[etni] cursive writing

To the best of my knowledge real cursive script was dropped from the curriculum 
in English speaking countries in the 60s of the last century. Basically when we 
stopped using a nib dipped in ink.What is taught and used nowadays is a 
combination of print and cursive  which I call joined up print.In this age 
where most of the writing is done on the computer, sms, or other non 
handwritten technology it seems a pity to waste so much time on teaching 
cursive. I remember as a child having a half hour writing lesson every day of 
the week to practise writing correctly.
It is far more important to teach the correct shape , flow and laterality of 
each letter(print form). This will help all learners - knowing where each 
letter starts and more importantly completing it correctly so that so that the 
wrting implement automatically goes on to the next letter in the correct 
directionality. From here it is an easy step to join up the letters into cursive
From my 20 years of experience of teaching and research, children with dyslexia 
 enjoy writing in cursive but CANNOT re read their own  writing nor any 
one else's either. 
Many elemetary schoool teachers feel resentful of all the aspects of the 
language they are expected to cover: literacy skills from teaching the alphabet 
to reading comprehension and book reports,  writing skills - from teaching 
letter formation to writing a short paragraph.
communicative skills - from the first "hello" to giving a short talk. Basic 
grammar and sentence structure are also expected to be taught!!! (and no, I am 
not an elementary teacher)
Tova T.

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