The Big Story

The Case for Bringing Back Cursive Writing

When I first started Therapro many years ago, Handwriting was one of our most popular product categories. Over time, that changed. In 2010, cursive writing was removed from the Common Core State Standards for K-12 education, and we saw that shift reflected in both classrooms and in our handwriting sales.

Recently, I experienced this change in a very personal way. I gave one of my grandchildren a card written in what I thought was my most glorious cursive handwriting. They handed it back to me and said they couldn't read it because it was in cursive--I had to read it aloud to them.

Last week, the Boston Globe published an article titled "Why is cursive handwriting instruction in Massachusetts such a sloppy mess?" The author references an important study from an MIT lab examining the impact of tools like ChatGPT on critical thinking skills. The article also highlights research suggesting that handwriting--including cursive--supports fine motor development, learning, memory, and overall brain engagement.

In response, some educators are reintroducing handwritten assignments to reduce overreliance on AI tools. This shift further underscores the value of writing by hand as a foundation for thinking and learning.

At Therapro, we continue to offer a wide range of handwriting resources, including materials for teaching cursive handwriting and pencil and pen grips designed to support comfort and success for writers of all ages.

As educators, therapists, and caregivers revisit the role of handwriting in learning and development, we invite you to explore Therapro's handwriting resources and consider how writing by hand--especially cursive--can once again become a meaningful part of the learning experience.

Karen C. Weihrauch
President

Structured handwriting instruction matters--especially when reintroducing cursive. Therapro offers a wide variety of handwriting programs designed by therapy and education experts to support developmentally appropriate instruction, motor learning, and carryover into classroom and home settings. These programs provide a clear pathway for teaching cursive with intention and success.

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