Introduction to Cursive Writing

What Is Cursive Writing?#

Cursive writing is a style of handwriting where the letters in a word are joined together in a flowing, connected script. You might have seen cursive writing on birthday cards, letters from grandparents, or in old books. In Grade 3, you will begin learning to write in cursive!

How Cursive Is Different from Print#

In print writing (sometimes called manuscript writing), each letter is written separately. You lift your pen or pencil between letters.

In cursive writing, the letters connect to each other in smooth, flowing strokes. You rarely lift your pen within a single word.

Why Learn Cursive?#

You might wonder: Why learn cursive if I can already print? Here are some good reasons:

1. Speed — Once you practice, cursive is faster than printing because you lift your pencil less often.
2. Signatures — Your personal signature is usually in cursive. Every adult has one!
3. Reading historical documents — Many important historical documents, letters, and diaries are written in cursive. Knowing cursive lets you read them.
4. Brain development — Research shows that learning cursive exercises fine motor skills and can help with memory and creativity.
5. Tradition — Cursive connects you to generations of people who wrote this way.

The Cursive Alphabet#

There are 26 lowercase cursive letters and 26 uppercase cursive letters. In Grade 3, we focus on lowercase letters first because they are the most commonly used and easier to learn.

What You Will Need#

To practice cursive, you will need:

• A pencil (softer lead pencils work best for beginners)
• Lined paper with three lines (a bottom line, a middle line, and a top line, plus a dashed line in the middle)
• Patience and regular practice!

Learning cursive is a skill — like learning a musical instrument or a sport, it gets better with regular practice.