and I encourage her.
writing improves critical thinking and cognitive development
I love all the fun writing instruments that make writing fun for kids!
I have learned alot of kids are not ready with proper handwriting skills even at a college age. I will help my children spend more time (recommended 15 minutes) handwriting a day.
I learned that handwriting engages 14 different abilities including motor planning. I ‘fight for our write’ by encouraging my daughter to practice her writing daily.
I learned that writing Sharpens Critical Thinking Skills.
I learned that writing helps children become more confident! My kids are 3 and 5 and learning to write, I love to see how much they learn everyday.
I learned that writing helps to build your confidence. Everyday, we will write about the best part of our day.
Bic is donating one pen per signature for anyone who signs their petition up to 100,000, they nice of them!
I learned that writing builds confidence. I’ve always loved writing. I loved the cool notebooks so I had to write in them.
I learned they have a petition to encourage writing in schools. I still make my son write thank you’s
I found out that handwriting develops cognitive thinking.
Writing builds self confidence.. no surprise there! My kids always have pens and composition books on hand.
Writing builds confidence and something all kids need is confidence!
As a teacher, this is such a great article and thing. Writing is so important and having an assortment does help foster or encourage more involvement!
I was sold at better school performance. Definitely when the time comes for my son to learn cursive I’ll take the initiative to teach him his very own autograph.
I Learned That Writing Builds Self-Confidence! I’m Going To Encourage My Family To Be Creative And Fight For Our Write!
I encourage my kids to write with colorful gel pens and journals. I also gave them calligraphy sets and taught them cursive to make writing fancy fun for them.
i learnedd handwriting can help improve cognitive development and sharpens critical thinking.
I learned that 75% of American Students grades 4 – 12 were writing below grade level on a national writing exam.
I learned that writing sparks creativity.
I learned that their mission helps kids in a variety of ways, like improving reading skills.
We are going to have the kids write birthday wish lists and write to cousins and family in other states.
We have our daughter write letters to family members
We are going to have the kids write birthday wish lists and write to cousins in other states.
I learned that writing fosters creativity. I have my grandson send me letters thru the mail so that he will practice his writing.
I signed the petition to help with the Fight for Your Write
I learned that handwriting sparks your creativity. I try to have my son keep a journal over the summer to keep his writing skills up.
I learned that that writing is also a critical learning tool for children!!
I learned they recommend 15 minutes of writing a day. We’re doing lots of letter practice with our kids!
I think it is horrible that 75% of children in America in grades 3-12 write below grade level on national exams. I encourage writing in my girls by providing them with notebooks and fun pens. They love writing stories, so it is not that difficult to get them to write. Thank you for the wonderful giveaway!
I learned that helping kids to practice writing skills helps them to be more creative and successful. This sounds like a wonderful campaign.
I am going to make my kids practice writing for 15 minutes a day! I would bet the reason why kids are terrible at handwriting is due to the computers.
I learned that that writing is also a critical learning tool for children. Writing helps kids become better readers, boosts their confidence and sparks their creativity. I’m going to help my daughter learn how to write.
I learned that you can “make up games around writing. Have kids practice signing their autograph to give to mom or dad”
Entered the rafflecopter form as “Wild Orchid”
Thanks for the chance to win!
wildorchid985 at gmail dot com
I was shocked to learn how many students are below their grade level in writing skills. I love all the tips parents can learn from BIC Fight For Your Write Website.
I learned that “Writing helps children become more confident, creative and awesome”! That is true!
75% of students grades 4-12 were writing below grade level!
I learned that 75% of American students in grades 4-12 were writing below grade level!! I’ll make sure my kids practice their handwriting everyday to beat that statistic!!
I learned that experts recommend at least 15 minutes daily of writing for students… and we are going to fight for our write by having my daughter keep a diary or journal and my grandsons will write their names and practice things I have written for them by tracing the letters.
I learned that handwriting can boost a child’s confidence and spark their creativity. Dd has to write every day for homework so we make sure she does it every day (even when she has a homework pass and doesn’t have to). She is not liking writing so it’s a struggle!
I had no idea how many pens & mechanical pencils Bic had for little kids.
I learned that writing Improves Cognitive Development. We write letters and cards as a family.
I learned that handwriting engages 14 different abilities! My children Fight For Their Write every day by writing or drawing! 🙂
I like tip #2! Have an assortment of colorful pens, pencils and markers on hand that will make kids want to spend more time writing.
Visited the site and learned research has proven that there is a positive correlation between better handwriting skills and increased academic performance in reading and writing.
I just started homeschooling and handwriting is something we are taking very seriously.
I learned that handwriting sharpens your critical thinking skills. I help Fight For The Write by practicing handwriting with him because his school is not teaching them.
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
I learned that it sharpens critical thinking skills and I will incorporate a lot more writing into our everyday activities: writing thank you notes, grocery lists, wish lists for birthdays and Christmas, letters to out of town relatives, etc.
I checked out their Tools and Tips. I like the “Give kids a fun assignment that requires them to write. Make a birthday wish list or write a letter to someone famous.” I think making a Birthday list, Christmas List, letter to Santa or things they are thankful for etc. would be a great way to inspire them to write.
Writing is important in communication. Writing sparks creativity.
I learned that it sharpens critical thinking skills.
I learned that handwriting Improves Cognitive Development
I learned that you should set aside a specific time each week for writing and I believe we will do just that.
My daughter writes stories everyday. She started a joke book yesterday and kept us all laughing. My son writes a short journal every day or other day and draws a picture. It’s fantastic writing practice! Plus helps with his memory!
I learned that it is important to have an assortment of colorful pens, pencils and markers on hand that will make kids want to spend more time writing.
We will Fight For Our Write by having the kids write in their journals every day. 🙂