Can your children write in cursive?

[The Mystery Machine]

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!

Yep, printing your name for a sig. is acceptable.

They stop teaching it when my dd was in elementary school and she is a freshman in college now. I think she got a yr or so of cursive. She can read it because I write in cursive sometimes. Mostly I print or type.

 

[shoney]

My kids are 14 and almost 16 (9th and 11th grade) and they can sign their names but that's about it. They can't read it very well either. I prefer cursive and will write in print if leaving them a detailed note.

They were taught how to write each letter when they were young. They were never taught to string them together to make words or expected to ever use it.

A few years later, the school district went back to teaching it more extensively. My kids missed it. They are happy about it!

 

[Vaughn4380]

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.

Interesting. I have never heard of this. I personally know of no one that writes their name in block letters for important documents. In fact, I have a stack of resumes in front of me right now and each one has a Cover Letter signed in cursive. I wonder if this is a regional thing? I am not sure a cover letter with block letters for the signature would come across as professional in the business world.

Something else to consider, according to this article: https://stateimpact.npr.org/florida...e-over-cursive-is-about-more-than-penmanship/

College bound kids may benefit from cursive writing as well:

Every October, high-school students across the country take the PSAT, or Practice SAT, a standardized test developed by College Board that provides high school students a chance to enter scholarship programs and gain access to college and career planning tools.

But, it wasn’t the algebraic equations that terrified the kids. It was the cursive.

Seriously.

As the kids filled in their identifying information, they came to a section that asked them to copy a pledge promising not to cheat – in cursive – and then to sign their names.

“Miss, what do they mean by ‘sign your name’?” one student asked.

“You know, the way that you write your name on important documents, like contracts or checks.”

Questioning stare.

“Like, in cursive?”

“Yes.”

 

[Vaughn4380]

Yep, printing your name for a sig. is acceptable.

Well I learned something new today. I still have not seen this "in the wild".

 

[sonnyjane]

Interesting. I have never heard of this. I personally know of no one that writes their name in block letters for important documents. In fact, I have a stack of resumes in front of me right now and each one has a Cover Letter signed in cursive. I wonder if this is a regional thing? I am not sure a cover letter with block letters for the signature would come across as professional in the business world.

It's not exactly printing block letters, we scribble something resembling our initials. Think doctor scratch that's how I sign all my documents, including cover letters, with my full name printed below.

 

[cjbcam]

My 5&7 graders have been practicing for the last couple years. As they've been practicing my grade 2 has learned to write it as well. They learned a little at school and asked for me to teach them it. So I did.

 

[MickeySP]

Since my kid is 30 - yes he can.

We are teaching my DGD to do cursive since it is not taught in school. So a little Mema bribery working wonder.

 

[3Gsandme]

Sophomore and third grader both can.
Kindergartener is just learning how to print.

Sophomore tends to write in a hybrid, like I do. Third grader only writes cursive when she wants to be fancy.

 

[Kogo Shuko]

I remember when growing up that learning cursive was important - we studied it in grade three. At the end of the year, if you were proficient at writing in cursive, the teacher gave you a "Writing Licence", which meant we could now use a pen in class.

But I look at my BF's son, who is just going into grade three this fall and his ability to print is still atrocious. And from what I understand, he's not behind on it. His entire class is still printing letters like they're still in grade one. So I guess that's the norm up here.

Speaking with teacher friends, they no longer are required to teach cursive.

For what it's worth, I'm not against removing it from the curriculum. I never write in cursive, unless to sign something, and the entire highlight of the process was getting that silly Writing Licence (which I still have). It's being phased out because we no longer need it. It's not exactly necessary. We can read print much easier, anyway. I mean, any time my doctor writes me a prescription, I can't read it. So why even use cursive?

There are more important things children should be learning.

 

[kimblebee]

My daughter can, but she taught herself. It was not taught in school.

Myself, I prefer to handwrite something than to print. I think it looks nicer and it's also faster. I learned in grade two. I'm 39.

 

[Rhombus]

DD 20 learned cursive in the early elementary years. Penmanship was actually a graded requirement until about the 3rd grade. She can still write using cursive, but I'm pretty sure she mostly prints.

I still use cursive a lot. My handwriting is not the greatest, but it's entirely legible. I chuckle when some of these young-un's in my office come back to me because they can't understand what I've written.

 

[dashofsunshine]

I'm 27, so yes, I can read and write cursive. We learned it extensively in school. However, these days I don't use it often. My signature isn't entirely legible, and I have very neat print handwriting, so I generally use that. We used laptops in high school and college for some things, which were helpful (especially in college classes when the professor is spewing information at you at an impossible rate) - however, when I study something important I always copy notes from the computer onto a piece of paper by hand. The action of writing helps me retain information.

 

[aprilchem]

Yes, my DS9 learned it in 3rd grade but I've worked with all 3 of mine at home on it. Many college professors (including myself) write on the board in cursive because it is easier and quicker. Students who don't know it are at a disadvantage.

 

[Jaime4004]

Here they learn it in 3rd grade, and have to use it in 4th grade. By 5th they can do whatever they want, mine both printed for the most part. I do think it's useful to know. Some books have cursive in them (like a written note, for example.) My 2nd grader was reading a book (I think it was the Diary of a Wimpy kid series) and asked what a word was because it was in cursive.

 

[EMom]

DD15 taught herself when she was in first grade using a workbook her grandmother gave her. Said grandmother had been an elementary teacher in the 50s and 60s and was appalled that schools were no longer teaching cursive.

 

[wenrob]

Oldest DD (19) learned and I notice most things she writes in cursive. Her older cousin by two years was not taught. Same school district but across town from each other. It is up to the teacher and not required.

Last year in third grade younger DD was taught throughout the year while DS was only taught some letters towards the end of the year. Their spelling homework for this week (1st for the year) came home as a worksheet with the spelling words in cursive. DD's had the spelling list in print attached to hers while DS's did not. His worksheet had been done in class, his answers in print on the worksheet. I found myself wondering if he could read the cursive list or if the teacher had it on the board in print. I keep forgetting to ask him. I would think both teachers would provide both as teaching cursive was optional. (the school encourages it but the teachers decide how much they teach).

It makes no difference to me. I find I use any form of traditional writing less and less as time goes by. I print when I make notes but more and more I make my notes on my computer or phone. I will use cursive in Christmas or birthday cards and my signature but that's about it. I think as time goes by we'll see less and less of paper and pen.

 

[Micca]

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

So do I.

My DDs are all grown up and they can write cursive. But I'm with Flightless--I hate it, and am terrible at it. In fact, I can hardly even print with a pen any more. When I address a letter or try to write a note on a greeting card, it looks like a 2nd grader.

 

[morgan98]

I know cursive since it was taught when I was in school (I am 45). However, in all honestly, my once very nice handwriting gets worse and worse with each passing year, as I spend all my time in front of a computer and submit any documents that matter electronically. I find that when I need to sit and write a thank you note or something like that, I really need to concentrate to make it look good as it really does not feel natural.

I am a big note taker in meetings and I find I now do more a less combo of cursive and writing for my own personal use.

The "old school" side of me says too bad it is a dying thing, as in some ways I like the formality of it. But the other side of me thinks that there are better skills to spend time learning. I mean there is really no reason to learn how to use an abacus anymore, either.

 

[luvsJack]

DD is a senior. She CAN write in cursive if not given a choice but usually prints. They didn't teach it much so her handwriting isn't the best in the world. Note taking is done on her laptop. There are kids in the class that go on FB and other social media sites, their teachers tell them that is on them. They have the choice to learn or the choice to play. I am surprised that a college professor would police this.

 

[indimom]

My kids are sophomore and senior in high school.
Oldest can read and write it pretty well. She might get caught up with a cursive capital Q or Z, but she's pretty good at it.
Youngest can read it, and "sort of" write. His handwriting looks like your average 3rd graders, and he writes his letters large, and he's s.l.o.w....
My kids were taught in third grade, but never required to use it after that. Seems like a waste to teach it if they are not required to then use it. Clearly they aren't going to retain it well without practice.