As technology becomes ever more entrenched in the classroom, there's a risk that we'll forget about the benefits of some old-fashioned skills and habits. The simple act of writing things down is good for us in innumerable ways--being able to refer back to our notes is probably the least of them. Writing reinforces memory as it's being done, and putting thoughts into words adds clarity to them, not to mention giving the writer practice in communicating to others. The benefits aren't only visible on report cards, either. Practicing self-expression helps kids sort out their emotions and fears, their likes and dislikes, and gives them a sense of who they are inside. At any age, but especially for the young, knowing yourself is the key to making good decisions, so we say expose kids to whatever helps instill the habit, whether it's the books below or just a pad of paper and some colorful pens. Hey, we sell those too!
