The Pros and Cons of Cursive Writing

Many districts have stopped instruction in cursive writing. Other districts are bringing it back.

Why cursive still matters:

1. Brain development & learning connections
Writing in cursive activates different parts of the brain than typing or printing. The continuous motion supports memory, spelling, and idea flow, which is especially helpful for younger learners.

2. Reading historical documents
If students can’t read cursive, primary sources become locked away. Letters, journals, even signatures on key documents- they’re part of our cultural literacy.

3. Speed and fluency
Once learned, cursive can be faster and more fluid than printing. For some students, it actually reduces the cognitive load of forming each letter.

4. Fine motor development
That smooth, connected motion strengthens hand control: something many kids today need more practice with.

Why some schools are dropping it:

1. Time is tight
Teachers are juggling packed schedules. Something has to give, and cursive often gets cut.

2. Digital dominance
With laptops and devices, students type far more than they write by hand.

3. Not universally necessary
Many adults function just fine without using cursive regularly beyond signing their name.

A balanced approach:

Here’s where most experienced teachers land on the subject of cursive writing:

• Teach cursive, but don’t overteach it.

• Focus on reading cursive & basic writing fluency.

• Integrate it into meaningful tasks (journals, notes, projects), not isolated drills.

• Offer it as a choice for students who enjoy it or benefit from it.

Here's what I think:

If you’re working with primary grades,  cursive can be a powerful tool, not just a “tradition.” But it works best when it’s:

• Low-pressure
• Purposeful
• Integrated into real learning
• Keep it fun

If you're interested in a self-study:

• I have a series of resources that are an independent study for learning cursive writing. You can find them here:
• Level One: The Pointies
• Level Two: The Loopies
• Level Three: The Overheads
• Level Four: Rolling Hills
• Level Five: Capital Letters
• Level Six: Writing Sentences

Here are some articles I've found about cursive in the classroom:

• Why Cursive is Back in the Classroom

• The Resurgence of Cursive Writing: Why it's Back in the Classroom

• Handwriting may boost brain connections that aid memory (snexplores.org)

• 23 States that require cursive writing in public schools. (mycursive.com)

• Should Schools Teach Cursive Writing? Data-Backed Debate

Here are a couple of blog posts I've created about handwriting: 

Do you think teachers should instruct cursive writing in the classroom?

THE RESURGENCE OF CURSIVE WRITING: WHY IT’S BACK IN THE CLASSROOM