Thanks for the letter. Yes, I learned cursive also LONG ago, but haven't attempted it in ages. I'd say a matching-in-magnitude rite of passage was learning how to type. It was in eighth grade. No one wanted to take typing class but it was mandatory. I remember our typing teacher, Ms Smith, telling us all, "I know you don't like or like learning typing, but one day, you're going to look back and feel very grateful that you know how to type, and realize it's the most useful thing you learned in eighth grade." She was right. Typing of course doesn't tap into the kind of personality and connection that handwriting does. I always love Sandra's posts in that vein and it was fun to see your's as well. (I did have to enlarge it a fair bit to read it though.)
thank you for sharing your story about typing!! for me, I remember we didn't have typing class per se, but I had access to some typing games on CD-ROMs that helped me learn to type fast. One was a zombie shooter (there's nothing quite like monsters inches away from your face to improve typing accuracy)
You opened your reading with immense valedictorian speech energy and I’m here for it!! lol
I feel like the last time and only time I was required to use cursive aside from elementary school was when signing the SAT; they had like a sentence or paragraph I think we had to rewrite? I use it as much as possible though. Generally speaking, I don’t think a single day goes by where I’m not putting pen to paper in some fashion.
I enjoyed your cozy cursive letter listen-along. "Each letter will hold hands with its neighbors." How lovely.
I recall learning cursive in maybe second or third grade. I loved it so much, but I found it difficult to write 100% in cursive. So now my handwriting is a loose blend of cursive and print, which friends have compared to the doctor's handwriting you find hastily scrawled on a Rx pad :-)
Life feels lived, but not examined -- this is the realization I needed. Thank you, dear Christin
I found myself smirking while reading this letter. Your experience was pretty much the same as mine. I was able to read your handwriting almost 100%, and only after I read your credit notes at the end I discovered there was audio there all along to aid me. So I consumed it a second time, in 2D (reading while listening).
The only key difference I recall: our threshold was to write legibly, not cursive, so if you wrote in lower-case but legibly, you could graduate to ink.
Sep 26, 2023·edited Sep 26, 2023Liked by Christin Chong, PhD
Heartwarming to receive this in my inbox!
I learned to write in cursive in first grade, in my birth country (Russia, where everyone is taught to write in cursive upon starting elementary school -- often in pre-school -- and always in pen, never using pencil!), and have used it ever since in both of my now-native languages.
Upon moving to the US a couple of years later, I was surprised to observe cursive being taught only in third or fourth grade (as in your case), and by that point many classmates had been so accustomed to writing in print in those initial, crucial formative years that they never quite transitioned to everyday writing in cursive later in life.
It would be interesting to see some stats on what fraction of the population in different countries use cursive in their normal handwriting!
At least in my time, writing in print wasn't a thing in school at all. They start teaching cursive right away, in pen, and that's the expectation from everyone! I think kindergarten is when children are taught to write letters and simple words in print, but I recall cursive was taught in a pre-school (post-kindergarten) program too.
Aww Christin this inspired me so. What a lovely letter! And I am so glad that you felt inspired to read aloud <3
I learned to write cursive in the 4th grade as well and was such a slow writer that I've now adopted my own type of penmanship that is rarely legible by others. I see it as a secret code and it was the best for secret santa when my receiver of gifts in school always thought I was a boy because girls are supposed to have pretty handwriting with hearts as the dots on their i's and j's. But no, not me.
Anyways, I think I should like to finally learn calligraphy still rather than cursive. That feels a lot more special since afterall, I don't think that people today ever handwrite for speed. Especially when we have otter.ai
Love the analog-ness of this, and especially your little quips (like "excuses :)"). I have not written cursive in a very long time. Would be fun to give it a shot.
This brought back so many memories! Like you, I don't often use pen and paper any more. Though I write my kids a love letter each birthday and Christmas (they claim they cannot read my writing, but what the hey!)
Thanks for the letter. Yes, I learned cursive also LONG ago, but haven't attempted it in ages. I'd say a matching-in-magnitude rite of passage was learning how to type. It was in eighth grade. No one wanted to take typing class but it was mandatory. I remember our typing teacher, Ms Smith, telling us all, "I know you don't like or like learning typing, but one day, you're going to look back and feel very grateful that you know how to type, and realize it's the most useful thing you learned in eighth grade." She was right. Typing of course doesn't tap into the kind of personality and connection that handwriting does. I always love Sandra's posts in that vein and it was fun to see your's as well. (I did have to enlarge it a fair bit to read it though.)
thank you for sharing your story about typing!! for me, I remember we didn't have typing class per se, but I had access to some typing games on CD-ROMs that helped me learn to type fast. One was a zombie shooter (there's nothing quite like monsters inches away from your face to improve typing accuracy)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zs3M6oDcPlU
you're giving me an idea to practice better writing form by writing larger 🤔
Larger would help! I find the handwritten stuff really delightful.
That is the same argument my Dad used when he told me to take a "secretarial class" in my spare!
You opened your reading with immense valedictorian speech energy and I’m here for it!! lol
I feel like the last time and only time I was required to use cursive aside from elementary school was when signing the SAT; they had like a sentence or paragraph I think we had to rewrite? I use it as much as possible though. Generally speaking, I don’t think a single day goes by where I’m not putting pen to paper in some fashion.
Love this! 💙
❤️
I enjoyed your cozy cursive letter listen-along. "Each letter will hold hands with its neighbors." How lovely.
I recall learning cursive in maybe second or third grade. I loved it so much, but I found it difficult to write 100% in cursive. So now my handwriting is a loose blend of cursive and print, which friends have compared to the doctor's handwriting you find hastily scrawled on a Rx pad :-)
Life feels lived, but not examined -- this is the realization I needed. Thank you, dear Christin
I like how you say that the past few weeks feel lived but un-examined because you haven't been writing your newsletter <3
Also, this took me back to calligraphy class in 1st and 2nd grade. [shivers]
calligraphy in 1-2nd grade?! gosh that's starting young hahaha!! you must have incredible handwriting!!
sadly, no. It backfired
I found myself smirking while reading this letter. Your experience was pretty much the same as mine. I was able to read your handwriting almost 100%, and only after I read your credit notes at the end I discovered there was audio there all along to aid me. So I consumed it a second time, in 2D (reading while listening).
The only key difference I recall: our threshold was to write legibly, not cursive, so if you wrote in lower-case but legibly, you could graduate to ink.
...it is called cursive because it is a curse that we must pass along to future generations to torture their kindergartners with...
hahahahhaha I am not sure if they teach kids cursive anymore!! more like typing on the ipad (soon just voice???)
...let's be really real...they don't teach kids anymore...period...we will become cavepeople again only this time the caves will have vr goggles...
Heartwarming to receive this in my inbox!
I learned to write in cursive in first grade, in my birth country (Russia, where everyone is taught to write in cursive upon starting elementary school -- often in pre-school -- and always in pen, never using pencil!), and have used it ever since in both of my now-native languages.
Upon moving to the US a couple of years later, I was surprised to observe cursive being taught only in third or fourth grade (as in your case), and by that point many classmates had been so accustomed to writing in print in those initial, crucial formative years that they never quite transitioned to everyday writing in cursive later in life.
It would be interesting to see some stats on what fraction of the population in different countries use cursive in their normal handwriting!
First grade?! No wonder Russians have such neat handwriting :D How soon do you transition from print -> cursive?
At least in my time, writing in print wasn't a thing in school at all. They start teaching cursive right away, in pen, and that's the expectation from everyone! I think kindergarten is when children are taught to write letters and simple words in print, but I recall cursive was taught in a pre-school (post-kindergarten) program too.
Ehat a great idea. I learned how to write in school. I still remember the books and exercises.
Lovely message.
What a time capsule!!
Aww Christin this inspired me so. What a lovely letter! And I am so glad that you felt inspired to read aloud <3
I learned to write cursive in the 4th grade as well and was such a slow writer that I've now adopted my own type of penmanship that is rarely legible by others. I see it as a secret code and it was the best for secret santa when my receiver of gifts in school always thought I was a boy because girls are supposed to have pretty handwriting with hearts as the dots on their i's and j's. But no, not me.
Anyways, I think I should like to finally learn calligraphy still rather than cursive. That feels a lot more special since afterall, I don't think that people today ever handwrite for speed. Especially when we have otter.ai
let me know when you learn calligraphy, I would love to join you!! also more stories of Jens' Secret Santa past please.
Love the analog-ness of this, and especially your little quips (like "excuses :)"). I have not written cursive in a very long time. Would be fun to give it a shot.
I would love to see it! :D especially with your artistic take.
haha, I should not be given a pen - still dunno how to write cursive
so it wasn't a requirement for you in school?? I found out another friend of mine also had a teacher who gave out "authorization cards," haha.
This brought back so many memories! Like you, I don't often use pen and paper any more. Though I write my kids a love letter each birthday and Christmas (they claim they cannot read my writing, but what the hey!)
they will treasure the letters for years to come! <3
Please write more often. These letters from you and Sandra write have a special warmth.