Importance of Literacy Development in Education

This article discusses the importance of literacy development in education and how it impacts academic and professional growth. The author shares a personal experience with handwriting and how it impacted their literacy. The article emphasizes the significance of good handwriting and writing skills in today's world.

Running Head: ENGLISH 1
literacy development
Author's Name
Institutional Affiliation
Introduction

EDUCATION 2
Literacy development does not have a precise time period or phase in one slice. It perhaps
starts when the baby utters the first worlds or the preschool child learns to hold the pencil for the
first time or the college student writes professional academic papers during his university years.
Today, we find ourselves surrounded by technologies and the art of reading and writing is
already disappearing. Kindle and tablets with keyboard have replaced the books, pens, and
pencils. One simply has to press delete to eraser something. One cannot place the whole blame
on technology as literacy holds an essential place in our life. In order to progress academically
and professionally, we do need to develop good reading and writing skills.
For me, good handwriting has always been an important skill, apart from reading and
writing to add to my knowledge. There are some experiences in the childhood that leave a
lifelong impact on our lives and stay with us like a good habit. Today, I am proud of my
handwriting and often get complimented by my peers and college professors. At home, my
mother still writes letters to her friends and family. I have grown up admiring her handwriting as
well as writing skills. I still carry a childhood memory regarding writing that is lodged in my
memory. When I was about ten years old, I was admitted to another school known for its better
learning environment. I was a bit afraid as I had heard that the principal was very strict.
Nevertheless, all my fears were baseless as I found the school to be nice and soon made some
good friends. I liked the teachers and the principal as strict, but somehow I liked her.
One fine day, the Principal announced a handwriting contest to be held every month as
she was not too pleased with what she saw in the class notebooks. We were given special
practice books for written exercises to improve our writing. Until then, I had always thought that
as long as the letters were legible, it really didn’t matter. We were given some cursive writing
books for English writing and were asked us to complete a certain number of pages every day.

EDUCATION 3
Every week the teacher assessed our handwriting and was not too impressed. However, always
made encouraging remarks. Gradually I started noticing a change in my way of writing and more
positive remarks from my teacher.
The Principal came to our class one day and announced a writing competition the next
week. According to her, education as not just about reading and writing or gaining knowledge.
However, it was also how we wrote, and lousy writing is a sign of an incomplete education. The
right way of writing those letters reflected our literacy and education. Somewhere those words
sank within me, and I decided to take my handwriting seriously. When I reached home, I took
out my cursive writing books and started practicing in earnest. While earlier, when it was just a
routine task, now it had become a passion. Moreover, indeed, I found a great difference in my
handwriting within days. My fingers had better control over the pen, and they moved
effortlessly. I could pen beautifully written letters with no mistake.
I was nervous on the day of the writing competition as many of my classmates were well
known for their beautiful handwriting. Still, I was eager to do my best and see where I stood
when compared to the rest of the students. The winner would get any of their favorite books from
the library as a prize. Soon the contest began, and we were given sheets of paper to write. There
was a paragraph written on the blackboard that we had to copy neatly on the paper. There was no
scope of making any mistakes here, and any sign of rewriting or smudges would go against us. I
started writing and soon got absorbed into the joy of writing. It was as if magic was getting
created on the white paper as I saw those perfectly written letters forming in those curved and
loopy lines. Soon, the contest was over, and we submitted our sheets. The results were to be
announced the next day.

EDUCATION 4
I could not wait for the next day, and there were butterflies in my stomach. When I
reached school, I saw lots of excitement near the principal’s office. The notice board had the
name of the winner and the best writing samples. I could not believe my eyes when I saw my
writing at the top and announced as the winner. It was one of the best days of my life and today
when I look back; I give all the credit to my principal and teachers. Today, I feel literate not just
because of my knowledge gained but because of my good handwriting.