No More Cursive?

There’s a debate about whether students should continue to learn how to write in cursive. With use of computers and digital devices, the need to learn keyboarding is evident. —But, should students learn both keyboarding and cursive? Cursive instruction is not required in Common Core Standards, but questions remain about problems that may arise if students aren’t taught how to read and use cursive. For example, on standardized testing such as that required by Advanced Placement, students are better able to complete written questions if they use cursive. —And, how about reading documents written in cursive in the past and signing documents?

Handwriting in the Digital Age

Because we spend so much time typing into our digital devices today, we may think that handwriting is a dinosaur that we don’t need to bother teaching. Research, according to an article in the Wall Street Journal (October, 2010), tells us that learning to write “is more than just a way to communicate”, because it “engages the brain in learning” in ways that keyboarding doesn’t. To learn more about the importance of handwriting and how to encourage students to develop the fine motor skills needed for good handwriting, subscribe to Zaner-Bloser’s free online newsletter, Write On!

Language Arts for Kindergarten

The K12 Kindergarten Language Arts program, which will be available soon from K12, Inc., features both textbook and online learning and could be used for enrichment and remediation as well as on-level learning. It is a very comprehensive program in which lessons can be customized to fit the varying needs of children. K12 Kindergarten Language Arts seems best used with home study or with small group learning, but could be adapted for classroom use. Children will appreciate the colorful and clever online graphics, the music and the games. All components of the program, except the handwriting section, make use of online activities that enhance textbook instruction. K12, Inc. is a company that caters to individualized and small group learning led by a learning coach, often a parent. Certified teachers help the learning coach with management of individual learning plans. If you are a school administrator and want to know how this program might impact your school, you’ll want to browse the K12 site for information about available courses and perhaps download the K12 Whitepaper.