Handwriting Intervention: Impact on the Reading and Writing Abilities of High School Students

Handwriting is a functional task that is used to communicate thoughts using a written code. Research findings have indicated that handwriting is related to learning to read and learning to write. The purposes of this research project were to determine if a handwriting intervention would increase abilities in reading and writing skills, in graphomotor and visual-motor integration skills, and improve the participants’ self-perceptions and self-descriptions pertaining to handwriting enjoyment, competence, and effort. A single-subject research design was implemented with four struggling high school students who each received 10.5 to 15.5 hours of cursive handwriting intervention using the ez Write program. In summary, the findings indicated that the students showed significant improvements in aspects of reading and writing; that they improved significantly in their cursive writing abilities; and that their self-perceptions concerning their handwriting experience and competence improved. The contribution of handwriting to academic achievement and vocational success can no longer be neglected.

Letter addressed to Press and Radio Friends which is attached to an informal history of the Whirlpool Rapids Bridge. The letter was sent from A.E. Parsons, manager of the Whirlpool Rapids Bridge

Letter (10 typed pages) addressed to Press and Radio Friends which is attached to an informal history of the Whirlpool Rapids Bridge. The letter was sent from A.E. Parsons, manager of the Whirlpool Rapids Bridge, n.d.

Receipt from E. Carroll, manager of the Welland House, St. Catharines for board

Receipt from E. Carroll, manager of the Welland House, St. Catharines for board, Oct. 8, 1886.

Receipt from E. Carroll, manager of the Welland House, St. Catharines for board

Receipt from E. Carroll, manager of the Welland House, St. Catharines for board, Nov. 8, 1886.

Receipt from E. Carroll, manager of the Welland House, St. Catharines for board

Receipt from E. Carroll, manager of the Welland House, St. Catharines for board, Dec. 8, 1886

Receipt from E. Carroll, manager of the Welland House, St. Catharines for board

Receipt from E. Carroll, manager of the Welland House, St. Catharines for board, Jan. 8, 1887.

Receipt from E. Carroll, manager of the Welland House, St. Catharines for board

Receipt from E. Carroll, manager of the Welland House, St. Catharines for board, Feb. 8, 1887.

Receipt from E. Carroll, manager of the Welland House, St. Catharines

Receipt from E. Carroll, manager of the Welland House, St. Catharines for 10 poles, Mar. 5, 1887.

Receipt from E. Carroll, manager of the Welland House, St. Catharines for board

Receipt from E. Carroll, manager of the Welland House, St. Catharines for board, Mar. 8, 1887.