Michelle Garard, age 7, of Galveston, Texas, for her question:
WHEN WILL I LEARN CURSIVE WRITING?
In cursive writing, the letters join, or run together, instead of being separated as in manuscript. The letters are also slanted. Children should make the shift from manuscript to cursive writing only after they have gained a fair mastery of manuscript. The change usually occurs in the late second or third grade.
At any grade level, the shift from manuscript to cursive writing should be made gradually by the teacher. Children with varying abilities should be and are usually permitted considerable difference in the required time for the shift.
Learning cursive writing once consisted of practicing individual letters. Each child practiced until he could make an exact copy of the letter from the chart, manual or chalkboard. Today, however, the child begins writing reports soon after he has learned the letters.
As in manuscript writing, students learn the most about cursive writing by watching a teacher write well. They watch to see how the paper is slanted to give slant to the writing. They learn which letters are made differently in cursive writing than in manuscript. The students also learn how to make the joining strokes between the letters.
Teachers usually use one of several systems to teach handwriting. The systems use a combination of arm, wrist and finger movements. However, they vary in the formation of letters, the amount of practice required and the order of presenting letters.
Manuscript is the kind of handwriting most often learned by school children who are just beginning to write. It looks much like printing in a book.
A child usually finds manuscript writing easier than cursive writing. He has read his teacher's manuscript writing on the chalkboard and he reads in books printed with words that look much like manuscript words. As he learns manuscript, he also learns to read and to spell. By
The beginner should aim for clear, easy to read handwriting. At the same time, he should try to attain a fair degree of speed. But most teachers advise caution in trying to gain speed. Too much pressure to increase speed may hamper both clear writing and careful thinking.
Children sometimes learn some handwriting even before entering first grade. If this happens, his parents or teachers should make sure that he learns in the same way he will learn later in school.
A strong interest in writing is one of the most important signs of a child's readiness to learn handwriting. This interest often results from seeing adults and other children write at home and in school.
But interest is not enough. Eye, hand and arm control must be developed so that the child can manage paper and pencil. Coloring, drawing and many kinds of play help build control Puzzles, nesting toys, lacing frames and similar playthings can also help.