January is National Handwriting Month, and if your handwriting could use some improving you may want to practice it as one of your New Year’s resolutions. The need for good penmanship has not gone out of style in the computer age. We still have to sign our name on checks and other documents, jot down notes, write memos, make shopping lists, address envelopes, fill out forms, take written exams, etc. Clear, legible handwriting is a valuable skill in the workplace, enhancing communication and preventing misunderstanding. More and more of the new computers and pocket organizers rely on “pen-based input”, i.e., handwriting entered with an electronic pen on a special tablet or screen. A person’s handwriting generally develops until about age 17, although even adult handwriting can change over the years. Older students with less-than-perfect penmanship can benefit from an 8 to 12 week calligraphy class. A special calligraphy pen is not necessary; a flat-tipped ink pen or felt pens will work to produce thick and thin strokes. Students can copy quotes, poems, or favorite literary passages into a special keepsake book or journal. Handwriting skills also complement other language skills such as spelling, note-taking, composition, and editing. For additional handwriting and penmanship tips, see: http://www.knowledgehouse.info/handwriting.html