The nationally recognized Zaner-Bloser company has announced that Ruby Waldron, a 4th grade student at Lincoln Elementary in Rexburg, was picked as a regional winner in their annual handwriting contest.
For 33 years The Zaner-Bloser National Handwriting contest has been one of the most celebrated handwriting contests in the country. Handwriting is a foundational skill of literacy, and the contest helps kids utilize their skills, the company says.
The contest has about 75,000 to 80,000 kids who participate nationwide. Students in kindergarten all the way to 6th grade are allowed to enter the contest and they only have to write one sentence. Depending on which grade students are in they will write in cursive or print.
The contest consists of regional winners, grand national winners, and the two Nicholas Maxim awards which honors those with disabilities. Schools will pick students to compete in the regionals and then the grand national winners are picked.
“Students are motivated to compete for recognition and prizes. It’s a way for students to be rewarded for the hard work they put in to learning an important skill,” said Amanda Stedke, the vice president of product at Zaner-Bloser.
Stedke has worked in educational publishing for 20 years and started working at Zanner-Bloser five years ago.
“I am just really passionate about working for a company that’s so focused on how you help kids at that age gain those foundational skills that sets them up for success long term,” Stedke said.
She also says writing helps students activate the language area of the brain and improve academic outcomes and memory. There has been a recent shift where schools are adding cursive back into the curriculum.
States like California and New Hampshire have recently added cursive into their curriculum. Arizona, Louisiana and Ohio have also included cursive in schools.