“Although there are 26 letters in the alphabet, there are only four basic shapes that make up the structure of every lowercase cursive letter.

Fourth grade student Benjamin Arreola, 9, works on his cursive writing during Candace Bayer-Rivera’s class at Haddon Elementary in Pacoima on Thursday, May 23, 2019. (Photo by Ed Crisostomo ...

When third grade students make the transition from printing to cursive writing, they must learn 26 new lowercase and capital letter shapes. This is a time-consuming and often traumatic transition.

Proponents of cursive writing instruction say that although handwriting isn’t as much of a life skill as it was 20 or 30 years ago, students still need opportunities to learn and practice.

Montgomery; While other states opt out, Alabama plans to keep cursive in the classroom this fall. Updated: ; Jul. 10, 2012, 8:07 p.m. | Published: ; Jul. 10, 2012, 7: ...

A 77-year-old who won an award for penmanship offers a compromise: Old folks teach kids how to write in cursive, and kids teach old folks how to use smartphones.