Research shows that the fastest, clearest handwriters avoid cursive. They join some, not all, of the letters — making just the easiest joins, and skipping the rest — and use print-like rather than cursive-style forms for those letters that “disagree” between printing and cursive.

Since learning to read cursive takes an hour or less (I’ve taught five-year-olds to do it), and learning to write cursive takes a year or more, I do recommend that students learn how to read cursive for the sake of those who still write in cursive. But why require students to write in a style that the fastest and clearest handwriters avoid?

Kate Gladstone
handwriting instruction and remediation specialist –
Founder, Handwriting Repair/Handwriting That Works –
Director, the World Handwriting Contest –
http://www.HandwritingThatWorks.com — handwritingrepair@gmail.com

When I write for a period of time, my hand actually cramps up and hurts quite badly. Typing is much easier on my hands and I can type fast so writing doesn’t take as long! Smart kids often have a hard time when their brain thinks quicker than their hands can write, and then the thought gets lost. I notice that even when I type I will often leave the last letter off of words because I am in such a hurry to get to the next word before I forget what I wanted to say! Maybe he could record himself speaking and write or type a transcription so to speak…

I say typing is the way to go! Don’t stifle his mind because his hands won’t cooperate.

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It’s how people write these days. It allows a completely different creative process. And it makes editing so much easier. I vote word processor!