Would You Teach Your Child To Write In Cursive?

[LionRoar]

 

Right. The problem these days is students texting in class, or so I've heard.

 

David

 

Actually, it's amazing how quickly kids can type on an iPhone keyboard. What need is there to take notes with pen and paper if you can thumb the text as quickly on an iPhone?

[TSherbs]

 

Actually, it's amazing how quickly kids can type on an iPhone keyboard. What need is there to take notes with pen and paper if you can thumb the text as quickly on an iPhone?

I let students take pics of my whiteboard at the end of class sometimes...but notes, no. Phones can't be out in class (all sorts of problems with THAT).

[SuperNib44]

 

Actually, it's amazing how quickly kids can type on an iPhone keyboard. What need is there to take notes with pen and paper if you can thumb the text as quickly on an iPhone?

Texting is still not as quick as shorthand. Trust me, taking notes this way really makes you think, the brain has to be know what is going on, something you can't get with texting your notes, but I know what you mean- most kids won't learn shorthand. Texting does have its advantages. from wikipedia

Edited February 16, 2015 by SuperNib44

[SuperNib44]

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I am a high school student who writes only in cursive. I firmly believe that it helps ME to do better in school than I would if I was printing, I don't know if it would help others, but to me it is a very useful skill. In high school almost everything is still written by hand, at least in my semi-rural area. The only things that are typed are formal essays and an occasional presentation (maybe one or two a month), handwriting still rules the classroom. Many students have a very hard time focusing in class because they a. hate to write or b. are focused on an aching hand and wrist because of improper pen grip and awful writing techniques. Not having to worry about keeping my notes legible really helps me in class while writing essays and taking notes (especially when used with time saving shorthand (above)). Also, teachers have a good first impression of a student when they pick up a neatly penned paper, after a first day of class the teacher probably won't now the students' names but will only be left with the first assignment. Using cursive in particular is fast, pleasing to the eye, and legible.

I have had many experiences were other kids say they can't read cursive, when glancing at my paper. Now, I think I write fairly legibly (sample of my writing below), but many people won't attempt to read my writing because the presume they can't read it. I think cursive instruction is important, even if only to create a familiarity with cursive enough to read it. I understand that it does not fit many people's needs, but for a lot of students I think it would really help them in school. I think it does promote the learning process and is a good skill to have.

Edited February 16, 2015 by SuperNib44

[domnortheast]

 

[SuperNib44]

Thanks! Handwriting classes might be a good idea- but first the teachers would have to learn to write well. Only some of the older English teachers write in cursive. Shorthand is not as hard as it looks (to learn the basics at least). I am still in the beginning lessons, but it is already useful.

[TSherbs]

I am a high school student who writes only in cursive. I firmly believe that it helps ME to do better in school than I would if I was printing, I don't know if it would help others, but to me it is a very useful skill. In high school almost everything is still written by hand, at least in my semi-rural area. The only things that are typed are formal essays and an occasional presentation (maybe one or two a month), handwriting still rules the classroom. Many students have a very hard time focusing in class because they a. hate to write or b. are focused on an aching hand and wrist because of improper pen grip and awful writing techniques. Not having to worry about keeping my notes legible really helps me in class while writing essays and taking notes (especially when used with time saving shorthand (above)). Also, teachers have a good first impression of a student when they pick up a neatly penned paper, after a first day of class the teacher probably won't now the students' names but will only be left with the first assignment. Using cursive in particular is fast, pleasing to the eye, and legible.

I have had many experiences were other kids say they can't read cursive, when glancing at my paper. Now, I think I write fairly legibly (sample of my writing below), but many people won't attempt to read my writing because the presume they can't read it. I think cursive instruction is important, even if only to create a familiarity with cursive enough to read it. I understand that it does not fit many people's needs, but for a lot of students I think it would really help them in school. I think it does promote the learning process and is a good skill to have.ParkerQuestion.jpg

I am a high school English teacher. I am glad that you have found a method that works for you in your environment and academic situation. That is what every student should have the opportunity to do: find what works best for her or him. I had that opportunity in 7th grade when I was no longer forced to use only cursive. I immediately fell into a more natural (for me) and efficient and equally legible hybrid using both print and cursive lettering. My hand and arm and mind relaxed, and my writing became much easier to accomplish. I sense the same has worked for you, but through a different method. Awesome. Good luck with your studies.

[fumi]

I've noticed a decline in my handwriting skills over the last ten years or so - roughly the same time I bought a computer. It's a very worrying trend, in my opinion. This past year, I deliberately moved away from software when writing stories and so forth. I use pens, pencils and notebooks and tidy it all up later on more modern methods. It also lets me get a first draft on paper - which was how I once did it anyway.

[LionRoar]

I've noticed a decline in my handwriting skills over the last ten years or so - roughly the same time I bought a computer. It's a very worrying trend, in my opinion. This past year, I deliberately moved away from software when writing stories and so forth. I use pens, pencils and notebooks and tidy it all up later on more modern methods. It also lets me get a first draft on paper - which was how I once did it anyway.

 

I also hear that people are completely out of practice using slide rules ever since they invented scientific calculators.

 

It should be pointed out that we haven't lost the ability to write by hand, you are just complaining that we don't write as quickly or as neatly as people did in the past. Which is not really a problem if you can type.

[domnortheast]

 

 

Edited February 17, 2015 by Stanley Howler

[domnortheast]

 

I also hear that people are completely out of practice using slide rules ever since they invented scientific calculators.

 

It should be pointed out that we haven't lost the ability to write by hand, you are just complaining that we don't write as quickly or as neatly as people did in the past. Which is not really a problem if you can type.

 

Long division and log tables might as well go too.

Edited February 17, 2015 by Stanley Howler

[Kataphract]

I also hear that people are completely out of practice using slide rules ever since they invented scientific calculators.

It should be pointed out that we haven't lost the ability to write by hand, you are just complaining that we don't write as quickly or as neatly as people did in the past. Which is not really a problem if you can type.

Getting out my Pickett slide rule....

 

Well, I can still do basic arithmetic with it, gonna have to stumble about for the higher functions - but hey, I once knew how to do Calculus and I completely forget that, too.

[LionRoar]

Getting out my Pickett slide rule....

 

Well, I can still do basic arithmetic with it, gonna have to stumble about for the higher functions - but hey, I once knew how to do Calculus and I completely forget that, too.

 

Hey, I also completely forgot how to do Calculus! It's something that most people don't need to know at all, unless they are working in some technical field of engineering. Because there's an oversupply of engineers, most people with engineering degrees wind up working as computer programmers, a job which doesn't require any knowledge of calculus.

 

Like being able to read original handwritten historical documents, knowing calculus is something that most people are willing to leave up to engineers and not care about knowing themselves.

Edited February 17, 2015 by LionRoar

[TSherbs]

I've noticed a decline in my handwriting skills over the last ten years or so - roughly the same time I bought a computer. It's a very worrying trend, in my opinion. This past year, I deliberately moved away from software when writing stories and so forth. I use pens, pencils and notebooks and tidy it all up later on more modern methods. It also lets me get a first draft on paper - which was how I once did it anyway.

My handwriting is much better than when I was forced to write in cursive. But I have aged a good bit and have written a lot more since then and have fallen into my natural form of writing. We all get there eventually.

[TSherbs]

 

Long division and log tables might as well go too.

I use geometry and right triangle trig and algebra to perform basic carpentry and other household stuff, but log tables?....nope. That's hardly beginner stuff (analogy to teaching cursive in second grade).

[amberleadavis]

Well, while at the LA Pen Show, I picked up a book on teaching cursive. I will report back.

[domnortheast]

I use geometry and right triangle trig and algebra to perform basic carpentry and other household stuff, but log tables?....nope. That's hardly beginner stuff (analogy to teaching cursive in second grade).

I've never used them either, but I'm glad now that I was taught them, more because I think there is value in the process of learning to learn a thing; the thinking, the perseverance, determination...the blood sweat and tears of learning. I think the same with the undergraduate degree process, it is more about learning how to research and report and if the chosen subject happens to be interesting to the student as well then that is a bonus. What do you think?

 

Well, while at the LA Pen Show, I picked up a book on teaching cursive. I will report back.

I look forward to reading about it. Is it an old or new book / method?

Edited February 18, 2015 by Stanley Howler

[LionRoar]

I've never used them either, but I'm glad now that I was taught them, more because I think there is value in the process of learning to learn a thing; the thinking, the perseverance, determination...the blood sweat and tears of learning. I think the same with the undergraduate degree process, it is more about learning how to research and report and if the chosen subject happens to be interesting to the student as well then that is a bonus. What do you think?

 

I think there's nothing wrong with academically motivated students getting an undergraduate degree.

 

I'm opposed to mass teaching of cursive handwriting to all school children just because it was something that we taught in the 19th century and people are afraid of change.

[HollyGolightly]

I don't think anyone's main reason for thinking it might be an important thing is because they are scared of change or because it was taught in the 19th century. I've read a myriad of other things in this very same thread. And to clarify I mean people who've been posting about it here- not all the people in the world who have an opinion on the subject.

Edited February 18, 2015 by HollyGolightly

[amberleadavis]

I've never used them either, but I'm glad now that I was taught them, more because I think there is value in the process of learning to learn a thing; the thinking, the perseverance, determination...the blood sweat and tears of learning. I think the same with the undergraduate degree process, it is more about learning how to research and report and if the chosen subject happens to be interesting to the student as well then that is a bonus. What do you think?

 

I look forward to reading about it. Is it an old or new book / method?

 

I don't know....I was wandering around the pen show and this cute blonde (aka my daughter) suggested I buy it. It was much cheaper than the Nakaya she tried to encourage me to purchase (which was so far outside of my pen budget it was laughable).