Despite increasing digitalization of schools and the growing importance of keyboarding, forming letters by hand remains crucial for beginning writers. Developing fluent handwriting in early school years is crucial for academic achievement as attentional resources become available for more complex tasks. While there is substantial research on the mechanisms of handwriting, researchers at the University of Bern, Switzerland, wanted to explore the role of cognitive and motor processes in developing handwriting fluency.
In this study, researchers investigated the effects of working memory and visuomotor integration (the ability to copy design) on handwriting fluency, specifically the number of inversions in velocity, pen stops, and pen lifts. The year-long study included a total of 364 children in their first year of handwriting measured at three points, each 6 months apart. Students' handwriting papers were placed on a digitized tablet and researchers used a software program to measure pen movements.
The researchers discovered that, when looked at individually, working memory and visuomotor skills were both linked to handwriting fluency. Additionally, there was a significant overlap in their differences, emphasizing the essential interrelation of these processes early in development. Interestingly they found a strong connection during the early stages of handwriting development, but this link faded when they factored in prior performance levels. The authors suggest that this highlights the importance of consistent handwriting practice and educational interventions to enhance handwriting fluency in early education. Furthermore, improving handwriting fluency early on could also contribute to the development of basic motor skills such as visuomotor integration.
StepUp Note
This research reminds us of the importance of handwriting fluency (moving handwriting skills into muscle memory). Moving handwriting into muscle memory means that students can now focus cognitive effort on the ideas that they want to create, and the language patterns that they want to use, to accurately express their thoughts. StepUp programs give children consistent daily fluency practice, with increasing levels of speed and accuracy. Teachers tell us that they love what StepUp does for their students’ handwriting!
Note by Nancy W Rowe, MS, CCC/A