The Iowa Reading Research Center is thrilled to announce the launch of CLIFTER, our new, online program for cursive handwriting instruction.
CLIFTER (Cursive Letter Identification and Formation for Transcription and Early Reading) is a companion program to Literacy LIFTER, our print handwriting program released last summer. CLIFTER is a free application available to help teachers implement quality, explicit instruction in cursive handwriting.
Like LIFTER, CLIFTER provides educators with flexible, accessible instructional materials for cursive handwriting instruction, including step-by-step instructional videos, printable materials, and more. CLIFTER is designed to follow a scope and sequence that systematically introduces cursive letters and words based on similar letter strokes. Alternatively, the tool is also customizable to individual teacher needs, meaning that materials can be accessed in an order that aligns with a classroom’s general reading curriculum.
In national surveys, educators tend to report time constraints as a major barrier to classroom writing instruction. CLIFTER aims to streamline cursive handwriting instruction for educators, making it easier to incorporate into everyday reading and writing curricula.
“We created CLIFTER so educators could quickly select specific letters for instruction, find videos showing how to form each letter, and download materials to print,” explains Iowa Reading Research Center Director Shawn Datchuk.
While cursive writing may seem antiquated, it is making something of a comeback in recent years, with new education policy requiring cursive handwriting instruction in states like California, Iowa, and Oklahoma.
According to a recent article written for The Conversation by Datchuk, preliminary evidence suggests that cursive handwriting may improve various literacy skills, including handwriting legibility, spelling accuracy, and more.
“Even in a computer age, handwriting is here to stay. Whether it is in print or cursive, proficient handwriting allows students to note important information and express ideas in a quick, easy fashion,” says Datchuk.
Cursive handwriting instruction also has social and cultural benefits, as students who can successfully read cursive writing gain access to a wider range of print materials, from primary source documents (like the Declaration of Independence) to birthday cards from grandma.
As with any literacy skill, it is important that cursive handwriting instruction be both systematic and explicit in order for students to receive the maximum benefits of the practice. To learn more about effective instruction in cursive handwriting, check out CLIFTER, our new application and eLearning module.