Handwriting versus Writing

[tdbates78]

I have both Zaner Bloser 2M/2C and WWE 1 for my rising 2nd graders. I do think they, or at least one of them, needs to work on her handwriting. When flipping through the Zaner Bloser workbook it seems like there are plenty of writing opportunities in the form of full sentences and short paragraphs so it seems like both would be overkill, especially for my reluctant writers. Do I need both WWE and ZB? Can I get away with just doing ZB for writing, or should I drop ZB for WWE? I do want to start the 2C workbook later in the school year as we start introducing cursive. 

[wendyroo]

IMO, WWE is so, so much more than learning about full sentences.  I find it to be an invaluable tool to develop listening, thinking and composition skills.

 

I have dropped all handwriting "programs" for my kids, and instead teach handwriting skills through copywork and dictation (some from WWE, some from All About Spelling, and some about topics of interest).  This is working for us, but it does require an extra level of diligence on my part.  I can't have them do their WWE copywork independently, because I have to be right there correcting sloppy letter formation.

 

If it were me, I would either use both WWE and ZB, or I would drop ZB and teach/practice handwriting through WWE and other curricula.

 

Wendy

[fralala]

I haven't used 2M, but it seems to me like the beginning of 2C contains opportunities to respond to a prompt with a written sentence, but once you start cursive, the writing prompts aren't there anymore. So one option would be to use both resources, but not necessarily at the same time-- to postpone WWE entirely, or to use it on different days. (All kids are different, but mine actually like the Z-B workbooks-- not that their handwriting is exactly a ringing endorsement of the method, sadly-- and so that was a good way to have them practice a subject they otherwise might complain through.)