European handwriting available in US?

[73349]

Okay, everybody I've met from the UK, Germany, etc., has lovely handwriting, and it looks like there is one style that is taught. Where can I buy a penmanship book that will teach that style?

 

A lot of the handwriting books in the US (including the ones I learned from) don't look very nice to me. I like Pentime a bit, and the Spencerian stuff (although I don't have a need to be that fancy), but if you know of something else that is used in Europe or has a similar style, please share here.

 

[maize]

Here are some PDF's for teaching French style cursive:

 

http://ekladata.com/NA-leg6bHeM0jsd3iFB6O3ioZjA.pdf

 

http://ekladata.com/w3b1_NxgyjITiB8iUL1-uzh7oG4.pdf

 

and French handwriting paper:

http://www.les-coccinelles.fr/lienpage1/graphisme/graphismelettrefichevierge3.pdf

 

school notebooks in France all have five lined writing paper (like the bottom, middle, and top lines in American handwriting paper, but there are lines between the bottom and top).

[maize]

Another French resource, pages showing how to write letters at near the bottom

 

http://www.momes.net/education/ecriture/graphismes.html

[maize]

In France, children are taught to write with a fountain pen and this is required throughout their schooling.

 

[Laura Corin]

British handwriting tends to be much simpler than what is taught in the US - it's a bit more like italic, so you learn to print with tails, then join up the tails.  I don't think of it as being especially attractive.....  You might find what you want here.

 

L

 

 

[nansk]

You can consider buying cursive writing books published in India. Here is an example.

[rdj2027]

Actually Germany has three different types of cursive, it is up to the school which one is being taught.  I learned "Lateinische Ausgangsschrift" http://www.amazon.de/1-Schuljahr-Schreiblehrgang-Lateinische-Ausgangsschrift/dp/3060822093, my son learned "Schulausgangsschrift" http://www.amazon.de/Schulausgangsschrift-Lena-Morgenthau/dp/3834603716/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1397041639&sr=8-1&keywords=Schulausgangsschrift and then there is the "Vereinfachte Ausgangsschrift" http://www.amazon.de/Schreiblernheft-Vereinfachte-Ausgangsschrift-van-Donk/dp/3860721763/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1397041701&sr=8-1&keywords=Vereinfachte+Ausgangsschrift.

 

 

[Serenade]

In France, children are taught to write with a fountain pen and this is required throughout their schooling.

Oh wow! That is impressive.

And here, so many school districts are doing away with cursive altogether. I don't think that is a good thing at all.

[Monica_in_Switzerland]

Another option is to try to find a downloadable font that you can make copywork from, since the French cursive books will probably have French words and phrases for copywork.  I used to have our local (Swiss) school districts font downloaded on our computer, but now it appears to be gone! 

[Amie]

"European handwriting" can mean various things, but here are some ideas and inspirations that may help:

 

http://www.penmanship.ca/shop/book-10-european-handwriting/  (you should really download the sample of this one and take a close look)

 

http://www.dafont.com/deutsche-normalschrift.font (so many different fonts on this site! this is just one of many German scripts)

 

http://www.scribd.com/doc/2534576/Vikas-Cursive-Writing-Book-Part-1

 

http://quotidianmoments.blogspot.com/2009/08/cursive.html

 

http://www.bmukk.gv.at/medienpool/15138/1994_56_beilage1.jpg

 

 

Also, we have really enjoyed these fountain pens: http://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Disposable-Fountain-Assorted-90029/dp/B00092PRCA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1397057870&sr=8-3&keywords=fountain+pens+pilot+varsity

(they were cheaper when I ordered them though--price fluctuates)

 

 

[Monica_in_Switzerland]

Oh wait!  I have re-found my Swiss-French font!  It's called GE Typo.  Take a look at it and if you like it, send me a PM and I'll email you the true font file, or you can download it from the site if you can follow the installation directions in French!.     

 

[momma2three]

I don't think it's necessarily the font style, but that many European schools (particularly in France, I think) kids are expected to have perfect handwriting, and they work at it HARD.  Every day.  And are graded on it, all through school.  Even at university, handwriting matters... I heard a story that universities in France that consider American students doing JYA pretty much a cash cow have had to crack down on professors giving American students bad grades just because of their handwriting.

 

This video might be interesting: http://archive.teachfind.com/ttv/www.teachers.tv/videos/france-teaching-handwriting.html

 

In America, I think the vast majority of schools teach handwriting in early elementary, and then never really care about it again.  Kids get sort of half-baked instruction, and then nobody ever cares about it again.  

[73349]

Thanks, all! Maybe if I work on it from now until he's ready to start, I'll be able to hand-write some models for him. :)

[Monica_in_Switzerland]

I don't think it's necessarily the font style, but that many European schools (particularly in France, I think) kids are expected to have perfect handwriting, and they work at it HARD.  Every day.  And are graded on it, all through school.  Even at university, handwriting matters... I heard a story that universities in France that consider American students doing JYA pretty much a cash cow have had to crack down on professors giving American students bad grades just because of their handwriting.

 

This video might be interesting: http://archive.teachfind.com/ttv/www.teachers.tv/videos/france-teaching-handwriting.html

 

In America, I think the vast majority of schools teach handwriting in early elementary, and then never really care about it again.  Kids get sort of half-baked instruction, and then nobody ever cares about it again.  

 

:iagree: Kids here spend a TON of time on handwriting.  It is THE main subject for the first few grades. 
 

[EmilyGF]

I want to second what Monica said. Also, at least in Germany, the teachers are very particular about what they accept. 

 

Two years ago, I was shown a German second grader's handwriting notebook with red pen marks correcting slight mistakes in slant, for example. I cannot imagine an American teacher making a big deal out of such a thing.

 

OTOH, I learned to write with a fountain pen in high school as a foreign exchange student and my cursive (which was the only handwriting I was allowed to use in school) improved immensely. I think just using a fountain pen can really help one's penmanship.

 

Emily