Can't write - Can't Read

An interesting thing many people don't know is that if you don't learn to write in cursive, you also are unable to read cursive writing. I only learned about this a few years ago when a Grandmother told me how her Granddaughter was unable to read what she wrote in her birthday card.  True enough, when I checked further many young people today are unable to read anything written in cursive.  Even many of the younger teachers today cannot read cursive writing.

Recently I read about countries in Europe who never adopted teaching printing at school. In Scotland in the early 1900's the teachers also quickly discovered that if children were not taught to write in cursive they would be unable to read anything written in cursive. In those days education was much less regulated and many students would leave formal schooling by the age of 11 or 12 years old to help their families financially.  Girls would often stay home to help their mothers care for the younger children in the family, or they might work for other households to help earn money for the family. Boys could start to learn skills helping their fathers or in factory jobs. It was important that the students get as much education as possible before that age. Reading, writing and basic arithmetic was taught beginning in grade one and most students had enough knowledge in these subjects to function in their day-today lives. Teachers believed that not being able to read and write in cursive meant the student was handicapped for the rest of  his/her life. Since schooling in those days was purely for the purpose of educating students, teachers knew what worked well and stuck with the tried and true methods.

It's also interesting to me that the reverse is not true. If a child is not taught to print, rather is taught cursive writing beginning in grade one, he/she is still able to read printed text in books as well as on signs and even hand printed information. For some reason the brain doesn't recognize connected cursive letters in the same way it does printed letters. 

So here we are 100 years later and the education leaders have a completely different attitude towards cursive - eliminate it from the education system altogether.

More children's activities:

Cut up a few different coloured drinking straws into different sized pieces.  Thread a large darning needle with thin yarn or kitchen string and make a large knot oat one end.  Have your child string the straw pieces onto the yarn and then make this into a necklace.

Search for 4-leaf clovers in the grass or make a pretty wildflower bouquet.  Older children can try to identify the names of the picked flowers.  

Make a whistle using long blades of grass held between the outer edges of both thumbs.  Blow on the grass blade to make a whistling sound.

Edda Manley

Fantastic News!!!

States are allowed to amend up to 15% of the document and the state of Georgia did just that. The Georgia Department of Education added cursive writing in the curriculum.

Cursive Writing Removed from School Curriculum

Iris Hatfield, Handwriting Coach

Author, New American Cursive

Penmanship Program

www.NewAmericanCursive.com

iris@huvista.com
502-253-1954

Short video presentation

Here's a video of the short presentation Sheila Lowe recently gave on the decline of cursive writing and what you can do to help http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lbwru-IEiA

Cursive is Faster

A year ago Katie Zezima wrote an article for the New York Times about the decline in handwriting. There were over 220 comments to that article. The most frequently stated reason for why people chose to write in cursive was that it was faster to produce. At the University of Western Ontario, Canada, Marvin Simmner PhD conducted a study that showed students who wrote in cursive indeed were faster writers than those who printed. 

When we look at printing it certainly looks like it would take less movement and energy to produce, so logically then it should be faster. The reason printing is not faster is because every letter requires you to lift the pen from the paper, sometimes more than once. Those pen lifts take time, and the short bits of time it takes for each pen lift add up. The visual I like to compare this to is if you have a stack of books at one end of the table and you want to move them to the other end of the table, you can either slide them over (similar to cursive) or lift them and carry them (similar to printing).

Even printing by young children is changing yet again. Teachers are accepting their individual ways of forming the letters. For example, a lower case "p" can be made like a candy cane starting with the hook part and going up and around to the left. Similarly, with the lower case "m & n," one or two humps is acceptable without the straight stroke first. As long as it's a reasonable facsimile of the letter, it is acceptable.

Now that children are on school vacation, parents are looking for activities to keep the little ones busy. I'll end with a few suggestions for activities that help develop both the fine and gross motor skills that are used for handwriting:

Give children an empty detergent bottle and a pail of water.  They can fill the bottle, twist on the top and then "paint" the driveway or sidewalk with water. This activity helps to build hand strength  and dexterity in the fingers.

If you have containers with various sized nails, screws, nuts and bolts children can keep busy sorting them by size and type and putting them in smaller containers or small plastic bags. Older children can also learn the names of the fasteners and what they are used for. This helps develop the fine motor skills.

Summertime is a great time to have Wheel Barrel Races in the grass. One child holds the legs of the other child who tries to get to a line a few feet ahead walking on their hands. This is great for strengthening the arms and wrists.

Edda Manley

Campaign for Cursive - You can help!

http://bit.ly/MPCJdd

Here's a link to some information about how you can help in the Campaign for Cursive:  http://bit.ly/MPCJdd Please join in and let us know how many letters you sent and to whom you sent them. Send at least 5 letters and ask at least 5 people to do the same. We can crank up the volume loud enough to be heard! If after reading the PDF in the link you need any help with your letters or finding your local legislators, send an email to ahaf@ahafhandwriting.org

Letter Writing Campaign

Penmanship training needs to be brought back to schools for the reasons outlined in the posts on this blog. We are preparing some letter templates for you to use to write to your legislators. The specific movements taught in penmanship exercises help children to develop better impulse control and combat the bombardment of the right brain from video games and TV. 
Check back soon, or contact ahaf@ahafhandwriting.org for copies of the templates now.

Cursive-the Phenomenon of Writing

50th Anniversary of the American Association of Handwriting Analysts - Special Event!
Join us at our special conference event to learn how cursive is phenomenal. It is the most complex of all movements since it involves both sides of the brain, nerve impulses, motor muscles, reflexes, eyesight, and memory. Every move of the pen holds characteristic dynamics of inner impulses which make them as unique and distinctive as a fingerprint. As a phenomenal brain exercise, cursive stimulates learning. Our mission is for required teaching of cursive in the U.S. Education program.
A pre-convention workshop will be held on July 18, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Introduction to Handwriting Analysis: A Primer" by Edda Manley for $45. Fifteen other speakers have spectacular presentations planned.
Contact Karen Whittemore at 248-477-3630 or karen.whittemore@yahoo.com. for reservations or further information.

“Write” of Passage”

Thanks to Mrs. Sharon Caines, a dedicated 6th grade teacher, who wrote this article and allowed us to print it.

What is Cursive Writing?  It is an interlocking, twisting, turning, intricate dance that is done with pen on paper to create a fluid and continuous flow of the written word that artfully glides across one’s page. After witnessing over 25 years of the deterioration of the handwriting skill fall into an abyss of virtually non-writers, I became determined to take action about the lack of writing skills.  My Principal initiated the idea and we developed it together.  It was rejuvenating to know that my Principal was in total agreement with me.  We both shared a common vision.  Our goal was to revive the skill and beauty of penmanship.

Cursive writing unlocks the mystery of literature.  Even the constitution that once was elusive like a foreign language became comprehensible to students.  Cursive writing encourages concentration and ultimately produces an independent and legible written product.

I have found that males are better users of the script form, because they feel it resembles the fluid movement of graffiti.  Males tend to write better in script than print format.  The females as well are better in script format.  The script format is beautiful and appealing - almost artful and intricate in production.  Printing however interrupts the smooth and natural flow of thought.  The Print Style fractures thinking patterns that produce choppy, illegible (lump) group of words together.  It is poor in appearance of a written piece of work.

How can we be a part of the Global Community if our students cannot write their signature in script form, apply for a job application, or a driver’s license?  The other side is that printing, which is taught first in school, is in no better shape than the script form.  Students do not have sufficient time to master the skill of writing.

Why is it when documents require a signature, our children “print” their names?  From filling out applications for summer employment, to healthcare documents, and W2 forms, students struggle with writing their names in script.  Will society reverse to the time of placing an “X” where a person’s legal script is required on a document?

Economic Recession conditions today have thrust us into a situation whereby going back to basics is more reliable and cost effective.  The constant maintenance of computers is a price outside most families’ basic needs.  Costly computer and printer maintenance do take a toll on the family financial means.  Ironically, however the State Standardize Exams given in public schools require students to take independent notes from a given Read Aloud passage.  The Basic Test Skills (BICS) screams for us to step back, reflect, and regroup on the need to teach writing as a skill in the classroom.

We reinvented the wheel so many times that we forgot to screw it on with the bolt.  Even with the emergence of hand held computers –Ipad, Tablet etc not everyone (especially the school system) can afford to purchase these items.  The act of simply jotting down a grocery list, a phone number has become so complicated and difficult for our students.

The rewards to knowing and mastering the Writing Skills are overwhelming.  Students that have learned Script marvel at their accomplishments and exhibit a sense of confidence, fulfillment and independence.  This positive achievement spills over into other core subject areas.  The students become critical linear thinkers.

We cannot afford to lose cursive writing skills to the computer or any new technology.  The freedom of writing thoughts on parchment is an act and ability which will outlive any new digital device which can be erased and lost through one push of a button or a power surge of electricity---ZAP!!!...AND NO HARD COPY!!

 “YOU DON’T HAVE TO CHARGE A PEN IN ORDER TO WRITE”

 Submitted: Sharon C. Caines

                  Organizational Skills/Penmanship Teacher

                  Thomas C. Giordano School-M.S. 45

                   Bronx, New York

               

Why kids still need to learn handwriting

Excellent short video about the importance of handwriting: http://bit.ly/HvXd7g