Handwriting Styles

Handwriting styles directly impact a student's ability to comprehend the message a teacher is trying to give. Too often we only consider the handwriting of our students, and often penalize them for poor quality.

What about our students who have difficulty reading handwriting?

Teachers write because they have something that they want the students to read, refer back to, and learn.

Teachers share written information with their entire class via chalkboards, whiteboards, overhead projections, and electronic display equipment.

They provide individual written feedback on assignments and assessments.


It is important, therefore, that students do not struggle with reading handwriting from the teacher.

Reading Handwriting for All Students

Teachers must try to write clearly enough to be easily read by students. For full class presentations, their writing is large enough and clear enough for the text to be read by all students, even those in the back row.

The colors of the writing tool (marker, chalk, etc.) and the writing surface contrast for easy viewing, thus improving the readability of the text and in turn aiding comprehension in the ESL lesson plans.

Many teachers who are "handwriting challenged," type out the majority of needed text using the easy-to-read fonts on their word processors.

A good tool to use for this would be the speech to text software from Dragon. (See all Voice Recognition Software)

This text can then be displayed for the class using computer projectors, overhead projectors, and Smartboards. Teachers then simply revise and save their materials for next year.

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Many students, including English language learners, have difficulty reading cursive handwriting; it's something they need to learn.

Educators can avoid potential student reading problems by printing instead of using cursive. Other teachers use cursive with explicit, supportive instruction and practice to help students learn how to read it.

The bottom line is to ensure that all students can read and understand the information that they need.

The more that students can read the teacher's writing, the more able they are to learn.

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