In handwriting, there are different types: cursive and block are the most common ones. But when children start school, which one do they need to learn?
Grade 1, private
As mentioned in other stories, I started my grade 1 in a private class (it was only ONE class, for grade 1) because I was just too young for the public system. I learned to write in cursive immediately. Was it harder than learning block letters? I don't know but to me, writing was like drawing.
Grade 2, public
As I finished my grade 1 in that private class, I moved to the public school for my second grade. That is when I was shocked to notice that all the other kids used different letters than I did. They had learned to write using block letters. I remember asking the teacher for permission to continue using cursive writing, at least until I could learn the block lettering like all the other kids. She agreed. I think it took me a couple of months to feel comfortable enough with the block writing to start using it constantly.
Grade 3, surprise
By the time, I got to grade 3, I was already as comfortable using block letters as all the other students who started to use it in grade 1. But at that time, everyone got a surprise: grade 3 was the grade where they would teach use how to write... in cursive! Although I struggled a bit in grade 2 because I was not familiar with the handwriting they used, this time, it ended up being very easy for me, while the others struggled with these new habits.
Did you know that in some places, they are considering NOT teaching cursive anymore? What type of handwriting did you learn when you were a kid? Are you still using that style or did you change? Share your story with us in the comments below.
7 thoughts on “Remember when…? – Writing”
I am glad. Each person’s handwriting is unique and personal to that person…the same can’t be said for text on a screen. We are losing something though the youngsters will never miss it.
By the way, the Captcha is hard to use….the letter “O” and the number “0” look very much alike, and some letters are difficult to see. I’ve tried six times to post this. Very frustrating (and this is after refreshing to try to get a better Captcha to input).
And then the message posted as “new” instead of a “reply” to your message. Not my morning.
Yeah, the CAPTCHA is annoying. So far it is the easiest one I found. I am still looking for something better for you.
That’s okay; I’m sure I can work around it. I did, after all, get it to work in the end. 🙂
I learned to print first (not block letters, but upper and lower case) and then learned cursive. For some mad reason, I used to change my handwriting around to different styles…I think many youngsters do this…but I envied a friend who had gone to a Catholic school and had the most beautiful script I ever saw. I am old school enough to think that there is something different about translating a thought through a pen or pencil than there is tapping something out on a screen. I read there was a study that college students who take written notes tend to retain lecture information better than those that input into a computer. I can well believe it. When I was writing (for myself and for business), I would often write in longhand first because it slowed me down, or I would turn to pencil/pen if I was having trouble developing an idea because I could doodle into a notion (which I cannot do on a screen). It is too easy to delete an idea on the computer and lose it forever…it’s good, sometimes, to go back to a handwritten draft and see what was crossed out and what was changed. Computers give us the illusion of perfection…there is something about going over and over a draft that adds refinements to the writing. Pen and paper gives a feeling of a living thing that growing–a computer feels sterile to me. I was a very fast typist so I could churn out pages and pages on a typewriter (later a computer) without any problems…but I don’t think any of the verbiage were as lovingly written as the words sketched out on paper using a pen (not to say I was a good writer in either case–I’m speaking more of the emotions involved). But I don’t write anymore so my opinion would be different now, I’m sure, if I were.
I agree that there is something special about handwriting and cursive too. I even read some research that says that it encourage the brain development in a way that block writing (or even computer typing) does not! Aren’t we glad we did learn that when we were young?
My mother regretted teaching me how to print my name. I proceeded to print my name on everything…for some reason, I liked the bottoms of tables and I especially enjoyed engraving wooden clothes hangers for some reason. That may be the reason she started crocheting hanger covers.