ST. LOUIS — In 2010, more than 40 states adopted the same standards for English and math called the Common Core standards. Missouri and Illinois are among the states that have adopted the guidelines.

Have you written a letter or signed your name and then stopped, self-conscious about the state of your cursive? Can anyone really read this? Should I start over? Maybe I should just scribble something ...

Bring back the practice worksheets of yore, perfect that slant, and — please — loop those lowercase Ls and Gs. Just as phonics-based reading recently returned to favor after years of emphasizing whole ...