When people think of cursive, they often picture elegant loops and flourishes — but with SIS dyslexia therapy, cursive is so much more than handwriting. It’s a brain-based tool that helps students make stronger connections between letters, sounds, and meaning.
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Why Cursive Works: Cursive Handwriting and Dyslexia
✅ Smooth, Connected Movements Reinforce Sound-Letter Links Unlike print writing, where each letter is separate, cursive naturally connects letters. This continuous motion helps students understand how sounds blend together to form words — a key skill for reading fluency. Example: When a student writes “cat” in cursive, the flow of their hand mirrors the blending of sounds: /c/ — /a/ — /t/.
✅ Prevents Letter Reversals and Common Dyslexia Errors Many dyslexic students struggle with flipping or reversing letters like b and d. Cursive, with its unique strokes and entry points, reduces these reversals by giving each letter a distinct formation.
✅ Strengthens Memory Through Muscle Movement Cursive engages the kinesthetic memory — the brain’s ability to remember movement patterns. When students “deskwrite” (writing letters with their fingers on the desk) while saying the letter’s name and sound, they’re building muscle memory that reinforces what they see and hear.
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🧠 Cursive in Action: How It’s Taught in SIS— Cursive Handwriting and Dyslexia
In SIS lessons, cursive is more than just pen-to-paper practice — it’s a multi-step, multi-sensory experience:
✏️ Visual Recognition Students review letter cards, say the letter’s name, and use their fingers to “deskwrite” its cursive form.
🗣️ Sound Association Students link each letter to a keyword and its sound — for example, seeing “s” and saying “sun, /s/”.
🖐️ Full Integration They combine it all: looking at the letter, saying the keyword and sound, and deskwriting the cursive form.
This layered approach strengthens the neurological pathways needed for reading, writing, and spelling.
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📖 Beyond the Classroom: Lasting Benefits of Cursive Handwriting for Dyslexia
📚 Improved Reading Fluency — Writing in cursive helps students recognize word patterns and decode unfamiliar words.
🧩 Stronger Spelling Skills — Cursive encourages left-to-right tracking, reducing letter omissions or reversals.
🧠 Enhanced Focus and Coordination — The motor planning required for cursive strengthens attention and fine motor skills.
💡 The SIS Difference
SIS therapists believe in giving students every tool they need to succeed — and cursive is one of those tools. It’s not about handwriting perfection; it’s about building the neural connections that make reading and writing easier, smoother, and more automatic.
Because when students can connect letters, they can connect to learning — and that’s what SIS is all about.
📚 Research-Backed Resources:
Arfé, B., Corato, F., Pizzocaro, E., & Merella, A. (2020). The Effects of Script and Orthographic Complexity on the Handwriting and Spelling Performance of Children With Dyslexia. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 53(2), 96–108.
Berninger, V. W., & Amtmann, D. (2003). Preventing Written Expression Disabilities Through Early and Continuing Assessment and Intervention for Handwriting and/or Spelling Problems: Research Into Practice. In Handbook of Learning Disabilities.
Hebert, M., Kearns, D. M., Hayes, J. R., Bazis, P., & Cooper, S. (2018). Why Children With Dyslexia Struggle With Writing and How to Help Them. Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools, 49(4), 843–863.
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