I could use some opinions-especially from anyone with strong-willed (ahem...so everybody) and/or special needs moms(or dads): I am looking at penmanship (Penmenship? maybe I should be looking for spelling....) curriculum that is for manuscript writing. I would like to order it in the next few days. Grades 3-6 type as I already have my K covered. I looked at HWT, but their cursive writing looks substantially different from how I was taught...I guess not slanted or something - it doesn't "look" right to me. So can ya'll throw some ideas my way of ones you liked/didn't like? And if you know websites-that would also be super helpful as I am not the most technically inclined.... Thanks!!! And Ok-I'm absolutely sure somewhere in these threads this question has been asked probably like 3 times....but I can't figure out how to search the threads....der, I know.
Have you looked at A REason for Handwriting? I just found this last year and am using it with my Ker. The Teacher book goes K-6th...and then all you have to buy is the workbook each year. I plan on getting the one for my son who'll be a 4th Grader next year. My 6th Grader has pretty good writing, so I might not use handwriting with her. Anyway...they have samples at their website and stuff...which I think is www.areasonfor.com
Dont know what WHT is, but Memoria Press has a Handwriting program that I think looks nice. I cant afford it now, but in a few years, if the kids are still scrawling, I may get it for them. I believe its called New American Cursive or something like that.
HAHA-that was supposed to be HWT...which is Handwriting Without Tears... I found some free worksheet websites and Donna Young has some really nice lessons - that I think will easily take us thru our summer program (if you're not familiar with Donna Young-her website is prety cool for lots of things-I only have used the free peintouts....I think it's Donnayoung.org but don't quote me...)
If I had it to do over again, I would have my youngest just draw, color, do mazes, and any other small motor skill activity. I would not have even tried teaching penmanship till he was more capable. But that didn't happen and now he hates to put pencil to paper. Sigh. What is probably the most important is to be consistent, not changing from one style (program) to another. Find one and stick with it. Take advice from one who didn't do that. We are using Italic Handwriting series for our son. It seems easy enough to me. I don't like how they have the student write a cursive 'r'. The lessons are short and sweet but not exciting. Our daughter was bounced around from one program to another. Nonetheless, her penmanship is good.
There's a Hayes (I think) handwriting book called I Can Write Manuscript - CLE sells it for about $5.50. I think it's Zaner-Bloser Traditional. There's a series called Pentime that's available from Rainbow Resource Inc. that is very similar, maybe also Zaner-Bloser Traditional. But as far as that goes, the little handwriting workbooks from WalMart or the Dollar Store will suffice. One of my favorites is a write-on-wipe-off book that has a spiral top that I got from WalMart. The kids don't seem to think this is as "tedious" or "boring" as just plain old handwriting practice on plain paper with a pencil.
Someone recommended for me and we're not using Pentime. I like the "look" of it, the traditional cursive that I was taught (call me old fashioned, lol). The kids aren't thrilled about it, but honestly they're not thrilled about any kind of WORK!!! (example...we're lapbooking for fun this week and next and the ONLY "difficult" thing they have to do is write vocab. words on cards and they spent nearly 3 hours for 9 words and complained the entire time!!!! I could say write your name one time and it would take 30 minutes and tons of complaining!) Anyhow, it has a page of letter practice then a page with a paragraph to copy.
I'm not a big fan of handwriting programs as ever one I've ever tried has been a flop. I prefer using ABC Teach and printing their cursive letters and teaching formation that way, then I just use some copywork for practice. For my stubborn, don't like to write boys it works better than anything else.
I have to have the writing work. We're going to be doing alot of their work onthe computer and I'm just old fashioned that they still need to be able to use their hands for writing, as well as typing. Thanks for the spots to look! They started today and both did great-one likes it cuz its much faster than manuscript and the other will be writing much smaller-which is a major frustration for him (he's always saying how he writes too big). Thanks again!!!
Italic Handwriting Series by Barbara Getty and Dubay. It's also called the Getty/Dubay handwriting. It's very easy to move from print to cursive and the letters slant. I don't know how to describe it other than its very easy to use. Do a Google for a better description. Marty
