Does better handwriting mean higher scores in school?

I happened to stumble upon an article on CNN called "Connecting the dots between handwriting and hight scores." The article states the Dr. Laura Dinehart discovered that a child's ability for form letters when they are 4 was a strong indicator of their academic achievement later in life. She stated that those with better penmanship had higher reading and math scores.

Now you can say that this is because teachers think that smart kids have better handwriting. That could be part of it. If I can read a child's answer I know if they have it right and if they understand verses the child that scribbles their answer. Handwriting is an important fine motor skill we don't spend enough time on. In the day and age of computers it's easier to teach our kids to type, and easier to understand what they are saying. Handwriting requires a higher level of thinking. Not only do you have to think about what you are going to say you also have to think about how to form the letters.

I don't know if I agree that penmanship can predict a child's ability to succeed in school but it is an indicator of possible learning disabilities. With many school districts no longer teaching penmanship it is up to the parents to make sure it happens. There are tons of websites and places you can print off worksheets. Or my favorite way, just buy a notebook of lined paper. My son practices writing the words he is learning to read and spell (using multiple senses also helps kids learn things quicker and for longer). We also like to write our favorite poems in his notebook. You can also have them write in a journal. Just anything to practice. The biggest advice I can give on handwriting is make sure they are forming the letters the right way. It really does make a difference.

Here's a link on how to form the letters

I like handwriting for kids because not only do they show you a chart with numbers so you know where to start you letter, if you scroll your mouse over the letter it shows you how to do it. They also have printable handwriting worksheets.

If you google "handwriting practice" tons of practice sheets will come up. I personally don't like those and would rather practice with a notebook and a good book of short poems (this way they can focus on how to make the letters and not on what they are creating).

I recommend preschool-3rd graders practice for at least 5 minutes a day until they know how to form the letters. Forth -sixth graders can practice through journal writing or writing stories. Remember to change things up a bit too. Use crayons, colored pencils, markers, dry erase boards, anything that writes. I also recommend teaching how to write the letters as you teach their names and sounds. Using multiple senses helps them retain the information longer and quicker. Just remember all learning doesn't have to come from the computer, it can come the old fashioned way too.