Handwriting: Generation Y

DOES TEACHING YOUR KIDS CURSIVE WRITING MAKE THEM BETTER STUDENTS AND PEOPLE? ABSOLUTELY…HERE’S WHY… - Part 2

Examples that illustrate the personality of the dominant middle-zone person: Upon visiting a restaurant where both server and hostess were Generation Y, upon mistakes being made in seating and food order, the Generation Y response was “Whatever” and “Nobody told me.” The hoped-for mature, professional response “We’ll remedy that right away; this shouldn’t have happened” was gone.

In another example, a Generation Y’er was late for work and, when questioned, responded “Hellohhh! I had a hair appointment.” On yet another occasion relating to absenteeism, on being asked why they had reported for work three days out of five, the Generation Y’er retorted, “Well, do you want a good happy employee for three days, or a bad one for five days?”

A boomer told me this story: On observing two Generation Y people standing right in front of each other who were texting back and forth, she approached the pair and said “I might seem a nosy older woman, but why are you two texting one another when you’re standing together?” They replied, “Because we don’t, like, want anyone to, like, overhear our conversation.”

Get the idea? All of the above may very well explain, in part, why many from Generation Y prefer to live at home with their parents well into their twenties (no, Martha, it’s not because of the economy). While I appreciate that not all Generation Y folks fit the examples and descriptions above, many of you reading this, I’m sure, will be able to relate on some level with stories of your own.

So, what does all this have to do with handwritten script? The middle zone (lower-case letter area) is the area of the ‘immediate’, as I explained. Those with a dominant middle zone (termed the mundane area, represented by lower-case letters) and very short upper zone (termed the abstract area, represented by upper loops) want everything NOW. Many boomers were taught they needed to plan and save and then buy that house, that fridge, that car. Generation Y (and soon Generation Z) of the large middle zone feels they want it now and can merely put it on their charge cards, not likely thinking of the consequences until the bills come in.

We are, whether we realize it or not, in the middle of a quiet revolution and its new opportunities. The technical mind-set and different brain wiring of Generation Y and Z make it appear rational for the schools to put less emphasis on cursive writing. But is this really what we want to do?

Although Generation Y and Z have this technical mind-set, it is also crucial to re-institute the now-absent sense of responsibility and consideration of others. It appears that Generation Y and Z have a free pass on these qualities, resulting in the “Whatever” attitude we witness all too often. This consideration of others should not go out the window with cursive writing and other basic skills.

Justin Bieber's Signature: Positive Strokes!

JUSTIN BIEBER’S SIGNATURE: POSITIVE STROKES!

In relation to Handwriting Analysis, some signatures are rich in qualities and some are not: Justin Bieber’s signature is one that is rich in positive qualities.

Justin’s signature moves upward on his page of writing, indicating his optimism. Justin’s optimism is enhanced by the ‘smile’ stroke on the capital ‘B’ of his family name—Justin can keep smiling on the outside even when he’s not smiling on the inside.

How interesting that the capital ‘B’ of Justin’s family name ‘sinks’ into the lower area of the writing. This is termed ‘sensuousness’ and indicates attraction to (besides the obvious attractions) delightful aromas, attraction to good food and attraction to the feel of rich-textured material, etc.

The letter ‘r’ in Justin’s family name is flat-topped, indicating good manual dexterity, which comes in very handy when playing guitar or drums. This letter ‘r’, denoting creativity, pops up higher than the tops of his lower-case letters, indicating that creativity is a priority and a necessity for him to be fulfilled.

The i-dot in Justin’s first name and in his family name are round, suggesting his loyalty to his friends, family and his fans. The very close i-dot to his i-stem indicates his close attention to detail.

The t-bar in Justin’s first name stands alone (doesn’t join to the next letter) indicating his matter-of-fact, practical outlook. It’s in the upper portion of his t-stem, indicating his drive to set high goals and stretch out of his ‘comfort zone’.

The deep v-wedge in the ‘n’ within his first name indicates Justin’s good analytical ability. The leftward downstroke of this particular letter ‘n’ indicates reserve: people may think they know Justin, but it will, in truth, take time for someone to really get to know him.

All the letters within Justin’s first and family name are joined, indicating his logical, sequential mind and his good ability to solve problems. His high capital letters indicate a good level of confidence.

The high, full upper loop in the ‘b’ within Justin’s family name indicates an excellent imagination and ability to plan long range.

The angled connective strokes within Justin’s first name indicate his drive to achieve.


Be sure to view my 5-minute “Power of the Pen” DVD on my Home Page at www.handwritinganalysistoronto.com

Using a Comfortable, Quality Pen

Using a Comfortable, Quality Pen

I’ve been asked on many occasions just how important the actual pen they use would be in either writing or handwriting analysis.

Comfort in writing and ease of writing is incredibly important. I have had people declare that they cannot write at all with a fine-tipped pen; others insist they need a medium-tipped ballpoint pen. More people today request gel pens because it makes it easier and more fun for them to write.

With everything and everyone moving faster than the proverbial speed of light, ease of writing becomes that much more critical. Bic’s ReAction Pen, for example, has the writer feeling that their hand is dancing and even racing across the page, a delightful combination of the solidity of the ballpoint pen and the flowing ease of a gel pen. For those who grip the pen heavily and develop calloused skin on the sides of their fingers, the soft rubber grip of this particular pen will be a welcome relief for many.

I asked a representative of Laywine’s Pens on 25 Belair in Yorkville, Toronto why people choose a high quality writing instrument. She said it was a matter of aesthetics, together with the pleasure of having and using a well-balanced pen in your hand.

The Laywine’s expert also said the importance of a high-quality pen had to do with the quality of the ink flow. As people push the paper with the pen, they’re looking for the good feeling of the ink flowing and the satisfaction in producing the line of the pen that you create on paper.

Further, the Laywine’s expert told me that a fine quality pen would satisfy the visual needs of the person using the pen, analogous to a nice graphic design poster. There is an element of art insofar as the aspect of visual art, with the look of the letter as it is being shaped with a fine-quality pen.

Finally, many people feel they attain a higher status in using a high-quality pen, similar to the status they would attain from driving a top-of-the-line car.

As far as I’m concerned, there is a ‘sensuality’ attached to seeing a line of substance and some texture produced from a writing instrument. Seeing and using a beautiful, top-quality pen can fulfill an artistic side of people they may not even be aware they need to feel and express!

Be sure to view my 5-minute “Power of the Pen” DVD on my Home Page at www.handwritinganalysistoronto.com

Importance of Cursive Writing - Part 3

Importance of Cursive Writing - Part 3


Learning disabilities expert Betty Sheffield has found that, “handwriting allows access to kinesthetic memory, the earliest, strongest and most reliable memory channel. Put simply, when children write what they have learned, they learn it better.”

Here is a quote from “What America Lost: Tracking Attitude Changes Through Handwriting” by Sallie Bolich: “In the early nineties, Jeanette Farmer, a Certified Graphoanalyst in Denver Colorado learned of a study, completed in 160 by Dr. Rudolf Pophal, a German neurologist and graphologist, which proved handwriting actually creates a physiological/psychological link in the brain. … Her theory was that ‘push pulls’ and ‘ovals’, those drills so strictly administered long ago, aided development of neural pathways to the brain thought to improve impulse control, thus increasing the students’ ability to concentrate.”

Handwriting does require a significant amount of practice, perseverance, focus and concentration. Handwriting stabilizes the emotional brain because of the repetitive and rhythmic manipulation of the thumb and forefinger over time. This involves the development of the prefrontal cortex part of the brain. The word ‘focus’ is important: Studies show that children who are able to focus perform better in many areas of their life. Therefore, practicing handwriting until it becomes an ‘automatic skill’ is one of the best avenues to develop ‘focus’.

As the writing skill develops, so does the hand-brain-eye coordination that can be transferred to other tasks. Some researchers believe the brain paths created by developing the eye-hand co-ordination at an early age will lead to higher brain function later.

Throughout history, when the importance of handwriting was emphasized, the literacy of the population was enhanced. Historically there have been many cycles of literacy to illiteracy: The one fact that has been consistent is that during times when the population was not literate, the people went through more difficulties.

Writing focuses attention: Both the mechanical skill and creative intellectual processes are developed. Like it or not, people still judge you by your handwriting—some employers judge you by your handwriting.



Be sure to view my 5-minute “Power of the Pen” DVD on my Home Page at www.handwritinganalysistoronto.com

Importance of Cursive Writing - Part 2

Importance of Cursive Writing – Part 2

Handwriting is an independent skill that doesn’t rely on technology that at times may not work. The portability of handwriting allows it to be used when a laptop or other electronic equipment would be less than efficient. Many wonderful ideas have been quickly written on serviettes or small pieces of paper in restaurants.

There are tablets and Readers that allows a stylus to be used to jot down notes to be bookmarked for later reference.

For students: Written language requires more systematic thinking processes to organize thoughts effectively than oral communication. Therefore, writing and systematic communication go well together. The muscles everyone uses to write are also used in other fine motor control activities such as playing with puzzles or stringing beads. On a basic level, handwriting helps children learn to follow directions, an ability transferrable to numerous aspects of life. The fine motor skills required for handwriting can easily be transferred to professions such a dentists, doctors and woodworkers.

For teachers: Requiring students to write in cursive throughout their elementary schooling will facilitate the creation of the neurological pathways for handwriting and increase their speed and stamina—students will develop discipline and pride in doing their best. Studies have shown that students who maintain handwriting are better at spelling, punctuation, sentence structure, grammar and composition. Teachers have observed how children’s thoughts are released once their handwriting skills have become automatic to them. Like the Traditional generation, young students today who take pride and work hard to achieve high standards in handwriting also choose to excel in other areas of their life.

For seniors: By writing for a short period every day, you are maintaining your fine motor control muscles and stimulating your brain as well. Handwriting notes and letters to the younger generations can inspire them to develop their own writing skills. It is said that handwritten papers will in the coming years be worth a great deal of money. Autograph books, high school yearbooks and copybooks from grammar school are sought after by antique dealers today.

People who are more interested in connecting with others are also often more inclined to use handwriting. By allowing enough time to be given during a student’s education process to master cursive writing, we are enhancing their opportunity to develop a significant aspect of themselves. In addition, it has been learned that children who develop a fluid style of writing tend to excel in other subjects.


Be sure to view my 5-minute “Power of the Pen” DVD on my Home Page at www.handwritinganalysistoronto.com

Importance of Handwriting

The Importance of Handwriting

Even if you learned to write way back in Grade 3 and don’t choose to use it any more, the neuro-pathways you used to develop the skill are still there, and can easily be re-activated. Resurrecting your handwriting skills, therefore, would be a much easier task than to learn it as an adult.

Studies have indicated that after handwriting becomes an automatic skill, we shift focus to the information we’re learning or communicating. Therefore, the more cursive writing practice we do, the faster we’ll be able to write. Students who have more handwriting practice in their early ears are better at reading and spelling. Being able to write in cursive means you will also be able to read in cursive.

With fewer pen lifts from the paper, cursive writing is faster than printing—each pen lift takes time and slows down the speed of your writing.

Did you know that literacy rates are higher when students are required to master handwriting skills? One possible reason for this is teachers must use the “See it, Say it, Do it” teaching method to incorporate the visual, auditory and kinesthetic abilities of each student in the process of learning to cursive write. Therefore, we can conclude that should learning handwriting decrease, so will literacy.

Cursive writing results in less confusion for children who have learning disabilities because the smooth flow of cursive connected letters is easier for children to master. In addition, there is less confusion between directions of letters such as ‘b’ and ‘d’ or ‘g’ and ‘p’.

Computer competence can be taught at a later age; however, reading and writing has a ‘window of opportunity’ that occurs before the age of 9 or 10. This is one of the reasons handwriting is so important by grades 2 and 3.

Studies have shown positive side effects of handwriting include reducing depression, blood pressure and boosting the immune system (Swedlow 1999). Learning to write helps children focus and concentrate and, in addition, helps to calm the emotional part of the brain. Over 3,000 nerve endings in each fingertip directly connected to the brain are stimulated when writing.

Marketing research shows that those receiving hand-addressed envelopes are seven times more likely to open that letter.


Be sure to view my 5-minute “Power of the Pen” DVD on my Home Page at www.handwritinganalysistoronto.com

Handwriting: Why Cursive Write?

Why Cursive Write?

Most of us who attended school from the 1950’s to the 1970’s experienced Penmanship classes using either the Palmer method or the Zaner Bloser method (remember the cards traditionally perched on top of the blackboard?). Most writings from Boomers that I see have elements of these styles of writing, with original and positive combinations of strokes that makes everyone a unique individual.

I have been perplexed for a number of years that the majority of scripts from teens and youngsters from prestigious schools are all printed and have about four or five stroke combinations in common that 1) results in most youngsters writings looking eerily identical and 2) indicates why many of the youngsters today are miles apart from their parents in terms of their overall outlook and philosophy (more about this in upcoming blogs).

This is not to infer that Boomer writing is ‘good’ and the writing style so common to youngsters is ‘bad’, but to get everyone thinking—period. Yes, we’ve all heard the ‘Well, why bother with cursive writing anyway, since the kids are all prefer computers’ argument; however, children are still excited and intrigued about handwriting and are proud about developing their own signature.

Developing the skill of cursive writing is, from the young people I’ve observed, a big challenge. To cursive write requires a good deal of practice, a need to persevere and the ability to focus and to concentrate. Did you know that handwriting actually stabilizes the emotional brain because of the repetitive, rhythmic manipulation of thumb and forefinger over time? Did you know that cursive writing involves the development of the prefrontal cortex part of a child’s brain?

The same focus I have just mentioned is a recent word that frequently appears in evaluations of young children. Studies show that children who are able to ‘focus’ perform better in many areas (including cursive writing!). Therefore, I say with confidence that practicing handwriting until it becomes automatic necessitates a child’s ability to focus and is an excellent method to develop focus.

As cursive writing skill develops, so too does the hand-brain-eye coordination which directly relate to many other tasks. Researchers believe the brain paths created by developing the eye-hand co-ordination at an early age will lead to higher brain function later.

The physical process of handwriting results in information being more powerfully entered into the brain by producing stronger neuro-pathways than simply pressing keys on a keyboard.

Be sure to view my 5-minute “Power of the Pen” DVD on my Home Page at www.handwritinganalysistoronto.com