We decided to pull our 2nd grader out of public school to homeschool a few weeks ago. He is a lefty with some fine motor challenges (which are being addressed in OT) and writing has always been a huge source of frustration for him - his brain just works so much faster than his hands. He and I have had several conversations about it, and we agreed that cursive might be easier for him than printing because the pencil stays on the page, but I'm really struggling to find the "right" program for him. My first thought was Getty-Dubay (I realize it's not true cursive, but I care much more that he can learn to write fluidly and legibly than I do for any particular font) but then I thought the slant would be too tough for him being a lefty. I felt like an upright script would be better, so we started HWT (Cursive Kickoff) and...I just don't love it. I got over my initial issue (that I just dislike their font) but it just feels...not right, I guess, for some reason. I also haven't been incredibly impressed with the company - I find their website and resources hard to navigate, and their CS has been less than helpful when I've reached out. (Off-putting, but I suppose not actually a deal-breaker as we are currently using the program.) His OT uses Loops and Other Groups (which I've heard good things about in general) but again...it's slanted...and I couldn't find much on the internet as far as a worksheet creator (or similar) goes, which makes me feel like it might limit us down the road. I'm just not sure. I've also looked at Cursive Logic, Handwriting Lessons through Literature, the left-handed book from Preventing Academic Failure, and some other lefty cursive book on Amazon. I do realize that most people develop their own style...but my kiddo is 2e (adhd/autistic and gifted) and is incredibly literal - I feel like it might be really tough for him to understand that it's ok for his writing to *not* slant if he's learning from a program that insists that it should. ETA: It's also entirely possible that it wouldn't bother him at all, or that he would be totally fine with a slanted script. I just don't know. I'd love to hear from people who are educating/have educated a kiddo with similar issues - what worked for you? What didn't? What is our best bet for neat, easy-to-write handwriting?

We've been out of the homeschooling loop for several years. My 11 and 12 year olds can hardly remember any of the cursive they learned and my 8 and under kids have never learned any. They all have atrocious penmanship and I'd like to start cursive with the ones that are second grade and up. I'm looking for suggestions of programs that are either geared towards older kids or would work for them. Nothing too time consuming on my part if it can be avoided.

CursiveLogic.com I am looking at this for my 12yo son. We have tried New American and Getty-Dubay over the last two years without much success. The reviews I have been able to find look promising. Interested in hearing your experience and wondering if the webinar is necessary.

I'm wondering if anyone with multiple children who taught one or more cursive first and the other children manuscript first, or vice versa, would be willing to share some of the pros and cons you discovered. If you were teaching another child, which way would you choose, now that you have tried it both ways? I taught my oldest cursive first but am considering teaching his sisters to print first, followed by a quick intro to cursive for composition once the manuscript is mastered. I would be using LOE manuscript style.

I have a 3rd grader and a 1st grader. We started out with Getty Dubay Italic and my DS was into Book D and my DS was into Book C. After repeated requests by my DS, I have switched them both to Cursive First for a more simple and traditional cursive and because we use Spell to Write and Read. Obviously, we did printing first. So far, we have followed the directions and done all the steps (saying the strokes out loud, doing it with our finger- in the air, on the card and in salt, writing it with a dry erase marker and finally writing it on paper) with the beginning strokes and letter a. However, we are all finding it boring and tedious. My DS keeps chomping at the bit to just get to the writing. He would be fine to do that- he has very neat writing and attention to detail. My DD (6) has a harder time with neatness although her motor skills are fine, so she would benefit from more, I think. The only reason I hesitate to skip any steps in the process is because I want them to know the how-to inside out, not just copy. But, at the rate we are going, we'll never finish because it's the first to get dropped when we get busy since we all find it to be drawn out. Do any of you who use Cursive First NOT do all the steps and just say the strokes and write it? How well did that work for you in the long term? Any other suggestions? I would like both of them to work thru cursive by the end of this year (and they want to also!). Help! Thanks in advance!

I have a 4th and 1st grader using A Reason for Handwriting. The 4th grader and my older two girls have all loathed cursive. They all have also been in public school for part of their school career, where cursive is taught but not required to be used. I am seriously considering ditching cursive instruction because I don't know if it's worth dying on a hill over. Any thoughts?

I know we've had several conversations about the value of cursive writing and I've searched through quite a few of them. I'm trying to find links to any published articles that discuss the value of cursive writing, or conduct studies/experiments to connect penmanship skills to anything else. I am especially wanting to find academic papers or peer-reviewed journal articles on the subject. Does the Hive have any leads for me?

So, my 5 1/2 son wants to learn cursive instead of print. His printing is okay. He holds his pencil in a different position (angles a little away from him), which he is improving on. He started learning how to write I guess around 4, but we never pushed him. I just started a handwriting curriculum about a month ago. Anyhow, he does know his uppercase and lowercase letters. We have already started FLL. What thoughts, opinions do you guys have? What have been your experience? Repercussions? Advantages? TIA!

Does anyone have a cursive resource you love in Spanish? (I hate HWOT's cursive, and I do prefer a slight slant.)

We have used parts of Memoria Press curriculum for Kindergarten and First grade (mostly using the lesson plans, copywork, phonics, literature suggestions). We use our own math program. We did not use the New American Cursive 1 book last year because my 7 year old had broken her arm in the fall and spent much of the fall not able to write. When it was healed we just did printing. So, this year, do I need to go back and do New American Cursive 1 with her or do I just do the suggested New American Cursive 2 book that is listed in the 2nd grade curriculum?

Not sure if this has been shared already. Interesting piece on the New York Times website - "What's Lost as Handwriting Fades" about brain processes and printing/cursive writing. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/03/science/whats-lost-as-handwriting-fades.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&smid=tw-nytimesscience Erica in OR

In the space of one week, DS has had to sign forms three times, each form being required for something or other at the high school level (e.g. competition, testing etc). We didn't spend any time learning cursive because he really didn't want to. So all three times, he just printed his name where it says to sign. Does anyone know if this will be an issue when he is older e.g. for college forms and such? Maybe for his driving license?

There is a lot on currclick, and I am sure elsewhere. Can you recommend your fave? This is for my 8 year old primarily, but I would also love to find something i can use with my 11 yr old to brush up on his cursive. I have heard lighthouse publications on currclick is good, but it is a bit pricey, and I am not sure if I need a color printer (which I don't have...) Thanks!

My oldest two kids (almost 9yo 3rd grader and 8yo 2nd grader) are so excited about learning cursive this year but I am not loving the curriculum we are using. We have A Reason For Handwriting but it spends the first 26 lessons on learning how to form the letters before the kids ever move on to writing even simple words in cursive. It just seems to be taking forever. Or maybe I am just doing it wrong? We spend a week on each lesson- and each lesson has 1 letter- so that's 6 months before you ever start to write actual words & phrases. I can't decide if I should just speed it up to a lesson a day or if it would be better to just switch to another program. Either way- I'd love to hear recommendations for other cursive programs that you've enjoyed. My kids are so enthusiastic about learning cursive that I'd hate to see them lose their steam simply because this program seems to be dragging on.

Dh and I were talking this morning about cursive. I have taught both my boys print and cursive. But I know that at least 8 states have dropped cursive from schools. And many people feel that it is no longer necessary. My question is this: What about signatures? I know of only 2 people who actually print their signature when signing documents. It makes them unique and harder to forge. Will printed "signatures" be more common now? For those of you not teaching cursive, are you going to still teach your children how to sign their names in cursive? Not as exciting as cupcakes, I know...... :001_smile:

Does anyone know if there is a difference (besides the large price difference) in purchasing this curriculum from the Teach Me Joy website or Currclick? Does more come in the one from Currclick? I also do want to get the copywork that correlates with Teach ME Joy Cursive that seems to only be available to purchase from Currclick. I tried emailing the Teach Me Joy website contact, but I have not received a response in over a week now. Anyone?

So, in my search for a handwriting program for my 4, 6, and 7 year olds (first year homeschooling), I've been reading a lot about teaching cursive first. My 7yo dd (just finished ps 1) already has a fairly good foundation in print, but she is still very messy, without spaces and writes many of her letters/numbers backward. My 6yo ds (just finished ps K) is still a beginning writer, and my 4yo ds will be just beginning work on penmanship. So, who has done cursive first? What are your thoughts? Also, for the two who have been in ps, and have had a start with printing, do you think it would be good to correct the problems they're having with print before moving on to cursive, or just jump right in and address the printing later?

Is cursive handwriting going by the wayside? Do you think in few years the SAT’s will no longer require it for their essay portions anymore? Are we hanging on to an archaic ‘art form’ when we could be more legible and more productive with print and type? This is my Sunday afternoon debate with DD (age 10 grade 6). She can do it, she can read it, but doesn’t prefer it AT ALL.

I like D'nealian modern cursive and Zaner-bloser simple cursive. I'm looking at Cursive First, A reason for handwriting and Pictures in cursive but any suggestion is welcome!

Has anyone had experience with Teaching Cursive! by Linda Corson? There is a sample of the cursive in her program when you 'search inside this book' at Amazon.com.

My son is halfway through 3rd grade, so I thought it was time to introduce cursive. Any helpful tips on curriculum that has worked for you would be great!!! Joelle

As our first day of homeschool is quickly approaching, I have more and more questions! My dd (grade 5) learned cursive handwriting for the last two years at public school using the Zaner-Bloser Simplified style. She commented to me that she has difficulty reading other people's cursive writing. So my plan is to write notes and instructions in cursive to give her practice reading it. But I was wondering - at this point, do I need to do any formal handwriting work with her? Or is it enough to simply require her to do a portion of her work (e.g., final drafts) in cursive, and if I find a problem with anything in particular to review that portion of her handwriting? Thanks!

Can someone explain to me why Abeka teaches Cursive as their main writing before they teach manuscript? I am starting k4 this year with my daughter and I know she isn't ready for Cursive. I purchased the manuscript curriculum to teach her first but I am confused why they would do cursive first. Any ideas??

I found this at one point, and it worked great, but I lost it! You type in the copywork, and it spits out the copywork in cursive and has lines for the kids to copy on. Thanks!

I didn't see handwriting in the schedules posted for 4th grade - are people dropping that or what are you using? Also curious whether you are having them do all (or most) work in cursive now. And what about typing?