The grammar of the sign: learning to write in primary school with daily exercise and ergonomic pens

Abstract

Several studies show that the appropriate development of writing skills represents the first, essential step towards the development of the ability to write original and increasingly complex thoughts in a correct and well-articulated way (see Longcamp et al., 2011; Wamain et al., 2012; Gainotti, 2014; Sim et al., 2014; Sabatini, 2016; Vertecchi, 2016; Angelini, 2016; Angelini-Manetti, 2018; Angelini, 2020). Starting from this assumption, a research was conducted on 126 manuscripts produced by 3rd graders every day, for 42 days, with the use of ergonomic pens. The analysis of the documents highlighted an improvement with respect to the main axes of writing (space, shape, movement, pressure). The subsequent analysis of the contents of the works of two children produced at the beginning, middle and end of the research suggests an improvement in the ability to process written thoughts in relation to the improvement of writing skills.