Have you ever received a letter from your grandma with beautiful but hard-to-read handwriting? That’s because your grandma has some impressive skills!
Hi everyone, Lacy Green here for DNews. Many of us learned cursive in school, and to be honest, I didn’t enjoy it much. It took a lot of effort to master those loopy letters, and my teacher promised it would help me write faster. But now, years later, I find I rarely use it. After fifth grade, I mostly stopped using cursive, and now I type most of my writing.
Recently, more people are questioning if we still need to learn cursive. In the U.S., cursive was removed from the required curriculum under the Common Core standards, leaving each state to decide if they want to teach it. Some people think we should stop teaching cursive because it seems outdated. Others believe it’s an art form worth keeping, and some even mention scientific reasons for its importance.
Research suggests that writing by hand, including cursive, can help the brain work better. This process, called functional specialization, involves using visual information, touch, and fine motor skills, which can boost brain activity and memory. However, it’s not clear if these benefits are specific to cursive or handwriting in general.
Studies show that handwriting is important. One study from the University of Washington found that fourth graders who wrote by hand instead of typing wrote longer essays, wrote more quickly, and had better grammar. Another study showed that handwriting helps with memory and language skills. Writing by hand engages the brain, making you pay more attention, while typing can sometimes make you feel disconnected from what you’re writing.
When I was in college, I realized that taking notes by hand helped me learn better, so I switched to using spiral notebooks.
The main point is that we shouldn’t argue about whether kids should learn to write at all. But when it comes to cursive, opinions are divided.
What do you think? Are you on Team Handwriting or Team Typing? Let me know in the comments below, and don’t forget to subscribe for more DNews updates every day. Bye for now!
Try writing a short paragraph in cursive about your favorite hobby. Focus on making your letters neat and connected. Share your paragraph with a classmate and see if they can read it easily. This will help you practice your cursive skills and appreciate the art form.
Conduct an experiment by writing a short essay by hand and then typing the same essay. Compare the time it took, the length, and the quality of your writing. Discuss with your classmates which method you found more effective and why.
Write down a list of 10 vocabulary words and their definitions by hand. Study the list for 10 minutes, then try to write down as many words and definitions as you remember without looking. Reflect on how handwriting might have helped you remember the information.
Join a class debate on whether cursive writing should be taught in schools. Prepare arguments for both sides, considering the benefits of handwriting and the practicality of typing. This will help you develop critical thinking and public speaking skills.
Create a piece of art using cursive writing. Choose a meaningful quote or poem and write it in cursive on a piece of paper. Decorate it with drawings or colors to make it visually appealing. This activity combines creativity with the practice of cursive writing.
Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Have you ever received those sweet notes from Grandma with her beautiful, scribbly writing that you can’t quite read? That’s because your grandma has some impressive skills!
Hey everyone, Lacy Green here for DNews. Most of you probably had to learn cursive in grade school, and I’ll be honest, I didn’t enjoy it. A lot of effort went into mastering that loopy style, and my fourth-grade teacher insisted it would help me write faster. Fast forward 15 years, and I find that it hasn’t really benefited me at all. After about fifth grade, I stopped using it, and most of my writing has been replaced by typing.
Recently, more educators and Millennials are questioning the necessity of cursive. Cursive was removed from the requirements list under the Common Core standards in the U.S., so now each state is deciding whether to continue teaching it. Many people support dropping cursive, viewing it as an outdated skill that doesn’t serve much purpose in today’s society. However, others defend it, arguing that it’s an art form that should be preserved. Some even cite scientific reasons for its importance.
Research suggests that cursive writing can help with something called functional specialization, which allows the brain to operate more efficiently. This process involves integrating visual information, tactile feedback, and fine motor skills, stimulating the brain’s synapses and enhancing working memory. However, I couldn’t find studies that specifically attribute these benefits to cursive writing alone, as opposed to handwriting in general.
The science on handwriting is clear: it should be maintained. One study from the University of Washington found that fourth graders who wrote with a pen instead of typing produced longer essays, wrote more in less time, and had better grammar. Another study indicated that handwriting is beneficial for memory retention and language processing. The physical act of writing engages the cerebral cortex, ensuring that you pay attention, whereas typing can lead to a disconnect from what you’re writing.
During my college years, I quickly realized this with note-taking and switched to spiral notebooks.
So, the takeaway is that we should probably avoid debating whether we should teach kids how to write at all. But when it comes to specific styles like cursive, the jury is still out.
Where do you stand? Are you on Team Handwriting or Team Typing? Let me know in the comments below, and don’t forget to subscribe for more DNews updates every day. Bye for now!
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This version removes informal language, filler phrases, and maintains a more polished tone while preserving the original message.
Cursive – A style of writing where the letters are connected in a flowing manner – In English class, we practiced writing in cursive to improve our handwriting.
Handwriting – The act or skill of writing done with the hand, using a pen or pencil – The teacher complimented Sarah on her neat handwriting during the science exam.
Brain – The organ in the head that controls thought, memory, and emotion – In science class, we learned how the brain processes information and helps us learn new things.
Skills – The ability to do something well, usually gained through training or experience – Developing good study skills is important for success in both science and English subjects.
Memory – The ability to store and recall information and experiences – Scientists study how memory works to understand how we learn and retain new information.
Language – A system of communication used by a particular community or country – Learning a new language can enhance your understanding of different cultures and improve cognitive skills.
Research – The systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources to establish facts and reach new conclusions – For our science project, we conducted research on renewable energy sources.
Typing – The act of writing or inputting text by pressing keys on a keyboard – Typing skills are essential for writing essays and reports efficiently in school.
Debate – A formal discussion on a particular topic where opposing arguments are presented – In English class, we had a debate on whether technology is beneficial for education.
Education – The process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, especially at a school or university – Education in science helps students understand the world around them and make informed decisions.
