This is a “hot button” with me. It’s not just cursive handwriting, though. It’s any kind of handwriting. I teach 7th and 8th graders, and am more distressed each year. They come to me forming their letters in the oddest directions, some not able to make their “best” even semi-legible.
When I put them on the keyboards, they hunt and peck and use their thumbs.
Now that I have the most wonderful interactive Smart Board, I just discovered I can put up a background looking like lined paper. Ha.
Friday, as they were brainstorming ideas, I first gave them a shortened fast lesson on starting cursive writing. I made them practice on their own paper for about one minute, then we went on with our lesson. As they wrote on the SB, they all tried handwriting.
It was a riot. Will I be able to continue it? Is it worth it?
Think of how handicapped these kids will be if they can’t type well or write legibly. All life can’t be “u r kwl.”
What I really need, though, is research based evidence that doing cursive handwriting actually builds brain skills. I’m convinced in my own mind that part of the increase in learning disabilities is tied to the lack of the movement kids used to get every day in using lots of cursive handwriting. If anyone knows of any studies about this, please tell me.
Yes, I started teaching in 1971—long before these students were born. We didn’t even have calculators or Xerox machines then!
i agree with you completely, that’s why i am trained in this...
(there are alot of research links on their site)
i teach primary special needs children and that includes teaching them to write.
Back when I was being taught cursive writing (I think Hannibal crossed the Alps that year), poor penmanship would get you branded as a near illiterate.
Customers will often leave a note for me (written by my employees) for special orders, etc. The notes are barely legible. Spelling is atrocious, and they are all over the page. Can’t even write in a straight line. Pitiful...
I also require DL# or SSN on checks presented to the store. I can barely make out the numbers. Most times it’s a crap shoot trying to figure it out. Who the hell can’t even write a legible Arabic number???