Educators attend seminar on cursive handwriting

PHOENIX, Ariz. (KSAZ) - Starting next year, elementary schools in Arizona will be required to teach one of the three time-honored "R's": Writing.

More specifically, cursive writing. When the new rules come into effect, schools will teach cursive handwriting through the fifth grade.

On Friday, there was a seminar to show teachers how to help kids master cursive writing. The goal: to have kids write better than a lot of adults.

"Cursive will help as to their brain development," said Bill Weaver, when asked why it is important to write in cursive. "A lot of times, once they are proficient with cursive, they write faster so they can produce more written work."

"It helps all students to be successful and use all parts of their brain, and be creative," said Michele Gillespie, a teacher with the Riverside School District.

Educators say cursive handwriting also teaches kids motor skills, and how to think ahead.