Breaking News
Local News

Newport Elementary School students receive award for handwriting

By Michael Kelly 3 min read

NEWPORT, Ohio -- Handwriting is more than just perfectly formed letters on a piece of paper.

Carol Armann, an occupational therapist who works at Newport Elementary School, says it's a skill that is important in the development of reading comprehension in children.

"When we see kids writing, we don't just look at their hands, we watch how their vision works, how their shoulders are set, whether they sit straight," said Armann, who also is a pediatric therapy supervisor for Marietta Memorial Hospital. "It's about the entire central nervous system, what they're seeing, what they're hearing, and we put those pieces together."

Newport students won three grade-level statewide prizes in the 27th annual Zaner-Bloser National Handwriting Contest. Their work will go on to be judged in the national contest.

First-grader Kennedy Britton, second-grader Amarynth Greenwood and fifth-grader Kaylynn Lauer all were honored at an assembly Tuesday morning. The students received a medallion, their teachers got an etched glass award and the teachers received a $200 coupon for classroom supplies with Zaner-Bloser, a national educational materials and resources supplier, for each of the three awards.

Handwriting has become increasingly a lower priority in education as electronic and keyboarding equipment and platforms have taken over the classroom, but Armann thinks its importance remains.

"Multiple studies show a link between handwriting and the development of reading comprehension," she said. "It helps kids learn to read, and keyboarding doesn't do that. Handwriting is the only thing that does that, which is why it can't come out of schools. A study in Florida showed it even helps with math, and they weren't even looking for that."

Kennedy said she always uses white paper and often practices writing her name.

Amarynth said she writes whatever she feels like.

"The harder you try, the better you get," she said.

Lauer, who has been entering the contest since first grade and got her first winning entry this year, said handwriting is a means of expression, a goal and an accomplishment for her.

"Sometimes I just randomly start writing things in class, poems or notes," she said. "I'd like to become an author."

***

A Glance at the Annual Zaner-Bloser National Handwriting Contest

* Established: 27 years

* Number of students participating, nation wide: 280,000

* Winners (state grade level) at Newport Elementary School: 3 -- Kaylynn Lauer, fifth grade; Amarynth Greenwood, second grade; Kennedy Britton, fifth grade

* Prizes: Medallion for students, engraved award for teachers, $200 Zaner-Bloser coupon for school for each winner

Starting at /week.