While there is limited research directly comparing cursive and print handwriting, there is evidence that cursive writing can preferentially increase the speed and fluency of writing and reading for some students, especially those with handwriting difficulties
The ability to produce (write) or interpret (read) written text is central to human communication. Words and sentences can be constructed by handwriting (print/manuscript, cursive), typing, and/or other digital tools (e.g., speech-to-text technology). Compared to typing, handwriting practice has stronger positive impacts on reading, writing and memory. While there is limited research directly comparing cursive and print handwriting, there is evidence that cursive writing can preferentially increase the speed and fluency of writing and reading for some students, especially those with handwriting difficulties (e.g., dyslexia, dysgraphia and developmental control disorder). Missouri currently does not require students to read or write in cursive; however, twenty-one states specifically mandate cursive handwriting instruction in some form. House Bill 108 would require Missouri’s public school districts to provide cursive writing instruction by the end of the fifth grade and administer a proficiency test for reading and writing cursive.
Handwriting is usually a central component of learning to read and write.1,2 Handwriting requires the coordination of visual and motor skills with higher level processes (e.g., spelling, linguistics, organization, attention).3 The ability to quickly and easily form letters allows the writer to direct their mental resources toward more complex tasks related to composition (e.g., creativity, organization of argument/story, grammar).4 There is also some evidence that handwriting can promote future recall (e.g., via note-taking) for older children and adults.5
Comparing handwriting and typing: A significant portion of written communication is currently performed on computers, tablets and smartphones (e.g., email, text, word processing). However, handwriting remains the preferred or available method for some forms of communication (e.g., in-class work, some assessments, note-taking, completing forms).
In older preschool students (~5 years old), handwriting practice is associated with improved letter recognition and reading ability compared to students taught using typing or tracing strategies.6-8 A potential explanation for this finding is that handwriting activates brain regions associated with letter processing and reading.7 These studies often evaluate handwriting instruction using print, but not cursive, and suggest that the distinct motor skills required for handwriting may explain some of the observed differences in performance. However, additional research is needed to establish a causal relationship between brain activation during cursive writing and improved literacy and/or academic performance
Literacy: There is no consensus about the relative difficulty of reading and writing cursive compared to print handwriting. The specific elements of cursive writing (e.g., connection between letters, rhythm) can be difficult for some learners, but may provide benefits for others. Compared to typing, cursive writing has been associated with specific patterns of electrical activity in the brain which have been associated with learning and reading in children and adults.9 Again, the absence of functional tests corresponding to measures of brain activation make it difficult to understand the direct relationship between cursive writing and the related brain activity.
Handwriting challenges (e.g., dyslexia): The ability to coordinate several cognitive and motor functions to construct legible handwriting, especially under time constraints, is impaired in individuals with dyslexia and developmental coordination disorder (DCD).10,11 Motor difficulties are associated with developmental dyslexia, and both spelling hesitancy and motor impairments have been shown to contribute to this association. While cursive handwriting has been associated with improved fluency in students with handwriting difficulty, the complexity of a word’s spelling appears to have a much stronger impact on handwriting.12 Additionally, the benefits of cursive writing do not fully raise proficiency to match individuals without handwriting difficulties.
Cursive handwriting is primarily distinguished from print handwriting because of the continuity between letters in a word. For this reason, cursive has been successfully used as a strategy to improve handwriting fluency in individuals with disabilities and other handwriting challenges. Handwriting typically depends on visual tracking, which may be difficult or impossible in visually-impaired/blind individuals. Because of the continuity between letters in a word, cursive writing is taught alongside assistive technology (e.g., digital pens with audio & haptic feedback) to teach writing to blind learners.13 Additional technologies (e.g., eye tracking) can be utilized to support students with limb loss or paralysis.14 Writing instruction using the computer has also been identified as a possible avenue to improve spelling and handwriting in dyslexic and dysgraphic students.15
Missouri does not currently have any statewide cursive writing standards or instructional requirements. The Missouri Learning Standards for K-5 English & Language Arts include grade level expectations for producing legible, handwritten text (Language Standard 1B). By the end of kindergarten, students are expected to be able to print upper- and lower-case letters; legible printing is emphasized during first grade, including spacing words and sentences appropriately. Beginning in second grade, legible handwriting is expected as a core component of demonstrating the ability to communicate using the conventions of the English language. Keyboarding skills, or typing, is also part of writing standards beginning in second grade (Writing Standard 1D).
Twenty-one states (including AR, FL, GA, IN, IL, MS, NC, TN, TX) currently have some statutory requirement for cursive handwriting instruction, usually during elementary school, many of which were enacted in the last decade. It is difficult to directly assess the effectiveness of these programs on student outcomes as the academic outcomes measured are not specific to handwriting instruction and are influenced by several additional factors (e.g., learning environment, student motivation). Additionally, the tradeoff between the potential benefits of cursive handwriting and the instructional time that is being diverted from other instruction has not been explored.
