Teaching Cursive Writing

Teaching cursive is fun, easy, and has great pay-off. Cursive can be especially supportive to those that struggle with forming print, reversing letters, eye-tracking, or reading. Here are some benefits:

1. Cognitive Benefits
Writing in cursive has been shown to engage more parts of the brain than print writing. It can improve memory and learning by encouraging fine motor control, hand-eye coordination, and more complex neural connections. Studies suggest that cursive writing activates both the left and right hemispheres of the brain, aiding in processing and retaining information.

2. Speed and Fluidity
Cursive allows for faster writing because letters are connected, meaning less pen lifting between characters. This can be particularly useful when speed is necessary, such as note-taking in class or during meetings.

3. Improved Motor Skills
Writing in cursive requires more fine motor control than printing, helping to improve dexterity, hand strength, and overall coordination. This can also aid in other tasks that require precise hand movements, like drawing or playing an instrument.

4. Personal Expression and Identity
Just like a signature, cursive writing is unique to each individual. It allows for a more personal form of writing that reflects one's own style and identity. This is especially important in legal or formal settings, where a signature in cursive is often required to authenticate a document.

5. Focus and Mindfulness
Writing in cursive tends to be more deliberate, helping individuals focus more on the process of writing. The flow and rhythm of cursive can also promote mindfulness, offering a calming, meditative activity for people of all ages.

6. Supports Neurodivergent Brains
For children with dysgraphia or dyslexia, cursive writing can support more ease in writing. Not lifting their pencils and starting a new letter each time allows for ease in forming the letters and speed in writing.
 
7. Writing as Art
Cursive can be seen as an artistic skill. People often appreciate the beauty and elegance of well-executed cursive writing. For some, it becomes a form of creative expression where the loops, slants, and flourishes add a personal touch to everyday communication.

Not convinced it’s worth it? Check out these articles that explain some of the benefits of teaching cursive.

Literacy Benefits: Scholastic.com
Biological and Psychological Benefits: PsychologyToday.com

Daily Wonder recommends teaching cursive as soon as grade two, when your child knows all the letters, knows their sounds, and is beginning to understand the rules for encoding (spelling). We recommend that the archetypal forms are brought in order of difficulty rather than letter by letter. Below is a step-by-step guide to bringing the forms that are the basis for the letters. Remember, any new skill needs daily practice to become a capacity. We recommend that once you have brought all the forms/letters that cursive then becomes your expectation for all written work. It can take a whole year to become a natural at cursive but just think of all the brain pathways you will create and strengthen in your child, what a gift!

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