4th Graders Writing in SCRIPT!?!

↑ lamplighter ↓

Tue, Sep 20 2011, 11:52 am

I disagree that it is a necessary skill to write it, since it is used it is necessary to READ it. It is an area of a lot of struggle for students and it's sad to give them a pressure that is not necessary.
Remember the days when you learned short hand in school?
I think it's the same idea.

morah

Tue, Sep 20 2011, 12:03 pm

I learned script in 3rd, haven't used it for anything other than my signature since whatever grade teachers stop caring HOW you write as long as it's reasonably legible (6th I think).

I think it's pointless to emphasize writing script so much- it was torture for me and so many others, and for what? Learn to read it, sure, so that you can read other people's handwriting; learn to sign your name, fine. Even that's not necessary- my signature is pretty much a scribble resembling an "M". Taking notes? Most people these days can type faster than they write, and if they can't, it's time to learn how. By the time taking notes becomes important, many kids are able to bring a laptop to class. Or if they write, they do it in the most comfortable way. My own hand-written notes are print, though not block print. It's more of a scribbly print where the letters do connect in a little bit of a script-y way. Maybe you can't read it, but I can, and that's all that matters with notes. I write thank-you notes in nice, legible print, no problem. And I mostly type just about anything else anyway.

As for your son- I wouldn't try to exempt him. He needs to do whatever he has to do in school, even when he doesn't like it. That's life, especially in school. If you get him out of this, next thing you know, he'll ask you to get him out of trig too- after all, nobody I know uses trigonometry in real life. However, you can bring your concerns to the teacher- question whether there has to be so much emphasis on this when there are other, more important aspects of the curriculum in your view. Mention your son is struggling- what can she do to help?

zaq

Tue, Sep 20 2011, 2:34 pm

DrMom wrote:

I would think that kids would learn script well before 4th grade. And yes, I still think it's necessary. It's good to know how to tell time on an analog clock too.

It also doesn't hurt to know how to do basic arithmetic functions, including long division, without resorting to a computer or handheld calculator. Power lines go down, batteries die, and solar doesn't work in dim light.

Seraph ↓

Tue, Sep 20 2011, 3:12 pm

I find it hilarious that people say you need script to write notes in class- it takes me 3 or 4 times as long to write the same thing in script as it done in print. And as a previous poster said, yea, some of my letters connect a bit when writing quickly, but thats just connected print, not script. My signature, for the record, is a garbled mash, half print, half script, and half scribble. (Yes, I know, three halves.)

I do think its important to know how to read script. The declaration of independence and other historical documents were written in script, you want to be able to read them.
I also heard that script does something good for cognitive development, though I don't remember exactly what.

I hate script. Still not sure if I'll be teaching it to my sons. I probably will at some point, but won't put emphasis on it at all.

multitask

Tue, Sep 20 2011, 6:32 pm

We learned script in 3rd grade and my teachers required us to write in script till about 7th grade. Then it was the girls chose to write whichever way she wants, as long as its clear and legable. I actualy find it easier to write in print. I never write script other than my signature and when writing a check.

↑ momx6 ↓

Tue, Sep 20 2011, 7:32 pm

thanks for all your responses.

My son can read and write in script, he learned it in 3rd grade. He just finds it difficult to write it neatly. He also gets things wrong on his spelling test bec. he doesnt write it neatly enough for the teacher to read.
I also dont want him to think he can get exempt from it totally.
I did write a note to the teacher explaining his frustrations involved with writing script.
My point of the post is that why does he have to stress out so much when its a skill that he most probably won't use once he finishes school. I know personally that I never write in script except to sign my name on checks or credit card receipts. I hate to write in script and I barely write at all (except plan books and mitzva notes for my kids...)

↑ momx6

Tue, Sep 20 2011, 8:32 pm

groisamomma wrote:

When I taught a younger grade, I had the students write the spelling words once in script and once for security in print. If I couldn't read the script, I just went by the print.

Now that's a great idea. Maybe I will tell my ds's teacher to do that. He lost way too many points last year!

September June

Tue, Sep 20 2011, 9:51 pm

I had the same problem in school. I used to get Cs in penmanship on my report card. I definitely lost points for spelling more than once (I also had a teacher who did what groisa momma did). Once I stated printing my handwriting got much better. Now, I never write in script, I write in 'messy print' as Seraph calls it.
I have no problem with schools teaching script, I just wish they didn't need to do classwork and assignments in script.
I'm curious, anyone here write in script still?

tikva18 ↓

Tue, Sep 20 2011, 11:14 pm

September June wrote:

Yes. I only write in script. It's very difficult for me to print as script is much more natural.

Handwriting builds the brain: http://online.wsj.com/article/......html
http://articles.chicagotribune.....ation
http://www.sbac.edu/~werned/DA.....y.pdf
and from the study linked above: "With regard to the considerable
differences in the writing task within and between these studies, the
substantial overlap in the spatial activation pattern strongly suggests
that the generation of handwriting movements per se activates a
distinct set of cortical and subcortical regions."
http://www.psychologytoday.com.....utism

invisiblecircus

Wed, Sep 21 2011, 6:45 am

September June wrote:

I'm curious, anyone here write in script still?

Yes. All the time!

I am really surprised by the responses here!

Do kids write exam papers on computers in your schools? Or do they write essay style questions in print?

I FIND A LARGE BLOCK OF PRINT WHETHER HAND-WRITTEN OR DONE ON A COMPUTER TO BE REALLY HARD ON THE EYES!

gp2.0

Wed, Sep 21 2011, 8:07 am

I prefer print, for reading and writing.

I have no patience to write and script takes longer to write legibly. If you write script quickly it's just a huge mess of loops and curves, legible only to you (and sometimes not even to you.)

As for signing a name, I think it looks a lot more babyish to sign your name in 'school-neat' script than it is to messy print it, or even better, just scribble it. Most people's 'script' signatures are just a scribble. Anyone can do a scribble with no knowledge of script whatsoever.

I sign everything in print. I was convinced a few years ago when a police officer signed my forms in print. I decided if it's good enough for a government official, it's good enough for me.

I've heard of a school in brooklyn that only teaches kids to write PRINT until second or third grade, and then everyone is phased into using computers all the time.

↑ DrMom

Wed, Sep 21 2011, 10:57 am

Just because your son isn't skilled at something does not mean the activity is not useful. Sometimes we need to do things that do not come easily to us.

I think writing notes to the teacher to please overlook your son's poor handwriting sends the wrong message to your son. The message should be: your teacher expects you to write in script, so let's work on improving your handwriting.

↑ lamplighter

Wed, Sep 21 2011, 11:42 am

I'm curious how old the people who are responding that they still use script are.
It seems to be generational. Most (generalizing here) people under the age of 30 or even 35 find print easier.

Mark my words in 10 years it will no longer be taught.

OP, unfortunately even though it is minimally useful, your son will still have to do learn and practice it because that's the school's policy.

↑ mosma

Wed, Sep 21 2011, 11:45 am

lamplighter wrote:

I'm 28 and I always write in script.

why wouldn't it be taught in 10 years? it's very useful. I find it MUCH easier to write in than print. and it looks prettier Smile