Spotlight on Cursive
Cursive will be taught this year and is also being taught in all the Catholic schools in Minnesota. Students need to be able to read cursive and be able to personalize their own signature. Psychology Today explains some great benefits as why children need to be taught cursive:
“The benefits to brain development are similar to what you get when learning to play a musical instrument. Brain imaging studies show that cursive activates areas of the brain that do not participate in keyboarding. There is a spill-over benefit for thinking skills used in reading and writing.
“Cursive increases brain activity by elevating areas of the brain because the movement tasks are more demanding. In handwriting, the brain has to locate each stroke relative to other strokes; learn and remember appropriate size, slant of global form, and feature detail characteristics of each letter; and develop categorization skills. Cursive writing is even more beneficial because the tasks for each step are more demanding.” One really has to learn patience, pay attention and think how to form and connect letters. You have to practice AND fix your mistakes. I am constantly walking around coaching and pointing out in places where each student can improve in their letter formations.
“Cursive improves fine motor skills, is faster, and is more likely to engage students by providing a better sense of personal style and ownership.” Many students wind up having better cursive handwriting than printing. Cursive writing also acts as a grounding and sensory integration exercise for those with behavioral and sensory disorders. It can even help train self-control.”
“Cursive also helps students retain more information and generate more ideas. Scientists have even found that students score better on reading and spelling tests.” Kate Steinnetz
After the students have been working on cursive for several months, I find the students paying more attention to small details in math, reading, and writing. They even become better at discovering their own mistakes in these areas. They take more time and pride in completing their assignments as well. It is so delightful and satisfying to see their growth in all areas of the curriculum.
Cursive will be taught this year and is also being taught in all the Catholic schools in Minnesota. Students need to be able to read cursive and be able to personalize their own signature. Psychology Today explains some great benefits as why children need to be taught cursive:
“The benefits to brain development are similar to what you get when learning to play a musical instrument. Brain imaging studies show that cursive activates areas of the brain that do not participate in keyboarding. There is a spill-over benefit for thinking skills used in reading and writing.
“Cursive increases brain activity by elevating areas of the brain because the movement tasks are more demanding. In handwriting, the brain has to locate each stroke relative to other strokes; learn and remember appropriate size, slant of global form, and feature detail characteristics of each letter; and develop categorization skills. Cursive writing is even more beneficial because the tasks for each step are more demanding.” One really has to learn patience, pay attention and think how to form and connect letters. You have to practice AND fix your mistakes. I am constantly walking around coaching and pointing out in places where each student can improve in their letter formations.
“Cursive improves fine motor skills, is faster, and is more likely to engage students by providing a better sense of personal style and ownership.” Many students wind up having better cursive handwriting than printing. Cursive writing also acts as a grounding and sensory integration exercise for those with behavioral and sensory disorders. It can even help train self-control.”
“Cursive also helps students retain more information and generate more ideas. Scientists have even found that students score better on reading and spelling tests.” Kate Steinnetz
After the students have been working on cursive for several months, I find the students paying more attention to small details in math, reading, and writing. They even become better at discovering their own mistakes in these areas. They take more time and pride in completing their assignments as well. It is so delightful and satisfying to see their growth in all areas of the curriculum.