Cursive Writing For Kids
Should Kids Learn to Write In Cursive?
© Debbie DeSpirt
Sep 12, 2006
Should students learn cursive writing in school? Teachers, you decide after reading the advantages and disadvantages of students learning cursive writing.
Schools in Canada and the United States introduce students to cursive writing in the primary grades. Montessori schools have students learn cursive writing in kindergarten and allow block printing to develop in later years. As a teacher, I understand the restrictions of time to teach all the fundamentals, but why has cursive writing become a forgotten subject.
Cursive writing is a beautiful art form that connects the letters with swoops and curls. It is an art form that is unique to each individual student. No two handwritten letters are the same even though each word written is identical. Cursive writing speaks about the student's personality and the type of day they are experiencing.
Should we keep teaching kids cursive writing in public schools? Teachers you decide.
Advantages of Learning Cursive Writing
- Cursive is faster than printing
- More efficient for taking notes
- Able to write without the use of technology
- Art form to display a student's inner feelings and thoughts
- Easier for students to learn cursive than printing
- Develop fine motor skills
- Writing in journals, handwriting in sync with the students flow of thought
- Hand written apology more meaningful than one generated on a word document
- Personalize Letters
Disadvantages of Learning Cursive Writing
As a teacher, my personal view is for kids to learn cursive writing for the reasons listed in the advantages column. It does take time and some kids become frustrated with the process but I believe it is worth the effort for kids to learn a beautiful art form. If time is restrictive, have students learn cursive writing during art class, as the beauty of the lines is definitely an aspect of art.
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Comments
Apr 28, 2008 10:04 AM
Guest
:
Another advantage - on college entrance tests, oftentimes students have to copy a passage in cursive, as I found out to my distress, having forgotten most of the cursive letters except those in my name. That's another thing - many people sign in cursive!
May 9, 2008 7:12 AM
Guest
:
typing is coming upon us
May 14, 2008 10:14 PM
Guest
:
I'm sixty years old and I stumbled into this cursive site because my handwriting is clumsy block letters. I learned cursive in grade school but gravitated towards block. My Mom had beautiful script and I thought I would now learn it as art form and daily gift to myself and my family. To often kids don't practice life art, art that they will used every day for the rest of their life. I don't regret any choice I ever made (couldn't change it anyway) but I can correct a mistake and share penship all the rest of my life. Surely the value of a mindful cursive writer wielding a simple pencil must be vastly superior to a keyboard writer suddenly without technology. Clarity and purpose in a handwritten document is apparent. A mindfully written and beautifully presented handwritten document includes a glimpse of the emotion of the writer.
A handwritten letter transmits far more information in far fewer words. All upsets are caused by a lack of communication. Mindful cursive reaches to the core the human experience and offers endless gifts that last generations. If you are an adult look at a sample of your parents or grandparents handwriting and see if that doesn't evoke more than a typed letter might from you to your kids. Give the kids a life gift, teach them to really communicate how they feel and let all of us reap the rich rewards for generations to come.
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