I write in cursive, and I have good handwriting, I like to write in pencil. I also teach my students to write in cursive and they have a hard time writing in the triple line space.
Elizabeth ~ here in the US most students have Chromebooks to use -- a type of laptop -- that the schools provide. Are your students on the computer a lot?
At school they also use Chromebooks starting 3rd grade, but in 1st grade they use triple-line notebooks to learn to write and only use the computer for reading Raz-Kids
Jan, my handwriting has changed since retiring due to not actually writing as much. I use a combination of cursive and printing. When I was teaching first grade I was excited when we started using a more cursive form of printing, adding tails on “b” and “d” . It is unfortunate that many young people can’t read or write cursive. My younger grandkids (7 & 9), have learned cursive and use it in school. My older ones did not learn it, but they can somewhat read it.
When I was working on my teaching degree I had to take a handwriting class like you described, using the same Zaner Bloser method as I had in elementary school. Cursive writing is becoming a lost art...
Morning, Linda! I was surprised when I started having trouble with my handwriting. After all the English papers I graded, I probably should have carpal tunnel. Thanks for sharing... xoxo
Cursive except with the younger generation!! I, too, taught 6th graders and thank goodness my last class before I retired was taught cursive earlier. I don’t know when they stopped teaching it but I did not have to deal with it during my tenure!! My grand children fuss some times because I forget they can’t read it!
Karen -- my daughter is teaching 6th grade science & loving it -- no state testing in science. Ha! She just got back from the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, Ga. super enthused. Have you ever heard of it?
Yes, she went for in-service so to speak. She paid for it herself. Ron Clark was a National Teacher of the Year, then opened his own school in Atlanta. There's a movie about him. The school is in a warehouse-like building, painted like Harry Potter's castle with a slide entrance. I can't even image it. These training days help fund the academy -- along with Coca-Cola & Oprah, etc. Have attached a link. https://ronclarkacademy.com I never did any fun in-service like this. Ha!
I’m so excited for your book! I have enjoyed reading it. Such clever and inspiring stories. My handwriting has changed too. It’s a bit messier for sure. One interesting thought is don’t you recognize each other’s handwriting? I know my mom’s right away for example. There’s something endearing about knowing another’s handwriting! It’s unique to each of us. Thx again for sharing!
Thanks for getting my book! You are definitely right about recognizing handwriting. I always tried to cover my students' names when I was grading their compositions so I wouldn't have any bias. Well, that didn't help because I recognized all their handwritings. Ha! It does make me feel warm inside when I find something my mom wrote tucked away somewhere. xoxo
Janice ~ I remember a couple years ago when it started feeling like a struggle to write with a pencil or pen. I blame it on all those English comps I had to grade over the years. Ha! It's a wonder I don't have carpel tunnel. xoxo
Wow, loved your thoughts on writing! My grandson is on the autism spectrum and he can read cursive better than manuscript because the letters in each word are connected!
I loved teaching cursive to my 3rd grade students, it was a fun little interlude in our daily plan.
I enjoyed reading this so much! There are many memories that I
find coming back to me about my first experiences of printing and writing in cursive. These days I find that I use a combination of cursive and printing. I may begin with cursive but then worry that it can't be read (like on a check) so I switch to printing (not that the printing is much better, it just makes ME feel better). I have no idea what the future holds for a person like me who loves to literally put PEN to paper (I stopped using pencil after the boy sitting in front of me in grade school leaned his head back and got my pencil stuck in his head), however I'm fairly certain that typing on a computer or iPhone won't be in my future since these instruments of torture only serve to aggravate the carpal tunnel problem caused by them in the first place! All this to say, I guess I'll need to learn how to speak into my phone to complete whichever action I need to accomplish. That's my answer to you, Jan, except that I've now forgotten what the question was. Does that mean I have Alzheimers???
You’ve done it again, Jan and made me laugh out loud for several minutes. Cursive for my signature is pretty good, however penmanship grade is “F” now on any of my general cursive attempts. It looks best in my all capital block letters printed. Actually it’s pretty good (for awhile)?
Jan, as usual loved your humour in this writing. In England we didn’t call it cursive writing, it was simply ‘joined-up’ writing I learned in the fifties. I thing maybe it is a little easier to read because tends to be up-right??😂🤷♀️ hugs❤️
I was given a Grandmas journal when my granddaughter was born. It was meant to record activities and milestones of her first six years of life, and I faithfully did. On her 16 th birthday I gave it to her and she thanked me but said “ Grams, I can’t read cursive”.
Diane ~ I think I got one of those journals once. That's awesome you actually did it. I bet Grace makes an effort to read it some day. What a gift to her! xoxo
Also use a combo of cursive and printing. The last time I took notes my cursive looked sloppy and thought I need to neaten it up. No reason for it, my fingers work fine. Absolutely distressed it is or will soon be a lost art.
Enjoyed this. I am so sorry our younger generation has lost the art of cursive writing. Our younger generation has lost lots of things we learned in school. Taking a typing lesson in high school . Is that even a class anymore. Technology has ruined so many things and improved so many things. I have noticed my hand writing is little off, age has lot to do with it. I am enjoying your book. BLESSINGS
OMG I'm remembering those typing classes when they timed you, and then you had to subtract your number of mistakes. I think it's called "keyboarding" now, and they learn it in kindergarten??? Thanks for sharing, Susie! xoxo
Good morning Jan greetings from Alberta Canada I just woke up I saw your writing for this week from my Apple Watch . I agree with you ,now that I am 80 years old my cursive writing is declining so I use printing now a days. I notice that my fingers are not in good shape so different when I was younger.I still thank the Lord I still drive,do my aqua aerobics,and active in church. I can still help children read and add and subtract and multiply.Praise the Lord my brain still functioning .Thank you Jan till next week.
Hi Elisa ~ so glad to hear from you. Sometimes I look down at my hands and wonder whose they are. Ha ha! Glad to know you are still really active. I'll be 80 in 3 years. You give me HOPE. xoxo
I also still write in cursive most of the time. My seven year old granddaughter just told me this weekend that "Nana, I can actually read your sign that is in cursive!" Kinda threw me for a minute! :)
It’s a shame that they don’t teach cursive anymore in school. I often wonder when it comes to signing documents if my son can even sign them. I do the same as Linda I mix cursive and printing together. The reason for that is because like many my son can’t read cursive. I think schools need to go back to teaching cursive it’s such a pretty handwriting.
I write in cursive, and I have good handwriting, I like to write in pencil. I also teach my students to write in cursive and they have a hard time writing in the triple line space.
Elizabeth ~ here in the US most students have Chromebooks to use -- a type of laptop -- that the schools provide. Are your students on the computer a lot?
At school they also use Chromebooks starting 3rd grade, but in 1st grade they use triple-line notebooks to learn to write and only use the computer for reading Raz-Kids
Cursive. And I am looking forward to the day when I can get a high paying job 'interpreting' old journals for the newbies.
Ah, you are really thinking! Never thought about that future job. xoxo
Jan, my handwriting has changed since retiring due to not actually writing as much. I use a combination of cursive and printing. When I was teaching first grade I was excited when we started using a more cursive form of printing, adding tails on “b” and “d” . It is unfortunate that many young people can’t read or write cursive. My younger grandkids (7 & 9), have learned cursive and use it in school. My older ones did not learn it, but they can somewhat read it.
When I was working on my teaching degree I had to take a handwriting class like you described, using the same Zaner Bloser method as I had in elementary school. Cursive writing is becoming a lost art...
Morning, Linda! I was surprised when I started having trouble with my handwriting. After all the English papers I graded, I probably should have carpal tunnel. Thanks for sharing... xoxo
Cursive except with the younger generation!! I, too, taught 6th graders and thank goodness my last class before I retired was taught cursive earlier. I don’t know when they stopped teaching it but I did not have to deal with it during my tenure!! My grand children fuss some times because I forget they can’t read it!
Karen -- my daughter is teaching 6th grade science & loving it -- no state testing in science. Ha! She just got back from the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, Ga. super enthused. Have you ever heard of it?
I have heard of it but I must admit I do not know much about it. I will research for info . Did she go down for training?
Yes, she went for in-service so to speak. She paid for it herself. Ron Clark was a National Teacher of the Year, then opened his own school in Atlanta. There's a movie about him. The school is in a warehouse-like building, painted like Harry Potter's castle with a slide entrance. I can't even image it. These training days help fund the academy -- along with Coca-Cola & Oprah, etc. Have attached a link. https://ronclarkacademy.com I never did any fun in-service like this. Ha!
I’m so excited for your book! I have enjoyed reading it. Such clever and inspiring stories. My handwriting has changed too. It’s a bit messier for sure. One interesting thought is don’t you recognize each other’s handwriting? I know my mom’s right away for example. There’s something endearing about knowing another’s handwriting! It’s unique to each of us. Thx again for sharing!
Thanks for getting my book! You are definitely right about recognizing handwriting. I always tried to cover my students' names when I was grading their compositions so I wouldn't have any bias. Well, that didn't help because I recognized all their handwritings. Ha! It does make me feel warm inside when I find something my mom wrote tucked away somewhere. xoxo
I used to have very nice writing, but now it is unintelligible - even my signature. I've been working on it though - maybe practice will help.
Janice ~ I remember a couple years ago when it started feeling like a struggle to write with a pencil or pen. I blame it on all those English comps I had to grade over the years. Ha! It's a wonder I don't have carpel tunnel. xoxo
Wow, loved your thoughts on writing! My grandson is on the autism spectrum and he can read cursive better than manuscript because the letters in each word are connected!
I loved teaching cursive to my 3rd grade students, it was a fun little interlude in our daily plan.
Thanks Jan, for all your thoughts.
Harriet ~ that's really interesting about your grandson. I find it amazing that I knew nothing about autism all my years of teaching. Take care! xoxo
I enjoyed reading this so much! There are many memories that I
find coming back to me about my first experiences of printing and writing in cursive. These days I find that I use a combination of cursive and printing. I may begin with cursive but then worry that it can't be read (like on a check) so I switch to printing (not that the printing is much better, it just makes ME feel better). I have no idea what the future holds for a person like me who loves to literally put PEN to paper (I stopped using pencil after the boy sitting in front of me in grade school leaned his head back and got my pencil stuck in his head), however I'm fairly certain that typing on a computer or iPhone won't be in my future since these instruments of torture only serve to aggravate the carpal tunnel problem caused by them in the first place! All this to say, I guess I'll need to learn how to speak into my phone to complete whichever action I need to accomplish. That's my answer to you, Jan, except that I've now forgotten what the question was. Does that mean I have Alzheimers???
Oh, Pam ~ you made my day. Thanks for sharing!!! {{Hugs}}
It was so much fun reading and responding to what you'd written, Jan!
You’ve done it again, Jan and made me laugh out loud for several minutes. Cursive for my signature is pretty good, however penmanship grade is “F” now on any of my general cursive attempts. It looks best in my all capital block letters printed. Actually it’s pretty good (for awhile)?
Hi Vicki ~ I don't know if I have an official signature anymore. It comes out different almost every time. Ha! Pretty soon I'll be using an X. xoxo
Jan, as usual loved your humour in this writing. In England we didn’t call it cursive writing, it was simply ‘joined-up’ writing I learned in the fifties. I thing maybe it is a little easier to read because tends to be up-right??😂🤷♀️ hugs❤️
Thanks, Rita ~ I love to hear about your part of the world. xoxo
I was given a Grandmas journal when my granddaughter was born. It was meant to record activities and milestones of her first six years of life, and I faithfully did. On her 16 th birthday I gave it to her and she thanked me but said “ Grams, I can’t read cursive”.
Diane ~ I think I got one of those journals once. That's awesome you actually did it. I bet Grace makes an effort to read it some day. What a gift to her! xoxo
Also use a combo of cursive and printing. The last time I took notes my cursive looked sloppy and thought I need to neaten it up. No reason for it, my fingers work fine. Absolutely distressed it is or will soon be a lost art.
I'm starting to do that too, Sharon. My signature never looks the same. Ha! Thanks for sharing. xoxo
Enjoyed this. I am so sorry our younger generation has lost the art of cursive writing. Our younger generation has lost lots of things we learned in school. Taking a typing lesson in high school . Is that even a class anymore. Technology has ruined so many things and improved so many things. I have noticed my hand writing is little off, age has lot to do with it. I am enjoying your book. BLESSINGS
OMG I'm remembering those typing classes when they timed you, and then you had to subtract your number of mistakes. I think it's called "keyboarding" now, and they learn it in kindergarten??? Thanks for sharing, Susie! xoxo
Good morning Jan greetings from Alberta Canada I just woke up I saw your writing for this week from my Apple Watch . I agree with you ,now that I am 80 years old my cursive writing is declining so I use printing now a days. I notice that my fingers are not in good shape so different when I was younger.I still thank the Lord I still drive,do my aqua aerobics,and active in church. I can still help children read and add and subtract and multiply.Praise the Lord my brain still functioning .Thank you Jan till next week.
Hi Elisa ~ so glad to hear from you. Sometimes I look down at my hands and wonder whose they are. Ha ha! Glad to know you are still really active. I'll be 80 in 3 years. You give me HOPE. xoxo
I also still write in cursive most of the time. My seven year old granddaughter just told me this weekend that "Nana, I can actually read your sign that is in cursive!" Kinda threw me for a minute! :)
Merry Christmas Jan and family, much love. XO
It’s a shame that they don’t teach cursive anymore in school. I often wonder when it comes to signing documents if my son can even sign them. I do the same as Linda I mix cursive and printing together. The reason for that is because like many my son can’t read cursive. I think schools need to go back to teaching cursive it’s such a pretty handwriting.