Sarah Mitchell
Cursive handwriting has long been associated with Catholic schools and religious education. While the use of technology and keyboards has replaced much of the need for handwriting, Catholic schools continue to emphasise the importance of cursive writing, with some requiring all work to be submitted in this style. This tradition is not just about creating pretty penmanship, but also about the educational and character-building benefits that come with learning this skill.
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What You'll Learn
Cursive writing in Catholic schools
Cursive handwriting is an important skill that is emphasised in Catholic schools. While it may have fallen out of favour in public schools, Catholic schools in states like Arkansas continue to teach cursive writing to their students.
Cursive writing is usually introduced in the latter part of second grade or in third grade in Catholic schools. Students are taught the cursive alphabet and begin to practise writing sentences in cursive. Teachers like Teresa McKay, who teaches fifth and sixth graders at St. Mary School in Paragould, require all assignments to be turned in in cursive. She notes that students are excited to learn cursive and take pride in their handwriting. Ritamarie Quinn, a third-grade teacher at Saint Teresa Regional School, Runnemede, also observes that her students get excited about handwriting lessons and are proud of their accomplishments in cursive.
Cursive writing is seen as a valuable skill that has benefits beyond just writing. It improves brain development in thinking, language and memory. Suzanne Baruch Asherson, an occupational therapist, wrote in a 2013 New York Times article that "cursive handwriting stimulates brain synapses and synchronicity between the left and right hemispheres, something absent from printing and typing". Cursive writing also helps develop fine motor skills in the wrist and hand. Additionally, it teaches students to slow down and engage in a deliberate process, which is especially critical in today's fast-paced digital world. As Michael Watson, principal of the Catholic Star Herald, explains, "such meaning is at the heart of the search for truth that we pursue in Catholic schools, which makes cursive handwriting, as a foundation, a great fit".
Cursive writing is also intertwined with religious instruction in Catholic schools. For example, students in Mike Martin's fourth-grade classroom at St. Vincent de Paul School in Rogers use the "Writing Our Catholic Faith Handwriting Series", which combines cursive writing practice with religious education. Catholic schools also use cursive writing worksheets derived from Catholic texts such as the Baltimore Catechism to help students improve their handwriting while also learning about their faith. These worksheets can be printed in various sizes and with different font sizes to suit the grade level of the students.
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Nuns teaching cursive
In the United States, the standard form of cursive was developed by the Zaner-Bloser Company in 1888. This method of penmanship instruction was designed to teach children print writing before teaching them cursive, to help them develop their writing skills. The Zaner-Bloser method eventually replaced the earlier Palmer Method, which had been popular since the late 19th century.
Cursive writing is often associated with Catholic education, and nuns in particular are known for their emphasis on neat handwriting. St. Anne's Helper, for example, offers Catholic cursive writing worksheets based on the Baltimore Catechism. These worksheets are intended to help children practice their handwriting while also learning about the Catholic faith. The idea is that children will develop a stronger desire to love and please God as they work on their penmanship.
In her personal blog, Ann C. Logue writes about how nuns taught her to write in cursive. She recalls struggling with cursive, despite the best efforts of her teachers, the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent DePaul. Logue eventually taught herself to type and was happy to be absolved from cursive by her upper-level teachers. She notes that while cursive may be seen as a party trick today, it is still a valuable skill that can encourage better handwriting.
Logue's experience highlights the role of nuns in teaching cursive writing, particularly in Catholic schools. While the focus on cursive writing may have diminished in recent years, with some students abandoning it in favor of typing, it is still considered an important skill by many. In Wisconsin, for instance, state representatives are considering legislation that would require all school students to learn cursive.
Overall, nuns have traditionally played a significant role in teaching cursive writing, especially in Catholic schools. While the methods and emphasis on cursive may have evolved over time, the foundation laid by nuns has helped students develop their writing skills and, in some cases, fostered a deeper connection to their faith.
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Cursive writing worksheets
St. Anne's Helper offers free, printable cursive writing worksheets for children that are derived from old Catholic textbooks like the Living My Religion series, the DeLaSalle Readers, Harvey's Grammar, or classic nursery rhymes. These worksheets teach phonics, spelling, and grammar while practising handwriting. They cover a range of topics, including First Communion and Confirmation, and can be printed in various sizes and formats (e.g., full-sized, double-sided, or large font) depending on the grade level of the students.
K5 Learning also provides free, printable handwriting worksheets for children from kindergarten to grade 5. These worksheets focus on writing individual letters, joining letters, writing words and sentences, and even whole passages in cursive.
Canva offers customizable and printable cursive writing worksheet templates that can be edited to include clear visuals and instructions. These worksheets can be tailored to different activity sets, such as letter tracing, word practice, and sentence practices. They can be printed directly from the platform.
Additionally, Worksheet Works provides a page where users can create their own worksheets for cursive writing practice by entering the desired text, which will be rendered in traditional cursive lettering.
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Cursive writing competitions
One popular cursive writing competition in the United States is the Zaner-Bloser National Handwriting Contest. This contest is open to all students in grades K–6, with entries in manuscript for grades K–2 and cursive for grades 3–6. The contest requires participants to write the same sentence, containing all 26 letters of the alphabet, on official contest entry forms. Winners are chosen from schools that teach the Zaner-Bloser method.
Another well-known competition is the World Handwriting Achievement Contest (WHAC), which accepts entries from five age groups: under 8, 9–11, 13–19, and two adult categories. WHAC charges a $1 fee per entry and publishes its set texts in the New Year, requiring submissions in February. The Parker Pen Company, owned by Sanford UK, also organises a national competition for school children up to 14 years old and staff, offering pens as individual prizes and a £1000 cash prize for the best entry in each section.
To prepare for cursive writing competitions, students can practice with Catholic cursive writing worksheets, such as those offered by St. Anne's Helper. These worksheets use the Baltimore Catechism to improve handwriting and knowledge of the Catholic faith. They are available in various sizes and font sizes to accommodate different grade levels. Students can also use interactive printable worksheets, like those provided by PrintNPractice, which allow them to practice their cursive writing skills by typing on copies of the worksheets or printing them out. By utilizing these resources and participating in cursive writing competitions, students can develop their handwriting skills and compete against their peers.
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The future of cursive writing
Cursive writing, also known as joined italics, was once a fundamental part of education systems worldwide. However, with the advent of technology and the increasing use of laptops and tablets, the need to write in cursive has diminished. In 2010, the U.S. government officially removed cursive from the required Common Core Standards for K-12 education, marking a shift towards keyboarding skills. This decision sparked concerns among historians and educators, highlighting the potential loss of connection with historical documents and the development of certain sensory processing and motor skills in children.
Despite the removal of cursive from standard curricula, there has been a recent resurgence in interest in cursive writing. Twenty-three U.S. states have mandated that cursive be taught in schools, and California has led the way by reinstating the requirement for first through sixth graders in public schools to learn cursive from 2024 onwards. This shift back towards cursive writing has ignited debates about the value of this writing style in education and its potential brain benefits.
Neuroscientific research supports the idea that writing in cursive activates specific neural pathways that enhance overall learning and language development. Cursive writing may also improve sensory processing skills and visual-motor skills in children. However, there is conflicting literature on whether cursive provides unique benefits compared to print handwriting. While the debate continues, educators advocate for a balanced approach that includes both technology and handwriting skills, ensuring that students are prepared with a diverse set of competencies.
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