These days, the vast majority of communication is done online or by phone. People are composing emails rather than letters and sending text messages instead of passing notes. That's one reason the Common Core State Standards has put such an emphasis on learning how to use computers at a young age. Beginning in third grade, according to the Standards, students should learn to use keyboarding skills to produce their writing. And in the following two grades, pupils are expected to type up full pages in a single sitting. But some say this emphasis on technology is leaving other basic skills behind – most notably, learning how to write in cursive. Read on for more about the Common Core and its relation to cursive handwriting:
The case for cursive
Beginning in kindergarten, students are expected to be able to compose their own texts using writing, drawing and dictating. However, nowhere in the State Standards, in kindergarten or otherwise, is it specified whether children should be writing using printed or cursive letters. For that reason, some school districts are replacing cursive lessons with lessons about other English/language arts subjects. But many teachers and school administrators fear the implications of not teaching cursive to young children. For one, historical documents like the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution are written in the looping letters, which means learning cursive has historical merit. Not only that, but teachers and parents are afraid that younger generations won't even be able to read letters, notes or cards from their grandparents or other older members of their families. Additionally, some say that handwriting can lead to better brain development at a younger age, and cursive in particular is important for children to learn to take notes quickly. Plus, cursive is the generally accepted handwriting for signatures.
On teaching cursive
Becoming technologically savvy at a young age is clearly an important part of elementary education – many versions of the State Standards test even have computer-based sections. According to NPR, the key to teaching children these days is not focusing solely on technology, but teaching both types of handwriting at a young age, then beginning to focus on technology in later years. This allows them to become multilingual. Plus, while the Common Core does not mention cursive specifically, states can use the 15 percent rule (which allows curricula to be made up of 85 percent Common Core and 15 percent local standards), to require cursive teaching in classrooms.
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