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Should schools teach cursive handwriting? Surprising benefits you might not expect

In a digital world, where we are mostly typing or sending audio messages, should schools teach cursive handwriting? We believe that yes, it is indeed relevant for schools to continue teaching cursive handwriting. If you want to know more about this type of handwriting and the reasons behind our answer, keep reading this article. You can also create your own cursive text using our amazing cursive font generator.

Stay with us, and we will show you in detail the following subjects:

  • What is cursive handwriting​?
  • Should schools teach cursive handwriting?
  • Writing in cursive​ using your tablet.
  • How can I improve cursive handwriting?
  • Do schools still teach cursive handwriting​?
  • Is cursive writing good for the brain?
  • And much more.

So, let’s pick up a notebook and some pens to start 𝔀𝓻𝓲𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓲𝓷 𝓬𝓾𝓻𝓼𝓲𝓿𝓮.

First things first, let us introduce the concept of writing in cursive. Cursive is a writing process where the characters appear joined in a flowing manner. This technique started in Rome from at least the 1st century AD, where Romans used a script with connected letters for informal writing. However, the modern cursive handwriting as we know it today originated in Italy during the Renaissance and gained popularity in Europe in the 16th century.

The term cursive is derived from the Latin word currere, and it means “to run”. The meaning reflects the process of writing using the cursive technique, where words are connected in a smooth and continuous flow. In the past, this process enabled writers to increase their speed and avoid lifting their quills from the paper too often, thereby preserving them. In the figure below, we present an example of a historical letter from Pero Vaz de Caminha to King Manuel I of Portugal, discussing the 1500 discovery of Brazil.

Letter from Pedro Vaz de Caminha to Don Manuel I table

Nowadays, with the advent of the digital world, handwriting has become less popular, especially among Generation Z, as fewer people are able to read texts written in cursive handwriting. There are some cases, such as in Finland, where schools are phasing out cursive handwriting in favor of typing and keyboard skills.

Then, we face the unavoidable debate of this article: Should schools teach cursive handwriting in the present day?

There are several scientific evidences pointing in favor of teaching cursive handwriting. Neuroscientists have reported that children and young adults can stimulate oscillatory neuronal activities associated with areas of the brain responsible for memory and encoding new information while engaging in activities such as handwriting or drawing. Such a stimulation is reduced in typewriting, since you just need to press sets of buttons which were previously memorized to produce a text.

Moreover, cursive handwriting is a valuable skill for reading historical documents, creating your own signature, and working with design. Who does not remember the famous Coke logo? The letters of the logo are written in a cursive handwriting script called Spencerian, which was popular in the US in the second half of the 19th century, as shown in the letter below. In this digital era, proposing new cursive handwriting scripts can be a valuable skill.

Letter written in Spencerian script table

There is also evidence that cursive handwriting can improve hand-eye coordination, enhance memory, and stimulate brain development of children with dyslexia. You will find more details about it in our article “Is Cursive Better for Dyslexia?”

For the points raised, several educators advocate for a hybrid approach, where students learn not only keyboard skills but also cursive writing.

You do not need to abandon the digital world to write your ideas. Today, we have tablets and apps that have made the writing process as natural as using a paper sheet and a pen. Another interesting feature of using a tablet to practice your cursive handwriting or save notes is that you don’t need to carry several notebooks with you; you can access your information anytime, anywhere.

Besides the tablet, you can also use digital generators to visualize your texts or notes in cursive, as Omni Calculator’s cursive font generator.

🙋 Are you looking for different ways to write text? Then, access our upside down text generator and mirror text generator.

You can improve writing in cursive by working on your muscle memory. This process is achieved through training and repeating your movements, as well as writing different words and phrases. You can also practice using lined paper and tracing worksheets, which makes it easier to write your words in a standard form. It is important to verify if all letters have the same angle, the same size, and the consistency of the space between the words and the shape of your letters.

The answer depends on the place where you live. In the US, several states include cursive handwriting in the curriculum of the public elementary schools. Other countries, such as Finland, have removed cursive handwriting from their curricula, focusing instead on typing skills. The requirement may also depend on whether you study in a public or a private school.

There is scientific evidence indicating that writing in cursive (and handwriting in general) is beneficial for the brain. This ability can stimulate neural connections and the memory areas of the brain. Therefore, it helps to learn the content you are writing by accessing old memories and encoding new information, thereby creating new memories. These areas of the brain can also be activated by drawing, but not by typing on a keyboard.

This article was written by João Rafael Lucio dos Santos and reviewed by Steven Wooding.