Amie Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 I am looking for ways to utilize our iPad as I teach handwriting (we'll be starting with cursive). I've seen some great-looking art/drawing apps, but I'm a little lost. I don't need anything super fancy or complicated. My son likes to play on the travel-size magnadoodle, so I'm thinking finger tracing on the iPad would be great...kind of like a slate, but using your finger...or anything else you can suggest. :bigear: Any ideas or recommendations? (Ha, if Charlotte Mason could see us now! :lol:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
veggiegal Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 We use one called ABC Cursive Writing by Deep Pocket series. It is very simple, doing one letter / number at a time, and you can trace over with your finger (or stylus). Because it does one letter at a time, it is good for beginners and each letter is large and friendly-looking. :D The downside is it does not allow practice connecting letters together (unless go you to free writing in 'doodle board' mode)--I have yet to find one that does this that I like. I think this app was 99 cents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnMomof7 Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 We use the Zaner Bloser Cursive one - http://bit.ly/pEKKl0 It works well on iPad2 in 2x mode. It is $1.99 and lets you have free choice of letter, upper case or lower case, includes videos showing stroke formation. It doesn't do connected letters either, but it is straight forward for learning the individual ones! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnMomof7 Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 I think I might have to get this one!! http://bit.ly/ntyXqc ABD Joined up - it's phonics integrated cursive with advancing levels of difficulty, so it starts with single letters, but moves onto joined letters and then words! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amie Posted September 24, 2011 Author Share Posted September 24, 2011 Thank you, ladies! These sound great--can't wait to go look at them. And I don't think the inability to join the letters would be a problem. We are just beginning the cursive strokes in the air and in a salt tray. I just want to get that muscle memory down pat and then hopefully move on to paper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amie Posted September 24, 2011 Author Share Posted September 24, 2011 (edited) Hmm, I found just a simple kid's writing pad app that might come in handy later. It looks like a basic writing tablet that kids use with middle lines. Edited September 24, 2011 by Amie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LittleIzumi Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 (edited) I think I might have to get this one!! http://bit.ly/ntyXqc ABD Joined up - it's phonics integrated cursive with advancing levels of difficulty, so it starts with single letters, but moves onto joined letters and then words! That one looks very interesting, but it is not regular cursive--it's the joined letters but with "S" looking just like a print "s" and "b" looking just a like a print "d" etc. ETA: I'm downloading "ABC Easy Writer - Cursive" for free. Edited September 24, 2011 by LittleIzumi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnMomof7 Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 That one looks very interesting, but it is not regular cursive--it's the joined letters but with "S" looking just like a print "s" and "b" looking just a like a print "d" etc. ETA: I'm downloading "ABC Easy Writer - Cursive" for free. You're right - check out the 'f' - pretty different, a bit more on the italics side of things I think, but rounder. I have to admit that I'm still intrigued... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amie Posted September 24, 2011 Author Share Posted September 24, 2011 That one looks very interesting, but it is not regular cursive--it's the joined letters but with "S" looking just like a print "s" and "b" looking just a like a print "d" etc. ETA: I'm downloading "ABC Easy Writer - Cursive" for free. Yeah, I am planning to do a very traditional (old-fashioned?) cursive, so that first one won't work for us either. I am downloading the ABC Easy Writer as well and I just downloaded one of the free doodle apps. Thanks again, everyone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mc26 Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 Coming out of lurker land to say thanks for the Zaner-Bloser link! My cursive-phobic son has reluctantly agreed to try it since that is what they are using at his private school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnMomof7 Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 Zaner-Bloser is really tried and true, it's a good choice :). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amie Posted September 24, 2011 Author Share Posted September 24, 2011 Coming out of lurker land to say thanks for the Zaner-Bloser link! My cursive-phobic son has reluctantly agreed to try it since that is what they are using at his private school. Welcome! So nice of you to join us...or let us know that you have! (:lol:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnMomof7 Posted September 28, 2011 Share Posted September 28, 2011 Just an FYI, ABC Joined Up does have a settings option on the first screen that lets you choose some alternate letter shapes, some of which are closer to traditional cursive. I'm playing around with it, and the teaching method is pretty neat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amie Posted September 28, 2011 Author Share Posted September 28, 2011 Just an FYI, ABC Joined Up does have a settings option on the first screen that lets you choose some alternate letter shapes, some of which are closer to traditional cursive. I'm playing around with it, and the teaching method is pretty neat. Thanks! I should go take a closer look at it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnMomof7 Posted September 28, 2011 Share Posted September 28, 2011 Here's what the educator who designed the ABC Joined Up app told me Amie! :) "We will mention that alternative letter shapes are available in the app description/blurb. The alternative letters are those shapes that are commonly used in the UK. Based on feedback from Canada and the USA we plan to include additional alternative letter shapes in the next release." If they do that, I think this would be the BEST app for learning cursive that I've seen so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amie Posted September 28, 2011 Author Share Posted September 28, 2011 (edited) Here's what the educator who designed the ABC Joined Up app told me Amie! :) "We will mention that alternative letter shapes are available in the app description/blurb. The alternative letters are those shapes that are commonly used in the UK. Based on feedback from Canada and the USA we plan to include additional alternative letter shapes in the next release." If they do that, I think this would be the BEST app for learning cursive that I've seen so far. Thanks for the update, Jennifer! ETA: P.S. I'm following your facebook App page now too. ; ) Edited September 28, 2011 by Amie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UmMusa Posted February 1, 2012 Share Posted February 1, 2012 Old thread, but I downloaded two apps and decided not to buy any books thanks to rec's from this! Thank you mammas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpskowski Posted February 1, 2012 Share Posted February 1, 2012 I am glad you brought this thread back up. What about smarty cursive? Their letter formation looks more typical. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*Jessica* Posted February 1, 2012 Share Posted February 1, 2012 We've been using a free app called Cursive Practice by Brainstop. It does have a few words and a sentence or two to allow practice of joining letters. It is also what I think of as "regular" cursive, the formation of the letters being the style I learned in school and that which I generally see other people using. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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