The Benefits of Teaching Cursive Writing
Recently there has been a lot of controversy over teaching cursive writing in the classroom. I have been an advocate of teaching cursive writing for many years. I always taught it to my students in every year that I was in the public schools. Approximately 14 states now require the schools to include it in their curriculum. A number of suburban schools now require that students learn how to write in cursive.
Although it is controversial, there are many benefits for teaching cursive. As a teacher I found that it helped my students to concentrate and to take pride in learning something new. It reinforced unity in the classroom because everyone was working together. Directed cursive writing requires all students to focus at the same time. Cursive writing instruction also increased parental involvement in helping the students to practice writing.
Concordia University located in Portland, Oregon on its website lists five main reasons for teaching cursive writing. These reasons included the following:
Cursive writing develops motor skills. It involves using the hand muscles in a different way from printing. It activates a different part of the brain than regular writing does. At the age of 7 or 8 these skills can be very beneficial in developing motor skill development.
It reinforces learning. By having to learn cursive students get another opportunity to fully comprehend the alphabet. It gives students a clearer understanding of how letters are formed, which will improve print writing as well.
Working with legal documents. Being comfortable with cursive writing will guarantee students will be confident when writing and signing legal documents. A cursive signature is most commonly required to endorse legal documentation, accompanied by a printed version of their name too. Writing and signing checks is another reason for learning cursive.
Cursive writing helps students with learning disabilities, especially dyslexia. Students can have a hard time writing in print because the letters look similar, especially b and d. Cursive letters look very different from print letters. This gives dyslexic students another option, an option that can make them feel more confident in their abilities.
Cursive writing is a lost art form. More and more school districts are cutting art from their budgets. This can have detrimental effects on the development of students. Cursive writing can be considered as an art form of its own. This helps to develop the side of the brain that is not developed by basic reading and writing skills. The more diverse a teaching curriculum is, the better.
It also connects students to the past. Many historical documents are written in cursive. Also, important letters and cards from grandparents and great-grandparents are written in cursive. Many of our seniors still write in cursive.
Although we live in a world of technology, it is important to keep a part of our history when it comes to cursive writing. This is another way to help students become excited about learning.
Reference: This information was retrieved from:
Education.cu-portland.edu/blog/curriculum-instruction/5 reasons-cursive-writing-should-be-taught-insc