What drives what

Checking the Math final paper. I see two trends - some good students have done poorly simply because they haven't been systematic. But a few students from whom I wasn't expecting good performance, have done well partly because they have done a systematic step-by step work.

This leads me to think that, just as clear thinking should reflect in clear writing (not always true though), clear writing often aids in clear thinking. For some children clear and neat writing is intrinsic. They write step-by-step, one equation bellow other, without missing a step. For majority of children this doesn't come naturally. However systematic writing of steps in Math is also a skill that can be learnt. If they do learn, then their thinking is guided by the step-by-step writing process. And, in some cases it leads to better performance in Math.

Compared to old time, there is far less emphasis on handwriting and neatness in the present schools. Its suppose to be some what progressive not to force children into a given form of handwriting. The lack of putting focus on neatness has this one side-effect. A few more children can be brought into the fold of Math if only we can teach them the skill of writing maths in a neat format. I do believe that clarity in writing drives clarity in thinking.