Have you taught handwriting without Manuscript Paper?

[Food4Thought]

Just how important is Manuscript paper, anyway?

 

I ask because my DS6 goes completely nutty at the sight of those 3 lines. It's like information overload. Even the two lines on Handwriting Without Tears confuse him to bits (and we've been through all the explanations under the sun and somehow fought our way through HWT for K). He sees me writing on plain lined paper, and he wants to write on plain lined paper.

 

Lately, he's done his copywork using the Mead RediSpace notebooks. He really likes these. But I'm not sure if I'm missing something by skipping the 3-line stage. I don't expect him to have good handwriting - just legible writing at some point.

 

Am I ruining him forever by skipping the 3-line manuscript paper?

[nansk]

If your ds is able to write the letters in the correct size (letter body height v/s ascender height v/s descender height) then it is all right to use single lined paper.

[Farrar]

Handwriting Without Tears doesn't use it because they say it can be confusing. They do introduce it along with other types of lined paper as one way to write though. I would look at that.

[Food4Thought]

Thanks to you both. :)

[Dmmetler]

Some schools of thought say that you should use NO lines at all in Kindergarten, because it is visually confusing for some children and frustrating if they cannot yet stay within the lines, so try that, or just a single line.

 

Is the paper he's using raised line? If so, you can get a kit from braille suppliers to make raised lines, which might be a less expensive option (I've never tried it without the kit, but it's essentially a T-square-type ruler, a neoprene pad to put under the paper so you can dent it, and a wheel like a small pizza cutter-you run the "cutter" along the ruler to make the raised line on the other side). You can also use the same sort of system, but with a stylus, to raise coloring book picture lines, which can be helpful for kids who struggle with staying in the line and make them feel more successful.

[Melissa B]

I taught all of my kids using unlined paper. We use unlined paper for all of our work. I don't think any of my children are ruined for life. :D

[Food4Thought]

I taught all of my kids using unlined paper. We use unlined paper for all of our work. I don't think any of my children are ruined for life. :D

 

Just to clarify - are you saying you used perfectly plain paper, like sketch paper? DS writes a lot of his "notes" to us on scratch paper, and seems comfortable with that. I actually prefer plain paper myself. I imagine he would eventually start writing smaller and closer together on his own. Hmmmm... you've given me something else to consider. Thanks.

 

dmmetler, we haven't used the raised paper. I can see how that might work. I have embossing tools I could try, I'll see if that helps too.

[Ellie]

Spalding and its spin-offs recommend NOT using paper with a middle line, so that children learn from the start how to write properly sized letters.