Cursive - Why?

[VictorianSqualor]

DD is in year 3/4 and recently they have started doing cursive writing.
She is dyspraxic so finds 'normal' writing tough as it is, the cursive seems to be even tougher.
So, DP thinks we should tell the school she's doing her 'normal' writing rather than cursive however I can't help but think there must be good reasons for them to learn cursive (one being I spell better when writing in cursive as it 'flows').

[wonderstuff]

writing is a kinaesthetic rather than visual skill, reading cursive writing is easier as well. However dyspraxcia throws a spanner in the works, can she type work most of the time and have some handwriting sessions? That is what would happen at my school, but I'm at secondary..

[Niecie]

DS1 is also dyspraxic but started cursive in Yr 1. He found it difficult to begin with (although normal writing is difficult to that isn't surprising) but it actually improved his handwriting a lot. He found it easier because of the flow maybe.

They don't seem bothered with it in the Juniors and his handwriting has reverted back to even more of a scrawl which is a shame.

[SoupDragon]

I hate the cursive writing they teach at DSs school. Come of the joins simply aren't natural.

[wonderstuff]

We use these

[Whizzz]

There is a lot of evidence suggesting that cursive writing helps the words and spellings flow much better, especially with dyslexic children - they are less likely to do letter reversals or use letters that simply don't go together in language. Because the words 'flow' better, the research says that children are less likely to make spelling errors .

[nell12]

Cursive writing, once children get the hang of it, is easier to write, quicker to write, easier to read and most importantly less stressful on the hand and wrist. It means you can write for longer periods and write more words before your hand and wrist gets tired.

Children's wirting development follows a pattern

huge, printed letters
tiny, printed letters (they equate tiny with neat )
beginnings of cursive
relatively neat cursive
a deterioration in style; at this point the child is thinking more about what they write, rather than how they write it (which IMO is a good thing)
tiny cursive writing (the teacher has reminded tham about neatness!)
Then a natural, personla style develops.

This is a long haul (imagine learning to play the guitar... your fingers do not know exactly what to do for years... writing is the same) Most children do not discover their natural style until they are in secondary school.

[Niecie]

Nell - that was very true for me - I discovered my own writing style in the 4th yr of secondary in a history lesson!

DS unfortunately went from beginning of cursive to deterioration missing out anything tiny on the way.

He doesn't find typing any easier either - poor bi-lateral integration. He is strictly a one-finger typist although I suppose it is legible.

[VictorianSqualor]

So it's probably better to carry on with cursive then?

Wonderstuff, she isn't receiving any extra help at school as yet, let alone being allowed to type.

[wonderstuff]

I would carry on with cursive and have a dicussion with the senco about extra help. I guess they took the time to diagnose the dyspraxia, makes sense to have some support in place.

[Niecie]

Definitely get some help from the Senco. DS was getting extra help before he even got a DX so they should be doing something.

It is quite expensive but www.amazon.co.uk/Write-Start-Programme-Perceptual-Handwriting/dp/1855032457/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=boo&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21 ks&qid=1227519112&sr=8-2this is pretty good. The schoo were going to use it with DS, had we not already had it at home and the OT had recommended it too.

[Niecie]

Sorry that wasn't the tidiest link ever.

[VictorianSqualor]

I've brought it up at school a few times and they just say she is 'being monitored' to see what they can do.
But TBH the SENCO is a twunt. The OT have said they are going to invite DD's teacher on a workshop and the teacher seems really interested in going so I'm hoping some good will come from that.

[Niecie]

It is good about the OT but I hope you don't have to wait as long as we do for appointments (usually a year apart).

Seems a bit daft not to do anything now though - even more of the same as she does in class with the other children would help. Repetition seems to be the key - at least it has been for most things for DS.