As you have certainly heard, we have started cursive! I have to say that teaching cursive is one of my most favorite parts of third grade. They are SO excited to start it, are diligent and determined to do it well, and have an enormous amount of pride in their work. In the last 5 years many schools have cut out cursive to make room for technology and to focus on many other important skills. Now some of them are realizing what they have given up and are implementing it again. For me, the reasons to teach cursive are clear...
1. Motor Skills
Cursive requires a different set of skills, different from printing. The hand is used differently and therefore different muscles are used and exercised. Did you know that cursive also uses a different part of the brain than printing does?
2. Helps Students with Learning Differences
For students that struggle with dyslexia or students who just mix up letters, cursive can be very helpful in differentiating different letters. Many print letter look similar and feel similar to make. Cursive letters look and feel very different from each other- especially the confusing ones!
3. Connects Students to the Past
The Declaration of Independence. The Constitution of the United States. Letters from long ago. Family Histories, Primary Sources! All of these things were originally written in cursive. Can most of these be found somewhere, printed or typed up? Yes. However, the letters that my grandparents wrote back and forth when my grandpa was in WWII are not published on the internet. Especially as Catholics, we are a tradition- based people. We learn from our past and embrace the things we are taught from it. (Also, if a letter written by a passenger of the Titanic is re-typed online, it is not a primary source. Primary sources are important!!
4. Signatures
I don't even count this as a reason, but it is often brought up. We need to be able to sign our names. Checks, driver's licences, buying a house or a car, on a marriage certificate. Signatures are important!
I really could go on and on about the reasons why I will continue to teach cursive and why I think it is so important, and please ask if you have any questions. I know there are reasons against teaching cursive, too, but I see the benefit of it DAILY in my classroom!
1. Motor Skills
Cursive requires a different set of skills, different from printing. The hand is used differently and therefore different muscles are used and exercised. Did you know that cursive also uses a different part of the brain than printing does?
2. Helps Students with Learning Differences
For students that struggle with dyslexia or students who just mix up letters, cursive can be very helpful in differentiating different letters. Many print letter look similar and feel similar to make. Cursive letters look and feel very different from each other- especially the confusing ones!
3. Connects Students to the Past
The Declaration of Independence. The Constitution of the United States. Letters from long ago. Family Histories, Primary Sources! All of these things were originally written in cursive. Can most of these be found somewhere, printed or typed up? Yes. However, the letters that my grandparents wrote back and forth when my grandpa was in WWII are not published on the internet. Especially as Catholics, we are a tradition- based people. We learn from our past and embrace the things we are taught from it. (Also, if a letter written by a passenger of the Titanic is re-typed online, it is not a primary source. Primary sources are important!!
4. Signatures
I don't even count this as a reason, but it is often brought up. We need to be able to sign our names. Checks, driver's licences, buying a house or a car, on a marriage certificate. Signatures are important!
I really could go on and on about the reasons why I will continue to teach cursive and why I think it is so important, and please ask if you have any questions. I know there are reasons against teaching cursive, too, but I see the benefit of it DAILY in my classroom!