to think that teaching joined up writing to 5 years is counter-productive?

[rhetorician]

DD is 5, will be 6 in Jan, and in her second year at primary school. We live in Ireland, so the curriculum is very different - they do two years of (I guess) reception type work, junior and senior infants. So phonics, letter formation, sets, number patterns etc alongside all the other social/PE etc. DD is at a very good school and had a superb teacher last year, and made very good progress (she isn't the keenest of learners). Anyhow, a new Principal arrived january last and decided that all Junior Infants were to learn cursive writing (previously they had done this in first class, so around 7-8). Now, there's a few kids in each of the SI classes for whom this seems fine, but for the vast majority it seems like a complete waste of time. Instead of learning how to express themselves (spelling phonetically etc), all they are really doing is making patterns, tracing letters over and over, copying out words. DD finds it boring, pointless and difficult (and she is not alone in this) and it's totally put her off any kind of writing. I know there is research that suggests that cursive writing is good for the brain, but surely not when most them actually cannot write. DD is even reluctant to write her name now (it is a long name, tricky to write joined up). The teachers, whilst they are tactful, also clearly have serious reservations about this policy. AIBU?

My school uses cursive from nursery. Much more sensible than starting with printing then changing style later.

echt I don't at all think that cursive writing should not be taught; not least because it is a far more efficient way of recording thought than printing, or even typing, unless you are very skilled (and most students are not taught to touch type). I teach in university and most of my students cannot read cursive script either (admittedly it is mine and it is tricky; but more students could read it 10 years ago). My question is really more about at what stage it should be taught, and from responses on here it seems that children who find writing difficult anyway (for whatever reason) struggle with cursive. Interesting discussion - thanks for contributing!

part of the issue for DD and her fellow pupils is that they started with printing in the first term and then switched to cursive after Christmas when new principal arrived

I teach/ reteach cursive as part of intervention work with struggling writers. Difficult initially, yes, but it really helps embed spelling and improves flow of composition.

Cursive writers in exams can produce up to 20% more volume of written work

Not read all so sorry if repeating but our teacher explained to us that it stops the initial problems of writing letters backwards, out of shape etc as joining letters dictates that they are formed in a particular way which is kind of true in my experience. An 'a' or 'e' wouldn't join as easily if written backwards for example. Even in year one, dd would write the odd letter the wrong way wrong. All that stops once they start to join the letters.

When I started school at 7 (in Scandinavia), we did block/capital letters for two years, then cursive from 9 yo. Works for everyone.

DS has just started school and finds it hard to write letters of any kind -cursive would only put him off more. Imo, it can wait until he gets into grips with simpler shapes word formation and the sheer novelty of writing.

I have two dc, the eldest was taught to print then in Y2 they were switched to joined up writing - although it was taught as a new skill that was building on the old one, rather than 'what we taught you before was wrong, now you need to do this' which lots of people on this thread seem to have encountered which is a real shame as I can see how the dc may well then think why bother. Anyhow, ds1 coped, and now in 5 has very nice neat handwriting.

ds2 is currently in y2 and has been taught cursive handwriting from the start due to a change in the school's policy since ds1 was there. He has struggled hugely with it and in Y2 is still struggling, despite trying desperately hard. He's nowhere near fluent - he still gets letters the wrong way around, and some of the ways that he forms some of his letters means that they are almost illegible or easily confused with other letters (an 'l' looks like an 'e' for example, or a 'g' and an 'f'). There are some letters that he just can't manage and resorts to doing a print-style letter (which he has worked out himself, having never been taught to print) and then putting the flicks on it afterwards. This means his writing is even slower than printing as he stops to work out where the flicks go...

The thing that bugs me the most about it all though is that in order to support the use of cursive writing in school, they now use a cursive font for all printed labels, notes and so on that children read throughout the school (the only exceptions are for titles of things on displays when they are sometimes done in bigger 'bubble' type writing to make them stand out more.

The problem with this is that the wretched font is almost illegible and unreadable to me as an adult, so god knows how the dc manage to read it. It really slows my reading speed down, it's horrible to read and looks dreadful - if it was on something I was evaluating at work it would be sent straight back to be changed for something much easier to read. I do find it bonkers that a font that fails at the first hurdle when it comes to usability and accessibility is being plastered everywhere for children that are new readers and thus going to struggle even more than adults at identifying the letters...

DD1 still wrote some letters backwards and in year 2 now she still can't read her own writing. That's why I don't like it. The poor beggars are learning to read, learning to write, and in some cases can't put the two together. She'll write me a beautiful story and the next day can't tell you what it says.

The thing that bugs me the most about it all though is that in order to support the use of cursive writing in school, they now use a cursive font for all printed labels, notes and so on that children read throughout the school*

^ this x a million

I'm going to talk to the teacher about it as really bothers me.

I am in the process of ds learning cursive straight away - in reception year. I'm not sure how it will pan out, but whatever happens I do believe strongly he needs to be able to handwritten speedily & clearly as well as read others hand writing.

In the course of my job, there are a few studies popping up about the issues of typing and taking notes as a way of retaining information - its not a effective as writing notes. So I wouldn't count handwriting as an archaic 'dead' skill yet...

Thing is joined writing will help letter formation...I don't see how you can join for example, an e if it is the wrong way round. Some letters simply don't join if backwards. Out school start it in year one and warn people that neatness etc will be lost. I'm 39 and remember being taught it in infants too. As far as I'm aware it's nothing new and always been introduced around here mid year one.

I don't agree with it in printed letter, notice form as it simple doesn't look good when printed.