The Big Dill: Why Literacy Matters

The COMM Agency
Mar 11
3 min read

Literacy Rates

Literacy is more than the ability to read words on a page; it is the foundation for learning, confidence, and connection. So, you can imagine why a dip in literacy rates is cause for concern among educators, parents, and community leaders across the U.S.

According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, often called the Nation’s Report Card, only about 33 percent of fourth-grade students in the United States read at a proficient level. This means nearly seven out of ten students are still developing the reading skills needed for strong academic success.

When literacy skills decline, the effects reach far beyond the classroom. Lower literacy levels can impact academic achievement, emotional development, and lifelong opportunities in career and community.

In today’s increasingly screen-driven world, students are reading and writing by hand less than ever before. While technology offers many benefits, increased screen time can come at the expense of focus, comprehension, composition, and creative expression.

The Power of Handwriting

Research consistently shows that handwriting instruction, especially in grades K through 8, plays a critical role in cognitive and developmental growth. Writing by hand activates multiple areas of the brain, strengthening memory, reading comprehension, spelling, and critical thinking skills in ways typing cannot fully replicate.

Handwriting-based learning has been shown to:

Enhance memory retention and deepen understanding
Improve letter recognition and spelling fluency
Support organization and idea development
Reduce distractions by limiting screen dependence

When students write by hand, they engage more deeply with the learning process and develop stronger connections to the words they create.

Writing Tools That Shape Young Minds

According to literacy experts like Dr. Nancy White, handwriting is closely connected to reading and spelling development. When students physically form letters on paper, the brain’s language networks become more engaged, reinforcing foundational literacy skills.

Tools such as notebooks, journals, and cursive workbooks encourage deeper learning by promoting active participation instead of passive consumption, better organization of thoughts and ideas, and increased focus and reduced digital distraction. In fact, sometimes the simplest tools can have the greatest impact on how students learn.

Quirky Pickle’s Focus on Charleston

Through research with The COMM Agency at the College of Charleston, we distributed surveys to parents and teachers in Charleston, South Carolina, and the results revealed a challenge shared by many communities across the country: Many students in grades K through 8 were reading and writing below grade level. The most common concerns cited included gaps in foundational reading skills, weak phonemic awareness, and difficulties with comprehension.

These findings helped shape the direction of Quirky Pickle’s literacy programs, and in response, ClassPals was created to strengthen literacy through meaningful handwritten connections. The program encourages students to practice writing in creative ways while creating community with peers in other classrooms. What began as a local effort in Charleston continues to grow as more classrooms discover the power of writing to build confidence, curiosity, and community.

To help expand access to these opportunities, the Quirky Pickle Education Foundation now supports classrooms and community groups with resources that help make our literacy programs more accessible.

ClassPals: More Than Writing- It’s About Connection

At its core, literacy is about communication. It is about sharing ideas, telling stories, and building relationships. When students write by hand, they slow down and think more carefully about what they want to say. They also reflect on their experiences, ask questions, and learn how to express themselves clearly.

Programs like ClassPals—transform writing from a classroom assignment into an authentic connection. Students exchange letters, learn about different communities, and discover that their words can create meaningful friendships.

Through these simple exchanges, writing becomes more than practice. It becomes a bridge between people.

The Big Dill

Literacy gives students the tools to learn, communicate, and understand the world around them. When students develop strong reading and writing skills, they gain confidence in their voices and their ideas. That confidence is at the heart of Quirky Pickle’s mission: