Fine Motor Skills
Working Memory
Processing Speed
Visual Motor Speed
Keyboard Instead of Writing to Improve Efficiency
If your student's handwriting is interfering with completing work accurately or efficiently
Teach It!
Objective: Students who type more efficiently than they write will use a keyboard for typing notes or papers in class, on tests or for homework.
Teacher Takeaways: Parents and teachers should discuss the trade-offs of typing vs writing. Students remember information better when they write notes than when they type. Also, handwriting is an essential life skill that develops with practice. However, for students with weaker motor or processing skills, the benefits of typing might outweigh the downsides.
Considerations: a) Students should be taught proper typing skills. This will vary with age and ability but students can often start typing faster than they write as early as upper elementary. b) Children with weaker fine motor or visual motor skills might benefit from typing instruction from a skilled instructor or occupational therapist.
You do not want to limit the creativity or thought-process of a student with legitimately slower handwriting or processing. In addition, students need to be able to read their own notes and teachers must be able to read a student's work without significant struggle. When these are legitimate considerations, keyboarding can be a better alternative to handwriting so it does not interfere with a student's writing progress.