Detroit Public Schools Community District

Handwriting in Our Schools

Daily handwriting instruction is part of every elementary school’s schedule.

It’s more than just neat writing. Handwriting helps children become better readers, stronger writers, and more confident learners.

Why Handwriting Still Matters

Even in a digital world, learning to write by hand builds important skills:

• It supports reading and spelling.
  Forming letters by hand activates areas of the brain that help students recognize letters and words. This strengthens phonics and early literacy.
  (James & Engelhardt, 2012; Berninger et al., 2006)
• It builds writing fluency.
  When students don’t have to think about how to form each letter, they can focus more on their ideas and what they want to say.
  (Graham et al., 2012)
• It strengthens fine motor development.
  Writing by hand supports coordination and hand strength, especially in early childhood.
• It provides a shared foundation.
  Handwriting is a core part of early learning. By making time for it during the school day, we ensure every student has the opportunity to grow as a writer, together with their peers.