Is cursive dead? As our reliance on technology increases, do we need to teach children cursive? The state of California thinks we do! In 2010, cursive instruction was removed from California state standards, but in 2024, it has been added back to the curriculum. This change means school districts are legally required to provide cursive instruction to all California students between 1st and 6th grade.
The mandate for cursive instruction supports neuroscientific findings that writing in cursive activates specific neural pathways that facilitate and optimize overall learning and language development.
At NeuroAide, I never stopped teaching cursive! Since each student receives individualized instruction, not all students receive cursive instruction. However, if a student’s goals include handwriting, spatial awareness, or symbol orientation (letter reversals), their programming will likely include cursive instruction. This blog post will cover the benefits of cursive, address common concerns, and explain my approach to cursive instruction.
Benefits of Learning Cursive
Brain Development When we write in cursive, different neurological pathways are activated compared to writing in print or typing. Studies have indicated that the right hemisphere of the brain is more engaged when writing in cursive. Neuroscientists suggest this may be due to the spatial orientation (a function typically performed within the right hemisphere) required for cursive.
Fine Motor Skills Cursive handwriting can improve fine motor skills, including hand-muscle control, hand-eye coordination, and motor planning. For students with dysgraphia, improving these skills results in a wide range of benefits.
Writing Fluency When a writer becomes proficient in cursive, there is less barrier between thoughts and action. The flow of interconnected letters in cursive helps students get their words onto paper. One integral study from 1976 showed that cursive writing promotes a better understanding of whole words over separate letters.
Improved Printing Believe it or not, learning cursive improves print handwriting. Developing the neurological pathways required for cursive strengthens the paths needed for printing. I find teaching cursive to be more effective in improving a student’s printing than focusing instruction solely on print.
Reduces Letter Reversals Cursive links letters together in groups, making it less likely that letters will be reversed. For example, in print, letters like "b" and "d", "p" and "q", "w" and "m", and "n" and "u" are often reversed, but in cursive, they all start with different motions.
Is it worth the time though?
The benefits of cursive are clear, yet some may wonder if it’s worth the time and energy to learn in today’s technology-driven world.
Is cursive dead? Yes, cursive is less common in everyday life, but it remains a valuable skill. It can be a useful tool for note-taking, journaling, and creative expression. Cursive is more efficient, and many experts agree it will always be around.
Isn’t typing enough? No doubt about it, typing is an essential skill. Cursive writing complements the skills needed for typing by developing fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
My student has dysgraphia, won't teaching cursive be confusing? In alot of ways, cursive is actually easier for students with dysgraphia to learn. I have found that most students, even those who claim they "hate handwriting," enjoy learning cursive and notice their priniting has improved after learning cursive.
How I Teach Cursive for the Brain
While I agree with the decision to mandate cursive instruction, I worry about how cursive is being taught in school. Not all cursive instruction is equal. For students to reap all the positive benefits of learning cursive, instruction should consider the intention of the instruction.
Emphasis on rhythm
You are likely to hear music when I am working with a student on cursive. The rhythmic nature of cursive helps students develop consistent and efficient muscle memory for letter formations. This repetitive motion strengthens the neural pathways associated with hand-eye coordination. Bonus: rhythm makes learning cursive more enjoyable and engaging for the student.
Start with patterns
The first few weeks of cursive instruction, won't include any letter formations. Instead, we will start with repetative patterns to build writing fluency and practice feeling the flow of movement.
Verbalization
In my office, while students are learning cursive, they are verbalizing the strokes of the letter as they make them. For example, my first lesson begins with the letters i, t, and u; their foundational strokes are “swing, drop, turn.” Verbalizing the letter strokes reinforces their correct formations in the student’s brain, helps to establish the rhythm of the letter, and improves retention over time.
Start big!
When students begin each new letter formation, they work on the wall whiteboard or on large newsprint paper. The letters are written large, using gross motor movements from the shoulder. Incrementally, they move to smaller canvases and print sizes.
Letters are taught in groups
Cursive letters should not be taught individually or practiced in isolation. This completely disregards the intention of cursive as a flow of interconnected letters. Grouping letters with similar strokes in one lesson not only introduces the letter formations faster, but also helps students develop flow. Students begin writing whole words in cursive as soon as letter formations are introduced, which quickly boosts their confidence and motivates them to learn more!
In today's digital age, cursive writing might seem like a relic of the past. However, as the state of California's recent decision demonstrates, there is still value in teaching this skill. By developing fine motor skills, enhancing cognitive function, and improving writing expression, cursive offers a unique set of benefits that can complement other forms of learning.
If you're interested in learning more about how cursive instruction can benefit your child, please contact NeuroAide today to schedule a consultation. Let's work together to unlock your child's potential and help them succeed in school and beyond.
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