When I taught third grade, I devoted 30 minutes a day for the first half of the year to teaching it. My kids got pretty good at it. The other third grade teacher put up a strip of posterboard with the cursive letters on it at the beginning of the year and announced that “You’re big kids now, and this is how I want your papers done.” No instruction at all. By the end of sixth grade, you couldn’t tell which kids had been in my class and which in hers.
There was a recent study showing children learned reading more easily when they practiced cursive writing (or joined together writing – UK). Apparently it more smoothly associates the letters and sounds with body movements as opposed to the staccato movements involved in printing.
Whether it’s a loss to future generations or not is irrevelant really. To me and my generation it’s a great loss. Over the millennia that has passed we’ve lost many forms of communication in writing.
Teto85 Premium Member over 2 years ago
I practice my calligraphy for 90 minutes minimum every day with a fountain pen. Left handed.
jvo over 2 years ago
@Teto85 ….so sinister of you…
cdward over 2 years ago
I’m still angry about them no longer teaching cuneiform. If you don’t teach the kids cuneiform, how will they be able to read it?
Lee26 Premium Member over 2 years ago
They probably couldn’t read it either.
Diane Lee Premium Member over 2 years ago
When I taught third grade, I devoted 30 minutes a day for the first half of the year to teaching it. My kids got pretty good at it. The other third grade teacher put up a strip of posterboard with the cursive letters on it at the beginning of the year and announced that “You’re big kids now, and this is how I want your papers done.” No instruction at all. By the end of sixth grade, you couldn’t tell which kids had been in my class and which in hers.
mistercatworks over 2 years ago
There was a recent study showing children learned reading more easily when they practiced cursive writing (or joined together writing – UK). Apparently it more smoothly associates the letters and sounds with body movements as opposed to the staccato movements involved in printing.
BJIllistrated Premium Member over 2 years ago
Whether it’s a loss to future generations or not is irrevelant really. To me and my generation it’s a great loss. Over the millennia that has passed we’ve lost many forms of communication in writing.
Daeder over 2 years ago
“The kids were so excited that they were going to learn cursive until they realized it wasn’t just a special way of writing curse words.”