Handwriting matters - really matters
Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 10:10 am
In the news right now, in England, is the issue of teachers not supporting left-handers enough in schools. This issue has been raised by an individual MP - and there are now tweets about it - even a poll about it - because the MP suggests that there should be reference to this aspect of teaching in statute.
My response to this issue, and to the poll, is to state that many teachers need training in their own handwriting - and HMI and Ofsted need training in this issue too!
I have written about the lack of reference to handwriting in the government's 'core criteria' for evaluating Systematic Synthetic Phonics teaching programmes on my 'Naked Emperor' blog because whilst Ofsted and HMI have our teaching profession in constant fear in England, my personal experience and view, and the personal experience and view of many others, is that HMI and Ofsted are not necessarily up to speed with various aspects of teaching and learning - phonics and handwriting being a case in point!
When I took HMI to task on the poor handwriting of both teachers and pupils in video footage from apparently 'outstanding schools', I was told they were not looking at handwriting on this occasion! Well, why not? After all, these were basic skills lessons for infants that the HMI was observing and Ofsted was taking the trouble to film!
See my blog about this here:
http://debbiehepplewhite.com/?p=48
In response to my tweet about this, I received a reply which led me to the blog below - and when I read the very thoughtful piece about handwriting, it had me in goose bumps from top to bottom!
There is much to say about handwriting in terms of teaching and learning requirements, but the piece in the blog below is a very heartfelt appeal for pupils to take a different perspective themselves about the role and importance of handwriting. I love it!
I would like to think, of course, that if I had been their teacher before they reached secondary, they would indeed have a different perspective on handwriting. I know, however, that of all the pupils I may well have taught fantastic handwriting (and ALL pupils can write really well with joined-up script when taught well), that a number of them will revert, or resort, to an awful infantile scrawl when they go to secondary - and that their teachers will do little or nothing to address this - but here is the issue for me:
By teaching them really well, and them learning well, at least they have a CHOICE as to how they write going forwards into adulthood.
I have several styles of handwriting - much of which is scrawl-level when I'm in a hurry or being lazy - but I CAN write well if I want to or need to.
I have the CHOICE!
If you are a teacher, give your pupils the CHOICE - and if you are a secondary teacher, CARE, and be a little more demanding about the standard of writing and presentation for any handwritten homework and course-work.
But if you are a teacher and your handwriting is awful, how can you expect good handwriting and presentation from the pupils themselves?
http://blogs.surbitonhigh.com/english/2 ... the-stars/
My response to this issue, and to the poll, is to state that many teachers need training in their own handwriting - and HMI and Ofsted need training in this issue too!
I have written about the lack of reference to handwriting in the government's 'core criteria' for evaluating Systematic Synthetic Phonics teaching programmes on my 'Naked Emperor' blog because whilst Ofsted and HMI have our teaching profession in constant fear in England, my personal experience and view, and the personal experience and view of many others, is that HMI and Ofsted are not necessarily up to speed with various aspects of teaching and learning - phonics and handwriting being a case in point!
When I took HMI to task on the poor handwriting of both teachers and pupils in video footage from apparently 'outstanding schools', I was told they were not looking at handwriting on this occasion! Well, why not? After all, these were basic skills lessons for infants that the HMI was observing and Ofsted was taking the trouble to film!
See my blog about this here:
http://debbiehepplewhite.com/?p=48
In response to my tweet about this, I received a reply which led me to the blog below - and when I read the very thoughtful piece about handwriting, it had me in goose bumps from top to bottom!
There is much to say about handwriting in terms of teaching and learning requirements, but the piece in the blog below is a very heartfelt appeal for pupils to take a different perspective themselves about the role and importance of handwriting. I love it!
I would like to think, of course, that if I had been their teacher before they reached secondary, they would indeed have a different perspective on handwriting. I know, however, that of all the pupils I may well have taught fantastic handwriting (and ALL pupils can write really well with joined-up script when taught well), that a number of them will revert, or resort, to an awful infantile scrawl when they go to secondary - and that their teachers will do little or nothing to address this - but here is the issue for me:
By teaching them really well, and them learning well, at least they have a CHOICE as to how they write going forwards into adulthood.
I have several styles of handwriting - much of which is scrawl-level when I'm in a hurry or being lazy - but I CAN write well if I want to or need to.
I have the CHOICE!
If you are a teacher, give your pupils the CHOICE - and if you are a secondary teacher, CARE, and be a little more demanding about the standard of writing and presentation for any handwritten homework and course-work.
But if you are a teacher and your handwriting is awful, how can you expect good handwriting and presentation from the pupils themselves?
http://blogs.surbitonhigh.com/english/2 ... the-stars/