When did your students begin writing cursive? I remember always being able to read cursive, but when I learned to write cursive at 8yos, I HATED it because it was painstaking and stupid if I could already write. Plus, no matter how much I did, it was never any good. However, to this very day, I wish I could write better cursive, there really isn't much difference between my cursive today and when I was 10years old. My signature is probably the best looking cursive I have ever learned to produce and thats not saying much! I know it isn't a big deal, but I do think that cursive is beautiful and worth knowing, if for no other purpose then to NOT embarrass yourself. When I look at old fashioned books and children's works, I'm appalled by todays standards. I think that the main problem is they wait until 3rd grade to INTRODUCE cursive to students. I remember wanting to learn cursive back when I was learning to read, around 4yos, but being told/made to learn manuscript instead. 6yo is almost ready for his first formal writing lessons and I am seriously considering introducing him to writing in cursive. There are tons of free worksheets around the web. If he takes to them, then I would buy him the New American Cursive writing program from Memoria Press (they have a secular path). 6yo can already write in manuscript on his own, having never had any formal lessons. Have any of you introduced cursive first? How long did that last? Did your students drop it as soon as they'd done their daily dose or worksheet? If I start him off on cursive, then it will be required that he use it for everything academic this entire year at least (I dont see the problem with that, myself) sentences, book reports, science assignments etc...
Yes, I introduced it first, and we'll be going back to it again this year. When I introduced it, it was more conceptual than practice because his hand wasn't ready (it wasn't even ready for scribble). I do think starting with cursive is a good idea, though. http://www.donpotter.net/pdf_files/cursivefirst.pdf Abeka starts with cursive, too. They have a much more condensed version of the above link, but it still gets the point across.
I wasn't planning on teaching cursive until 2nd grade BUT I made the mistake of sending my oldest out for school last year and it was an Abeka school which starts Cursive in K5, so because oldest was doing it my 5yo insisted on learning it. So they can both use cursive and print, but neither one is perfected so we are still working on both.
We're using Handwriting without Tears. Personally I like the simple style it teaches. I started homeschooling him for 4th grade. They hadn't taught it yet when he was in 3rd grade ps. (go figure)
The curriculum we use starts in 2nd grade. My dd did ok but now my ds will be learning it this year and his printing is pretty bad. I don't expect great results with cursive this year. In fact, I'm dreading the introduction. He's going to hate it more than printing
My oldest tried to teach herself in 1st grade! It was a mess to reteach her. I wait. Personally, don't have an educated reason. Truly. I'm using A Reason for Handwriting this year - it's the only cursive I'll make my son do AS LONG AS his manuscript is neat! He's incredibly motivated because he HATES cursive! I think he'll need to learn it, so at the very least, he'll be able to read his future wife's handwriting. LOL (comment compliment's of IEW's Andrew Pudewa!!). My youngest will learn manuscript...if she pulls what my oldest pulled, I will change over so that i can start her out right. I know there are many a curricula that will start with cursive...I've read lots on it, too....so it seems like valid research....I think it really depends on the kid. My only experience (obviously) is my own kids.
We're introducing it this year (1st grade) cause he asked to learn it. I'm hoping it'll help his neatness some Here's his current handwriting level- http://gapeachhomeschool.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/08-10-2010-060215pm.jpg
DS8 is about to start 3rd and I really have no designs on teaching it. My cursive is so horrible that I gave up using it a few years ago. The only reason why I'll introduce it eventually is so the boys can read it. Honestly, I think it's just stupid that we have two different styles of writing.
When I was in school, it wasn't introduced until third grade, about last half of the year. The CLE that I'm using now introduces cursive in the second grade, after some review of printing. Different kids are ready to do cursive at different ages, of course, but it's surprising that some kids with horrible printing actually become more legible with cursive. Cursive helps some kids to see words as a unit instead of a collection of marks on paper, so it helps them read print, too. Besides CLE, I also like Pentime, which transitions in second grade. Both these are more similar to the old Zaner-Bloser (with curls) like I was taught, where ZB themselves have switched to the Modified form (with canes instead of curls). I think that cursive should be introduced and practiced for at least a year (and for some kids, two years) before requiring everything they write to be in cursive - like in fourth or fifth grade. Often in second/third/fourth, I'll have my students take their spelling tests in print, then go back and write each word in cursive next to the print one.
I will be introducing it in Jan - with my then 8yo. I really like the idea of starting with cursive first, but writing at all was such a trial for him until about a year ago, that I truly felt it was better to stick with small, simple successes. My current 3yo has radically different motor skills than his brothers at the same age, and I'm wondering if it will be worth it to start him comparatively sooner. For me, handwriting/script is a very important skill. I've read studies of writing/composition standardized tests scores that show that tests written in cursive score better than those written in print. The theory was that the cursive writing allowed the writer's thoughts to flow more freely onto the paper. Not that I'm worried about my kids taking standardized tests; more that I want them to have that skill available to them for whatever's in their future.
I would love to pick up something for my stepdaughter. She's going into 6 grade in a PS and they haven't taught it yet. *rollseyes*
We are starting to do cursive this year (2nd grade) for dd. We use A Reason for Handwriting and will be using their Transition book this year. You start out doing manuscript and then by the end of the year you are doing cursive.
ooooh I wish I had my good computer back. I have a link on it for a great site where you can make trace and write for cursive. So the writing can be whatever you want. I used it last year for my GR1 as he wanted to learn. I also showed him the individual letters and practiced on the white board with him. He is actually pretty good with it compared to his block printing. Still working on it day by day.
We started at 7 1/2 with my two oldest, they both like it better than printing, so it was an easy transition. We also used Handwriting w/o Tears and I have never had to struggle with getting them to do it.
We used A Beka Cursive in K-5. My dd was asking to do cursive. She had already mastered printing, now she has mastered cursive. I think every child is different.
Ems started cursive in K-5 also. She didn't have any problems with it. I agree with Ohio Mom; each child is different.
