Why is cursive writing so important?

[Soubriquet]

My dc get their homework marked down if it isn’t in cursive (year 2 and 4).

I hate it. I can’t read what they are trying to say and I don’t know anyone who still uses cursive after primary school.

So why is cursive so important for children to learn?

It isn’t. Writing needs to be functional and legible IMO but for some reasons more emphasis than necessary is placed on it 🤷‍♀️ fine if it’s not an issue for a child but unnecessary pressure for those who struggle

Speed, and highlights if the children can form letters correctly

I think it's a good discipline but of course not great for all kids.

Of my two children one did non cursive. One cursive.

The younger one who did cursive has massively better hand writing than their sibling !

I think the cursive handwriting my children are being taught is ugly. The children have their work on the wall and none of them have nice handwriting.

Much faster. In exams with a lengthy written component, a child has a much higher chance of meeting the assessment criteria if they can write quickly.

It is often illegible as children begin to join but do not worry - teachers can decipher most children's handwriting!

My eldest wasn’t taught it originally, then school introduced it. Her handwriting went massively downhill and hasn’t really recovered in secondary.

I think teaching how to join letters is good, but insisting that every letter must be joined is ridiculous (and don’t get me started on adding stupid flourishes at the start of a letter).

Kids should be left to develop their own style once they understand the principles (eg I join some letters but not all, I don’t join most of the ones that make DD’s writing harder to read).

It helps with spelling as you develop a muscle memory of the words

Because the SATS insist on it in ks1, optional by ks2 though. Personally I would insist on them not sitting the Sats and teach them to write however they want to.

Because someone in the DFE decided that it was important.

It isn't optional in KS2. There is still a requirement to join to pass the KS2 SATS at expected.

What's cursive writing? Is this something all schools do?

You don’t know anyone who writes cursive? So everyone you know prints?

@Divebar2021

You don’t know anyone who writes cursive? So everyone you know prints?

Yes. I don’t know anyone who still cursive writes

Both dc have lovely handwriting when it’s printed. When it’s cursive, ds’s look like one long scribble. DD’s is slightly more legible but she’s also left handed so her hand writing needs improving.

It’s the one comment I get every single parents evening. “They need to work on their hand writing”

@sadandcrazy

What's cursive writing? Is this something all schools do?

It’s also called joined up writing if that helps?

Once at Secondary School, cursive writing isn't mentioned, so personally I think it's a silly idea for so much emphasis to be put on it at Primary.

Yeah I think it's crap, it takes an effort to do it. Why bother, particularly as it makes it harder to read.

@Perfect28

Because the SATS insist on it in ks1, optional by ks2 though. Personally I would insist on them not sitting the Sats and teach them to write however they want to.

Not sure what you mean by optional in KS2. Obviously it is not required for SATs test papers, because they don't assess writing, but to meet the criteria for working at expected standard in writing assessment, a child must be able to write legibly in joined up handwriting (allowing some discretion for e.g. disability).

Example of cursive

I'm so glad I was taught cursive. It makes note-taking so much easier in university (laptops and tablets not allowed in lectures because they're distracting).

Because the government made it a thing unfortunately. It can help with fluency and even spelling, but much like phonics, it’s been done to death!

My dyslexic son is being made to do this at the minute. His normal handwriting is poor and now cursive thrown into the mix. The teacher won't let him stop doing it. So stupid when it makes any of his writing illegible

I learned cursive writing at school and think it's a lovely skill to have.

With practice, joint up writing is faster and I think it's beautiful.

It's not a new thing. I learnt joined up writing in the 80s.

I rarely ever print letters. The only letter I don't join up is 'b'...dunno why.

As a general rule, cursive in adults is nicer than printing. DH prints and Im tempted to remove his pen licence.

OP - you don't know anyone who uses cursive? You know that cursive is essentially 'joined up writing'??? You want your children to print everything their entire lives? Can't you write in joined up writing?