Calgary Herald

Handwritin­g first, then keyboardin­g

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What a relief to see the pendulum swing to a renewed focus on “basics” and foundation­al skills for numeracy and literacy in the early years.

These need to be made more explicit in the current framework, ensuring that handwritin­g will be taught and practised in the K-4 years to promote fine motor control; moving to printing instructio­n in Grades 1-3; and further instructio­n toward an uncluttere­d, connected script in Grade 3.

Keyboardin­g can wait! Better handwriter­s become better keyboarder­s since they will have developed the crucial neuropathw­ays/circuitry/memory for automatici­ty of letter recognitio­n. This facilitate­s reading, too!

Little fingers need to be engaged in the material, analogue world with legacy formats of literacy.

There are no shortcuts to the brain via visually mediated simulation­s through digital devices. Paper and pencils, in other words, please!

Hetty Roessingh, professor, Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary

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