Cursive writing is important for many reasons, and its loss in America’s classrooms should raise concerns. Cursive not only differs from print in the way it looks, it connects letters to words in a meaningful and productive way. It has been shown to assist children with reading difficulties like dyslexia.
All students benefit by learning how to write in cursive. Scientific American reported on a study that found that students who write notes in longhand (which could be cursive) during lectures remember much more than if they use their laptop. Cursive might be easier than print for some students, but either might be better used for memory.
With the advent of the unproven Common Core State Standards, cursive writing fell by the wayside. Common Core is supposed to lead students to mastery, competency-based, or personalized learning on the computer. There’s no research to indicate learning only by technology works. But those focused on technology don’t see any purpose to cursive writing. They believe if you teach a child keyboarding they’ll be set for life.
Those in favor of cursive claim it’s still important that children grow up and be able to sign checks, write thank you notes, or read historical documents. While that’s important, it misses the most important reasons why students should learn cursive writing. Also, since these reasons hardly make a convincing argument for students to spend time learning cursive, many states no longer require teachers to teach cursive handwriting.
Schools in Louisiana and Alabama, however, are bringing back cursive. Other schools should too, and here’s why.
For many children, learning cursive is a pleasurable experience. They are proud of their signature, and of being able to express their ideas in writing in diaries and journals. Cursive writing teaches a variety of skills.
- visual-motor coordination.
- visual synthesis.
- visual perception.
- visual memory.
- spatial relationship.
- focus.
- spelling.
- reading.
- self-confidence.
For the record, keyboarding is also an important skill. But cursive writing should not have to compete with keyboarding. Children can and should get instruction in both cursive writing and keyboarding.
For children who have extreme fine motor coordination difficulties, or dysgraphia, and cursive writing is too much of a chore, keyboarding can be helpful. Children with such difficulties are easy to spot and they should not be forced to do cursive.
However, cursive writing can be helpful to children struggling with reading and writing difficulties. Children with dyslexia might be able to remember words better if they can string letters together in cursive. In 2014, PBS News Hour had a special “How Cursive Can Help Students with Dyslexia Connect the Dots.”
I personally write cursive and could not learn well without it. Cursive writing helps me remember. There’s something about the kinesthetic, or tactile, movement on paper, reading what I’ve written, and also sometimes verbally discussing it with others, or I talk to myself, that seals it in my memory. I am also grateful for the semester of typing I took in high school. I am speedy and efficient at the keyboard because of it.
But I still rely on cursive writing for formulating my thoughts and ideas. It is worth repeating. It helps me when listening to lectures. I take notes, listen, read, rewrite, and later repeat the information to myself verbally. It got me through college with good grades.
If your child’s school doesn’t teach cursive, there are many worksheets available online. Stores like Target and Staples usually have cursive writing practice workbooks. To reuse them, place a clear transparency over the page and give children an erasable pen. Help children do cursive over the summer or when they have free time if it isn’t too taxing.
In the long run, cursive writing will be a worthy skill that will assist students in many ways, in their future education, or life in general.
References
Cindi May, “A Learning Secret: Don’t Take Notes with a Laptop.” Scientific American. June 3, 2014.
Jin Bo, Julia Barta, Hilary Ferencak, Sara Comstock, Vanessa Riley, and Joni Krueger. “Developmental Characteristics in Cursive and Printed Letter-Writing for School-Age Children.” Journal of Motor Learning and Development, 2014. 2, 1-8.
Benefits of Cursive Writing Practice by Scholastic, May 2020.
Tennessee passed legislation a couple of years ago to put cursive back in our public schools. But for those children that missed out it is never too late to learn cursive.
Karen. You’re right! I didn’t know Tennessee had passed cursive legislation. Wow! Thanks!
As a handwriting teacher/mediator, often working by Zoom these days, I have a caseload, that includes children who started school after cursive mandates had been brought in. For example, North Carolina has had a cursive mandate since 2013 — yes I get referrals from kids I get referrals for kids who started school after the mandate was brought in, and who are going to school in locales, where the mandate is enforced..)What’s your professional mad personal “take“ on how so many of these children either are not acquiring cursive (not even becoming able to read it, let alone to write it) despite mandates and instruction
Similarly, what is your “take” on why I am seeing kids who were educated under a cursuvr mandate, who HAD BEEN documentably able to read and write cursive when they were eight or nine, but by the time they ar3 in school, they have actually lost the ability to even read cursive, let alone to write it! In other words, there are cursive-trained teens out there who can’t read things at age 16 or 17 or 18 that they had been able to that they had actually written at age 9 at age 8 or nine or 10. Do you have any professional understanding of how and why this is happening? Even though my students are effectively able to deal with it, when it does happen, using this resource –Https://nationalautismresources.com/read-cursive-fast/ — like to know why, but nobody wants to talk about that. Why?
I am thinking of one word..
SIGNATURE!!!
Yes! Thanks, Alice.
I would be pleased to know if there are any generalizations about learning that are true. The thing I like about this post is that Nancy always suggests we take each child into,account. I am sure that learning cursive helps some people and hurts others. It would seem logical that kids would all be different. I am a cursive guy.
Thanks, Roy!
Thanks, Roy!
No cursive in the State of MD once Common Core took over. My daughter had 2 years and then my son had none. He can’t read cursive and he can’t write cursive. It is the least of my worries since time has to be devoted at home to making up what the common core has deleted from curriculum. This will create a problem when they get older and are asked to endorse checks and supply a “signature” for other legal documents. Maybe we should just return to illiteracy and have them sign on the dotted line using an “X”. It seems that Common Core is taking our children back to the days of rampant illiteracy anyway? Sorry, but I’m feeling really bad about public education in my area of town.
Many old documents are written in cursive. Might need to read them. What about signing legal papers?
Excellent point. Thank you, Lee.
As a special education teacher I keep in mind that cursive just might do the trick for some students that struggle with manuscript printing. That said, the article below is a good read on cursive writing.
Cursive Handwriting and Other Education Myths
Teaching cursive handwriting doesn’t have nearly the value we think it does.
By Philip Ball September 8, 2016 / Nautilus / Philip Ball is a left-hander who does not use cursive.
Thanks, Peter. I can’t read all of it because I don’t have a subscription, but I can’t believe any teacher would hold a child back from writing stories due to not being able to do cursive. What kind of school was this? In fact, most schools don’t even teach cursive anymore. Kids learn keyboarding.
It seems cursive and standard handwriting are being conflated in this post. I don’t think I ever saw a single student take notes in cursive and I’m pretty sure it is a small minority who write in their journal in cursive. I’m still uncertain of the value of it beyond being able to write pretty. Our world is changing faster than our education system can keep up with. If I had to choose between cursive and a subject more practical to assuring my child’s success in life, I’m pretty sure I’d drop cursive quickly. On the other hand, one of my children is a natural artist who loves to draw, so I do have her practicing cursive.
I believe there’s research to show that cursive helps children spell and order their thoughts better. It is also a relaxing activity for children. When it’s not a teacher shouldn’t force a student to do it. I taught students with disabilities for many years, cursive helped them construct sentences. Thanks for your comment, Kane. Even though we disagree. And how lovely you have a budding artist!
For what it’s worth, at my school I was among the many students who found cursive to be the opposite of a “relaxing activity.” (and of (and who were publicly punished for that).
Re: “ I believe there’s research to show that cursive helps children spell and order their thoughts better.” — Nancy, that belief has been expressed by many. people who hold it. Far, when I’ve asked them to please show me what led them to their beliefs (in other words, to show me the research that they have in mind), either they’ve been unable to show it, or they’ve quoted sensor switch fines that this benefit (like other benefits of hand writing) exists in all of the forms of our hand writing, and it’s not limited to Cursive, or they quoted a source which turns out to either miss “the original research it sites, Orton is “another source that intern misquotes the research. if you have anything that can specifically show, from research, that curses is the only form of hand writing that has this benefit (of helping anyone to better order one’s thoughts), I would very much like to see it, Because – without exception, as I’ve said — anything that people have sent I have shown me as their source for that claim has turned out to be severely unreliable or severely misquoted..
Re: “students who write notes in cursive during lectures remember much more than if they use their laptop“ — Your link from that words is dead. Would you please consider providing a working link?
I fixed the link. Thank you for reporting that to me, Kate. You have a nice website about writing!
Thank you very much! Let me know if you’d be interested in reviewing my book READ CURSIVE FAST (published 2021) at https://nationalautismresources.com/read-cursive-fast/
One reason I think this may appeal to your readers is the situation discussed in my article (on one of my web-sites) “Oops, I Forgot How To Read Cursive” — https://readcursivefast.com/oops-i-forgot-how-to-read-cursive/ — please let me know if this is a situation of concern to your readers,
Thank you, by the way, for fixing the link. More than once, people who have had broken links (that they claimed to support their case about cursive) have told me that they’d rather not fix the link., once they knew — and I’ve even heard the same from people who had links that turned out not, in fact, to support the claim that was being made about the link (namely, to claim that the links supported cursive handwriting above any of the other forms of our handwriting … In some cases, the link that was made, and that was described as “proving cursive is superior“ was not even two anything about cursive, or even about hand writing in general.) since you have obviously devoted a great deal of time and thought, to at least this one form of our handwriting, perhaps you can grant me some insight on why there are defenders of cursive who have thus outright told me (and some other inwuirers) that they don’t think this is a problem when the subject-matter is cursive handwriting.. I am struggling to understand that mindset, and I’m hoping that you may have some insights that I lack.
I think I remember from the Scientific American article that writing lecture notes as opposed to typing them on a laptop perhaps had more to do with the process required to do each well . Laptops have allowed people to take almost verbatim notes, which means no thinking/reflection is required whereas writing notes requires considering the relative importance of information as well as how to put it in your own words since it is impossible to write fast enough to record verbatim. I guess it’s akin to being a court reporter who doesn’t have to think/ make judgements, just record. Common sense would tell you that the notes that required some thought are likely to be better remembered than those that required only nimble fingers and good listening skills.
As a retired driver’s License supervisor. When getting their Driver’s License many children want to print their name. It’s unacceptable. They need to be taught to write a signature in cursive.
Thanks for fixing the SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN link!I noticed that you described the SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN study as comparing people who took notes in cursive handwriting with people who typed their notes on a laptop. However, when I read the article at the actual link, the article didn’t mention cursive. Since most college students (when they write by hand at all) use some form of printing for their handwriting, and since there was no mention of any difference in outcomes for the printed handwriters versus the cursive handwriters, how are we to be sure that it was specifically cursive (and not handwriting generally) that was making the difference?
By the way, once the article link was fixed and I was able to read it, I realized that the person doing the research was the same person whom I had asked about that research originally, some years earlier, when the research was first released. At that time, he had been able to confirm for me that A large number of the students who were using Handwriting for their notes, in his research, we are indeed using some sort of printed hand writing because that was simply the way that they write: he was also able to confirm for me that results for the printed hand writers did not differ from results for the cursive handwriting is: both groups were equally superior, and understanding and retention, to those who had typed their notes instead. Knowing this, may I dare to ask for your input on whether his research can properly be used (as it is used on this blog) to support cursive writing, specifically, over any of the other forms of our handwriting (such as printing, for instance)?
I’ve a question about the SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN study That you referenced. When I followed the link and looked at the original study, I noted that it was a comparison of handwriting versus keyboarding, but that the study did not specify that the hand writing was cursive! Further, the study author (whom I heard speak at a conference shortly after the study was done” has publicly told people that most of the hand writing done by the students in this study was not cursive; rather few of the study participants who used handwriting, in fact, wrote in cursive at all – yet the advantages of handwriting appeared for _all_ members of the group using handwriting, not only for those writing in cursive. Knowing this, I’ve some trouble understanding why your article asserts that the study was a comparison of cursive versus keyboarding, rather than simply a comparison of hwg (all types) versus keyboarding. Can you please help me understand this?
Yes. You are correct! I assumed longhand was cursive, but I was wrong. I rewrote the passage to reflect better what I believe it was saying. Thanks for catching my mistake, Kate!
YOU are the one who deserves thanks,— for actually correcting your info on handwriting too often, when I reach out to enthusiasts about Cursive about that mistake or other similar mistakes that they have commonly been making (made by accident, I hope?) they have told me that they don’t feel like correcting it because they feel good about the mistakes the way it is.. I’m not even the only person who’s noticing when these mistakes get made, because often these mistakes are even being made, over and over, in public testimony by the legislators, who as part of their sdvocacy for cursive mandate bills: that they introduce or support. Fortunately, some of these problems (of mistakes that important advocates don’t feel like arresting) have come to public notice, and sometimes this has results: see. https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/news/local/2018/02/06/iu-researcher-legislators-editorial-basically-lying/117385232/ —. http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2013/04/24/cursive-writing-bill-linked-to-zaner-bloser/ —https://nautil.us/cursive-handwriting-and-other-education-myths-236094/ — https://dianeravitch.net/2013/04/19/handwriting-expert-to-nc-and-sc-dont-mandate-cursive-writing/
I could send you a lot more, but they’re pretty upsetting, so I won’t. unless you ask.
😉
For further, usual information about Cursive Handwriting & Design Services, recommending to your readers the following resources?
“Why Cursive” and the items it links to — HandwritingSuccess.com/why-cursive
“Oops, I Forgot How To Read Cursive” — https://readcursivefast.com/oops-i-forgot-how-to-read-cursive/
“When Readers Can’t Read Cursive“ — https://www.redapplereading.com/blog/2021/02/when-readers-cant-read-cursive/
READ CURSIVE FAST resource — https://nationalautismresources.com/read-cursive-fast/
none of the benefits of cursive have ever been proven. they are simply asserted to exist. the closest is demonstrating that handwriting generally has some benefits, but no distinction between cursive and print; I have read dozens of studies about the issue, and none back up cursive when you read what they actually say. most people who claim “brain benefits” will not articulate what they even think those benefits are, and usually will not dive into the question of if any verifiable facts support those benefits. every study cursive proponents quote turns out to be either misquoted, taken out of context, overtly lied about, or cites a source that engages in this behavior. often they do not cite the anything at all. rarely do they articulate what benefits they think cursive has. anything could be true if we allow simple assertions to define reality. show me a single actuall study that says cursive has benefits.
cursive compared to print is slower; less legible; harder; more painful; more ornate; less convenient; but more pompous looking. so if handwriting is all that has benefits and not cursive specifically; handwritten print is what makes sense to teach.
also please note that the world is written in print; not cursive. you will not find anything not handwritten that uses cursive lettershapes. as far as I can tell there are zero books in cursive, but countless ones in print (actually it is easier to find books in Latin, a foreign dead language that has not had any native speakers in over 1000 years, then it is to find books in cursive). digital devices always use print letterforms, never cursive. official forms not only get written in print, but usually contain “please print” instructions. other things written in print include: divorce papers, health warnings on cigaretes, nutrition facts, subtitled movies, the bible, business contracts, laws, amendments to the constitution, novels, newspapers, among many other things I could spend all day going over all the many important and varied things written in print, and it includes this website and thus both of our remarks.
cursive has a bunch of elaborate, precise, frilly, pretentious, ornate, intricate, and gratuitous loops, curls, tails, flourishes, swirls and curlicues that serve no purpose other then looking pompous. cursive is not something most people need to know. it is no more relevent then Latin. it should be taught only as an elective (probably as part of an advanced history course) that is the only way it can have any relevence.
Thanks, Noah. I always appreciate citations, but I don’t doubt you’ve done some serious study. So, I appreciate your comment.
I found some students liked cursive, it is like an art, and they’re proud to master it. It can also address the b d mix up.
Others like print or may even prefer the keyboard. I’ll try to revisit the reports I read about it soon. Best wishes.
I think you might also just to take a look at a Resource whatsvshowcased here:. ReadCursiveFast.com and https://nationalautismresources.com/read-cursive-fast/
As I am the author of SWEET CURSIVE FAST, I would welcome your comments,, and would like to know whether you’d be interested in receiving a free copy of the book showcased there,, for your review and evaluation, as I am its author,.
Oh, no! Auto-correct that’s me a big-time! I hope that the moderator can post the following corrected version of what I meant to type, and can delete the mangled version above!
I think you might also just to take a look at the resource showcased here here:. READ CURSIVE FAST at https://nationalautismresources.com/read-cursive-fast/ at https://nationalautismresources.com/read-cursive-fast/
As I am the author of READ CURSIVE FAST, I would welcome your comments,, and would like to know whether you’d be interested in receiving a free copy of the book showcased there,, for your review and evaluation, as I am its author,.
What are your thoughts (Noah AND Nancy, and everyone els3 who may wish to comment) about the handwriting resources and info at these sites by colleagues of mine? https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/09/04/opinion/20090908_opart.html?_r=0
HandwritingSuccess.com/why-cursive
HandwritingSuccess.com/why-italic.
HandwritingSuccess.com
https://sites.google.com/view/briem/handwriting?authuser=0, BFHhandwriting.com
italic-handwriting.org
I believe that each of you (with your opposite standpoints) will find many things to praise in them, because they have made sense both to those students/other contacts of mind who despise cursive and to those students/other contacts of mine who desire cursive. So … I’m wondering what you yourselves (and others here) will think!
You make some crucially, important points, that need to be read by the supporters of cursive – and I am glad Nancy has responded well to you!
I agree with point after points that you have made, and I believe that you will find her further excellent support at these links:
https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/09/04/opinion/20090908_opart.html?_r=0 — HandwritingSuccess.com/why-cursive — HandwritingSuccess.com/why-italic. —, HandwritingSuccess.com, — https://sites.google.com/view/briem/handwriting?authuser=0, — BFHhandwriting.com — italic-handwriting.org
I believe that, does extensive it’s important to read cursive. This can, and should be tied by showing how it’s complicated and TweedLeaf forms evolved (or let’s say “DEvolved”!) from originally simpler forms: see. ReadCursiveFast.com and https://nationalautismresources.com/read-cursive-fast/ I would welcome your comments, and would like to know whether you’d be interested in receiving a free copy of the book showcased there,, for your review and evaluation, as I am its author,
Re:
“ I personally write cursive and could not learn well without it” — how have you actually how many of the other forms of your handwriting of our handwriting have you tried and compared with cursive, when it comes to helping you learn? In other words, are you talking only about comparing cursive with things that aren’t hand writing at all? (such as keyboarding.) or are you talking about comparing only two of the handwriting styles that exist (e.g., comparing a cursive hand, writing style with a printed hand writing style), or are you actually talking about some special benefit of cursive, as opposed to absolutely all of the other handwriting styles?