Early learning shapes habits and abilities

"Educators involved with young children who are just beginning to write have a very important job. As with all emerging skills, what is learned right from the start will shape lifelong habits and abilities" (Research Review).

In considering a handwriting program we need to look at the research, the objectives, the materials, and the methods. Research does not support the claim that italicized or slanted manuscript letters make for an easier transition to cursive. It does support the use of vertical lines, horizontal lines, and circles. By the age of three, children are using these basic lines (Research Review & Reviews of Research). We are now hearing that research does support the idea that cursive writing enhances reading due to the left-to-right movement necessary to perform this writing. There is no question that left-to-right movement improves reading. It is one of the fundamental skills necessary for all academic learning. It is not a question of can a four-year old do cursive writing, but rather, should he be doing it? I think not, for the following reasons:

1. Good manuscript is a prerequisite for cursive writing because if taught properly it does teach directionality. Cursive writing may appear to be stopping reversals, but it is probably just masking them. Older children with learning problems will almost always print when given a choice because the directionality has not been internalized.

2. Cursive writing can actually enhance learning problems that have to do with directionality by teaching a bottom-to-top stroke (the first stroke taught) before the young child has internalized top-to-bottom. A child with this problem will actually flip letters over in his mind (Reading, Writing, and Ripped Off).

3. The young child is required to learn two separate alphabets. Some children have enough trouble learning one.

4. We live in a world of printed material because it is easier to read. Just look around you.

5. Manuscript is the one handwriting that we will use for an entire lifetime. When was the last time you had to complete a form which instructed you to please write in cursive? Every form we fill out requires it. Manuscript must be properly taught. Otherwise letters will be formed without regard to directionality and again, this lack of instruction actually reinforces learning problems.