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Dual script cursive?


Earthmerlin
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OK, so my daughter's learned French script cursive since Kinder (at her French heritage Saturday school). She's taken pride in knowing how to write simple words 'like that'. Great, no problem. Until now, in 2nd grade PS. Since I was convinced cursive instruction was a lost art, I'm thrilled to see it isn't at her school. However, they're obviously teaching more US-centered script (with which I personally have no issue) but I'm concerned it'll confuse her or (gulp!) worse--make her 'forget' all that beautiful penmanship she's built over the past 3 years. Perhaps it's too trivial an issue but I see losing ground on this as more symbolic of her losing her multi-cultural background. Does this make sense?

 

I've already alerted her teacher of our situation. My daughter has cursive homework. Should I replace it with the same, but in French script? It's easy for me to do but is that the right course (or should I choose 'another battle'?)? I don't want my sensitive child to feel more 'different'. However, it's more a symbolic issue for me than anything else--& it strikes deeper than I anticipated.

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If the teacher is OK with your dd using French cursive, I would go ahead and stick with that--it's such a pretty script compared to most American versions.

 

The biggest differences are in the capital letters, so learning both wouldn't necessarily be a huge issue but for handwriting fluency I do think that sticking with one would be best.

 

Signed, someone who learned American cursive then moved to France in 6th grade and learned the French style.

 

Ps does she use a fountain pen for French cursive? French schools require them for everything, at least they did when I was there...

Edited by maize
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If the teacher is OK with your dd using French cursive, I would go ahead and stick with that--it's such a pretty script compared to most American versions.

 

The biggest differences are in the capital letters, so learning both wouldn't necessarily be a huge issue but for handwriting fluency I do think that sticking with one would be best.

 

Signed, someone who learned American cursive then moved to France in 6th grade and learned the French style.

 

Ps does she use a fountain pen for French cursive? French schools require them for everything, at least they did when I was there...

Ok, merci. I'll continue with what she's learned. No fountain pen here though.

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I agree. If the teacher is fine with it, just keep up the French cursive. After the first year of cursive instruction, kids can typically write however they write as long as it's legible. I've never heard of a 4th or 5th grader being forced to write strictly Palmer method (ick -- so ugly!).

 

Depending on which capitals the French school used, you might want to be sure she at least knows how to form the American style capitals so she will recognize the few that are significantly different, and point out the differences with the p. I bet she picks that much up just in class though.

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