Does Cursive Still Matter for Children?

By Laura Wallis for The Stir by CafeMom

When I was a kid my family moved a few times. Once, I had just started the third grade, and my class was beginning the cursive writing unit. When I arrived at my new school, that lesson was already done. So I was left to teach the skill to myself, by following the letter charts above the blackboard.

To this day, my handwriting is atrocious. But does it really matter? Do kids even need to learn cursive in school anymore? Almost all communication is digital these days, and schoolwork and note-taking are largely done on laptops after the early grades. Because federal common core standards don’t include cursive writing, and because test prep is taking up an increasing chunk of classroom time, many states have let it fall off the curriculum.

But personally, I’d rather see a little less test prep and a little more of the nearly lost art of good handwriting. Cursive is still taught at my kids’ elementary school, and I was delighted when my third grader came home with his newfound ability to write his name in script. Here’s why:

If you can’t write cursive, you may not be able to read it either.

My husband recently came upon a stack of letters his dad wrote to his mom when they were first courting, about fifty years ago. They were good old-fashioned love letters, and each was written in the nicest penmanship I’d ever seen. I want to save these and pass them on to our kids one day. I’d like them to be able to decipher them. Same goes for letters from grandparents and other older relatives and pen pals, as well as old documents that have historical value. For kids who have never been introduced to script, some of these may as well be in a foreign language.

Writing longhand still happens in the adult world.

I was famous around my old office for my chicken-scratch on editorial proofs and other documents that required handwritten comments. It’s not a good thing to be famous for. It’s also a great way to ensure mistakes get made. And while neat printing solves that problem, when you’re in a rush, neat printing can fall by the wayside. Clear cursive is faster to write and easier to read than printed chicken-scratch.

Writing by hand can help with learning.

Some studies in the last few years have found that when students take notes by hand rather than typing on a laptop, they retain more information. What’s more, an article earlier this year in Psychology Today pointed out that writing in script can help with cognitive development, fine motor skills, and hand-eye coordination—much like learning to play a musical instrument does. That seems worth the time spent on handwriting lessons to me.

It’s worth taking the time to make things beautiful.

This one is harder to argue when it comes to scarce classroom time, but there is something very beautiful in a hand-written letter, in a unique and ornate signature, in a place card made out by hand. My kids are proud of their ability to write sophisticated cursive letters, and it’s a skill that, even now, so many years after elementary school, I wish I’d had the chance to master.

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Laura Wallis is a freelance writer and editor specializing in all things family, home, food, and health. She currently lives in New Jersey with her husband, two children, and dog—none of whom take grammar as seriously as they should. She writes for The Stir by CafeMom.

5 Puns That Will Make You Laugh out Loud on April Fools’ Day

Looking for a laugh on April Fools’ Day? At least one of these puns is sure to make you giggle.

Share your favorite pun in the comments section!

Why You NEED to Write Every Day

Alzheimer’s, dementia, and severe memory loss affect memory, thinking, language, and behavior—even beyond expected decreases in function from the typical aging process. But according to a recent study by the Medical Journal of the American Academy of Neurology, there are some strategies to help you avoid this type of cognitive decline that you can begin working on now. First and foremost: Be a bookworm!

Scientists have found that people who are consistently engaged in mentally stimulating activities–like reading–throughout their lives have a significantly slower decline in memory loss.

Methodology:

Scientists examined 264 people around 89-years-old, following them for a total of six years. Each person was given memory tests each year throughout the study. The participants were also surveyed on the number of mentally stimulating activities they participated in throughout their childhood and adult life.

Following the death of each participant, scientists autopsied their brains for physical evidence of dementia–like brain lesions and tangles. The collective results of the surveys, memory tests, and brain autopsies found that the rate of decline was reduced by 32 percent in people with frequent mental activity in late life.

Aside from reading, what are some easy, stimulating activities that you can do to slow down the process of memory loss? At Grammarly, we believe that writing tops the list! It’s a great way to process personal thoughts or dilemmas, and to engage in critical thinking.

Here are some ways that you can encourage yourself to write on a daily basis:

• Write letters to your future self. Try drafting one letter per month and opening it one year later during that same month. In the letter, describe the goals you hope to accomplish during that month, what your challenges were, and what you are hoping will transpire by the same time next year. Also use this exercise as a motivation to check things off of your personal “bucket list.”
• Start a blog. Find a topic you are passionate about like gardening, politics, or fashion, and write about it. Set a personal goal to post a new blog entry at least once a week. Challenge yourself to write more informative, engaging articles that don’t just interest you, but will also educate your potential readers.
• Write a book about your life story. Not only will this boost your memory of things that happened in the past, but documenting your life may also serve as a helpful resource in the future. Or, if writing about the past is too challenging, try starting a diary or a journal to document life’s activities moving forward.
• Write articles about hot topics. Watch news programs and then write a story to support what you’ve watched. This will help you recall facts and important information, not to mention to become more informed about what’s going on in the world today.

There are many other activities outside of writing that can also boost brain activity. Many people use memory games, crossword puzzles, and other word games to continuously challenge their minds. The best combination of cognitive stimulation includes a healthy lifestyle and a commitment to lifelong learning. Combined, these two elements can help to keep your mind active well into your golden years.

Is formal writing too formal?

This poll is part of a series that Grammarly is running aimed at better understanding how the public feels about writing, language learning, and grammar.

Please take the poll and share your thoughts in the comments. We can’t wait to hear from you!

If you are interested in more, check out last week’s poll.

Program vs. Programme–What’s the Difference?

In American English, program is the correct spelling. In Australian English, program and programme are both acceptable. In British English, programme is the prefered spelling, although program is often used in computing contexts.

Decades ago, program appeared in American and British writing. In the nineteenth century, the Brits started to favor the French way of spelling it—programme. However it’s spelled, it means a plan of actions, activities, or procedures, usually for a specific purpose. Alternatively, it can refer to a list of acts or performers associated with an event, such as a theatrical play or a concert. Program can also function as a verb. It means to set, regulate, or modify to produce a specific result. When referring to writing code, both British and Americans use program as the preferred spelling.

The school started a morning breakfast program before classes.

The computer whiz programmedhis computer to wake him up thirty minutes after sunrise.

The backup dancer cried when she realized her name was not included in the program.

Examples

Program in the US

“By age 18, children not served by the Chicago CPC program were 70 percent more likely to be arrested for a violent crime,” he said. “And, by age 24, those who were served by the program were 20 percent less likely to have served time in a jail or prison. By age 27, children not served by the Perry Preschool program were five times more likely to be chronic offenders, with five or more arrests.”

Downtown Express

Among the gadgets is Code-A-Pillar, a caterpillar-shaped robot comprised of interchangeable segments, each of which adds a different movement command to the overall contraption, allowing the stripling scholars to program its behavior as they work out a pattern that gets the bot from Point A to Point B.

Arkansas Matters

Program and Programme Outside the US

An accomplished dancer and part of the academy’s professional training program, she recently placed third in the Youth American Grand Prix (YAGP) of dance in the senior classical ballet category.

Victoria News

Libratus, an artificial intelligence program developed at Carnegie Mellon University, was trained to play a variant of the game known as no-limit heads-up Texas hold ’em

BBC News

An Irish scientist will feature in a BBC television programme on Wednesday night, to discuss the apparent health benefits of eating fermented foods.

Victoria News

Do you find it easy to tell the difference between program and programme? It’s fun to discover the differences between American and British English. Why not check out this article about the past tense of the verbs learn and label?

What is the Difference Between ‘Used to Cook,’ ‘Used to Cooking,’ and ‘Got Used to Cooking’?

Guest Post By Akmal Akbarov at EnglishClubPro.com

Have you ever wondered about the difference between “I used to cook every morning,” where we don’t add –ing to the verb ‘cook,’ and “I am used to cooking every morning”?

If you’re confused about the difference, I am going to explain everything in detail. I am sure you will be able to get the hang of it. ��

Let’s go!

‘Used to + verb’ for past events

Whenever you talk about events that happened a long time ago but don’t normally happen now, you should use this formula. For example:

I used to play football all day long when I was a child.

This means that you played football all day long when you were a child, but now you are much busier and you have no time to play football for such a long time. If you do play, it usually lasts for only one or two hours. Here is another example:

I used to smoke when I was in the army.

When you were in the army you smoked, but later you realized that it was very harmful to your health. So you gave up.

If you understood why and when we use the ‘used to + verb’ form, let’s now talk about three different ways to use it.

Positive form: I used to smoke when I was in the army.

Negative form: I didn’t use to smoke when I was in the army. (Pay attention, it is ‘use’ not ‘used’)

Question form: Did I use to smoke when I was in the army? (Pay attention, it is ‘use’ not ‘used’)

‘Used to + verb + ing’ for habits

Next, you use this form whenever you talk about your present habits. For example, you might say:

I am used to getting up early in the morning.

This means that it is your habit to get up early in the morning. You always get up early.

So now let’s discuss the three ways to use this construction.

Positive form: I am used to running every morning. (Notice: to be + used to + verb + ing)

Negative form: I am not used to running every morning. (Notice: to be + not + used to + verb + ing)

Question: Am I used to running every morning? (Notice: to be + subject + used to + verb + ing)

‘Get used to + verb + ing’ for new habits

All right, now let’s talk about this one. This form is almost the same as the previous one. However, if we compare …

I am used to running every morning.

with

I am getting used to running every morning.

…then we can see that ‘I am getting used to running’ means that you are only learning how to run in the morning. It was not your habit before, but now, because you are running every morning, it is becoming normal and habitual for you. Let’s another example.

Imagine that I am in China. I have never used chopsticks to eat my meals. But now I am using them every day and it is becoming a normal thing for me. Actually, now I prefer eating with chopsticks rather than with spoons or forks. So I say:

I am getting used to eating my meal with chopsticks.

Now let’s see the three ways we can use it.

Positive form: I am getting used to listening to music while I read a book.

Negative form: I am not getting used to listening to music while I read a book.

Question form: Am I getting used to listening to music while I read a book?

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Hi, my name is Akmal. I’m an English language enthusiast, blogger, writer, and entrepreneur. In addition to being the founder of EnglishClubPro.com, I’m also a teacher of English with more than ten years of experience. I love helping aspiring English learners to master their English.

Post adapted from original post.

Thru vs. Through—Which Is Right?

• Through can be a preposition, an adjective, and an adverb.
• Through is the only formally accepted spelling of the word.
• Thru is an alternate spelling that should be used only in informal writing or when referring to drive-throughs.

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As if all the confusion over the words through and threw wasn’t enough, modern English has piled on yet another homophone: thru.

Through vs. Thru

Through can be used as a preposition, an adverb, and an adjective. It has several meanings, including “from one side to the other,” “from beginning to end,” and “during an entire period”:

He rode his bicycle through the door and onto the street.

You have to read the book through if you want to be prepared for class.

We were dancing all through the concert.

Through is the only acceptable way to spell the word in a formal situation. In informal situations, and especially when texting or instant messaging, the form thru is becoming increasingly popular:

Did you come thru with the tickets?

Come to my place, we’ll go thru all the episodes of Firefly.

There is one occasion when thru might be an acceptable choice even in formal writing. The word drive-through is commonly spelled with the shortened form of through:

The bank opened its first drive-thru on Monday.

Through vs. Thru: Examples

The management of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra has canceled orchestra concerts through Dec. 5.

Pittsburg Post Gazette

The traffic pattern will be similar to last year and motorists should allow extra time to get through the area during shift changes.

WRIC

Over 100 people got married or renewed their vows in “run-thru” weddings on Sunday during the Rock ’n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon.

New York Daily News

On Tuesday afternoon, she is the second person to pull into Drive-Thru Prayer at Tyner, an event that has taken place on the first Tuesday of each month since September.

Times Free Press