Can your children write in cursive?

[Neesy228]

I realize cursive writing is a dying form of communication, but do your children know how to write in cursive? Were they taught any in school or did you teach them at home?

My two younger children (ages 9 and 12) know minimal cursive. They can read it, but writing it is pretty sketchy. Our school teaches the letters in 3rd grade for a very brief period of time, and then they don't use it again, so it's quickly forgotten.

I feel like they at least need to know how to sign their name, so I'm making them practice their signature. My DS just prints his name for his "signature" and tells me that no one cares. I'm starting to wonder if he's right!

 

[havaneselover]

My 7th grader can but my 5th grader can't. They don't really teach it in 3rd grade anymore but sent sheets home to practice. DD practiced, DS didn't. I worry about note taking in college. Maybe it's all being done on laptops???

 

[Mizzoufan]

Yes, luckily our school still teaches it. Even if they didn't learn it in school. I would teach them how to do it. I feel it's very important

 

[mnrose]

Mine can (15) but only because *I* taught them (using Handwriting Without Tears). It is NOT taught in the schools. Of course, hardly anyone writes anything anymore. They just type. However, they still write responses to FRQs in AP exams, and cursive is generally a much faster way to write an answer like that.

 

[pryncess527]

I do not have children, but I think if I did and our school system did not teach cursive, I would absolutely spend time on it at home. Even attending a school that taught cursive, I recall my mother spending quite a bit of time with me working on that skill at home, and as an adult that is something I am grateful for.

I think there are many solid reasons we should still value cursive -- http://time.com/2820780/five-reasons-kids-should-still-learn-cursive-writing/ (some of those are silly, but there is some research suggesting that cursive has various learning/brain benefits beyond the obvious)

 

[jrmasm]

DD 20 can read and write, DD 11 cannot read or write.

 

[pryncess527]

My 7th grader can but my 5th grader can't. They don't really teach it in 3rd grade anymore but sent sheets home to practice. DD practiced, DS didn't. I worry about note taking in college. Maybe it's all being done on laptops???

I know a few college professors who ban laptops in their classrooms. They are often more of a distraction than a benefit. I can't tell you how many times I've witnessed undergraduates on Facebook and other websites on their laptops ignoring the lecture, which can be quite distracting to students behind them.

Plus there is evidence that we remember things better when we physically write them instead of typing. I love all things technology, but when it comes to class I'm still a fan of pen and paper.

 

[sonnyjane]

I feel like they at least need to know how to sign their name, so I'm making them practice their signature. My DS just prints his name for his "signature" and tells me that no one cares. I'm starting to wonder if he's right!

If you mean for legal purposes, nobody does care. You can print your name as your signature. My formal signature for license, passport, financial documents, etc. is actually just my three initials scribbled on a page. No need for more than that.

 

[ZellyB]

None of mine can really write it although they got some instruction on it (17, 12 and 12). I've worked with them some on a signature, but that's about it. I was taught, of course, but have never really written in cursive. I just never practiced it enough to get proficient and always found I could print faster than write. That's probably why I haven't worried about it a great deal with my kids. It truly does seem that nobody particularly cares about it much any more. I've always envied people though who have really pretty and neat cursive writing.

 

[Adipoo]

My daughter only had one year cursive and she's almost 32. She can read it but forgets how to write much of it. She has to print in her field journals for work anyway and her signature is a scribble. I tell her stories about the nuns and how we learned penmanship back in the day. She is horrified by it, lol.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Both my children (19 and 15) can, but they both hate it.

So do I.

 

[Goofy_Disney_Dad]

None of my children can as it's no longer taught in our schools. Heck, I haven't used it in so long that I doubt I can still write in cursive either.

 

[clori]

My dd15 can read and write cursive but I doubt she actually writes in it often nor does she need to for school purposes. I would say without practice it will be much faster for her to print than write in cursive for note taking. My dd11 can read cursive only if she really focuses. She can't write that well in cursive though she can write her name. I don't think she officially learned all the capital and small letters nor has she had to use it in school outside of learning it in 3rd grade.

 

[PollyannaMom]

My DS can. They were taught in 3rd, required to use it in 4th, and after that, it didn't matter in school. He has practiced some at home since then, though, so as not to lose the skill.

 

[Jon84]

Teacher: So, you never learned cursive?
Bart: Well I know hell and damn and bi—
Teacher: Cursive handwriting. Script. Do you know multiplication tables? Long division?
Bart: I know of them.

 

[HM]

They are 20 and 22. They learned it but never use it, except for signing their names. I assume they'd be able to read it.


IMO, The two things that cursive should be learned for these days is to be able to sign something and to be able to read old letters and text (esp important for those that study anything old).

 

[BigAlsGal]

Cursive is just one of those dying fads. I learned cursive as a child and the only thing I use it for is my signature. Even when I take notes I print. I'm fine that they don't teach it. I'd much rather they focus on more important things. I'm 36.

 

[Vaughn4380]

Our local schools announced they will no longer be teaching it a few years ago. I plan to teach it to my kid as signing your name is important when you are older. Plus, a lot of historical documents are written in cursive so I think it is a good skill to have.

 

[sonnyjane]

Our local schools announced they will no longer be teaching it a few years ago. I plan to teach it to my kid as signing your name is important when you are older. Plus, a lot of historical documents are written in cursive so I think it is a good skill to have.

As I said earlier, if you FEEL that signing your name in cursive is nicer and more formal and want to teach them for those purposes, then have at it, but if you think that it is a requirement, it is absolutely not. Nobody in my circle of friends signs in cursive. We all just scribble our initials. All you need is a unique signature, it does NOT have to be in cursive.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Cursive is just one of those dying fads. I learned cursive as a child and the only thing I use it for is my signature. Even when I take notes I print.

I developed this weird mish-mash of print and cursive. Basically I print capital letters and script the rest. I mean... have you seen some of those capital letters? I still get confused between S & G!