freemanfamilyof6 Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 Need some ideas of open and go cursive handwriting programs/workbooks? I am using A Reason for Handwriting, and I don't really like it for cursive. I am wanting more emphasis on strokes for my 2nd grade age daughter. Any thoughts? I also think she would do better with larger letters for examples and to trace right now. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 (edited) The Carson-Dellosa handwriting comes with both vertical and slanted pages. The left-handed vertical hand is similar to HWOT and Spalding 6th edition; if the instructions in the above workbook are not detailed enough, you could supplement. Read Spalding no matter what you end out choosing. You might find you don't need open-and-go after all. I don't. I just have the student apply the Spalding scripts when she does her How to Tutor copywork. Edited November 6, 2012 by Hunter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurelia Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 The Joy of Handwriting from Teach Me Joy might be what you're looking for. We used it last year and I thought it was wonderful. Ariel liked it, too. After that, we moved on to Pictures in Cursive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freemanfamilyof6 Posted November 6, 2012 Author Share Posted November 6, 2012 Does the Joy of Handwriting also introduce Uppercase Cursive letters? I can't tell from the sample online. Also, is there focus on strokes? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurelia Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 Yes, the uppercase letters are introduced. It doesn't focus specifically on strokes, but it has a script for making each letter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boscopup Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 I'm using Pentime, which is straight forward. It doesn't start with strokes, but it has a section that works on them about halfway through the cursive section of the book. I find that odd, but whatever... My son is learning cursive, and it's easy on me. We're using the grade 2 book, and we skipped the first half (manuscript). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anmom Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 We started New American today and DS is loving it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotSoObvious Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 My girls, one of whom has dysgraphia, have beautiful cursive thanks to CLE handwriting books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommee & Baba Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 Both my girls use handwriting without tears cursive & cursive success and its very much open and go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alte Veste Academy Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 We use Zaner-Bloser. It is cheap, open and go, effective, and pretty. Cursive instruction does begin with strokes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timetoteach Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 We are using a Scholastic PDF book I got during the dollar days that is surprisingly good -- Cursive Writing made easy and fun by Kama Einhorn. We have substituted some more traditional loopy letters (capital E and C so far) at my daughter's request. It has some fun activities and poems my DD enjoys. It lacks detailed instruction on pencil hold, something I keep meaning to look up as my DD is a lefty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
serendipitous journey Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 We use Zaner-Bloser. It is cheap, open and go, effective, and pretty. Cursive instruction does begin with strokes. Us too. I've also liked the Evan-Moor daily handwriting books if extra practice is needed -- the assignments are more-or-less interesting, though the pages are B&W (unlike ZB, which is color). I also like having StartWrite software to generate lined paper (I've formatted some for our spelling tests) and copywork easily. It's isn't perfect but it does well for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
didadeewiththree Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 I'm looking to switch from Zaner Bloser to Rod and Staff Penmanship because I like how all the letters in cursive start in the base line. I also second the recommendation on reading the Writing Road to Reading no matter what program you use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ByGrace3 Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 We use Zaner-Bloser. It is cheap, open and go, effective, and pretty. Cursive instruction does begin with strokes. :iagree: so easy to use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freemanfamilyof6 Posted November 7, 2012 Author Share Posted November 7, 2012 Do you need a teacher's edition for the Zane Bloser? Or can you just buy the student edition? Is there a digital version available? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alte Veste Academy Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 Do you need a teacher's edition for the Zane Bloser? Or can you just buy the student edition? Is there a digital version available? I don't know about a digital version, but I have only ever purchased the student editions. They are very self-explanatory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
serendipitous journey Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 I don't know about a digital version, but I have only ever purchased the student editions. They are very self-explanatory. I haven't seen a digital. DO NOT buy a teacher manual for the handwriting (unless you are quite well funded and think it'd be fun). If you want to follow their teaching method, discuss each letter/stroke before practicing (words that have it &c) and have the child draw it in the air a few times or trace it on their desk. At the ZB site you can peek inside the teacher lessons if you want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m0mmaBuck Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 We switched to Pentime this year and DS's penmanship has greatly improved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NASDAQ Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 Peterson starts with the strokes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jpoy85 Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 I was leaning towards Horizons Penmanship, but I like the look of Abeka Writing with Phonics 1 (because it breaks it down into boxes then sentences, etc) but i dont really know? :confused: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunriseiz Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 (edited) We use Zaner-Bloser. It is cheap, open and go, effective, and pretty. Cursive instruction does begin with strokes. Do you buy this directly from Zane-Bloser or is there another distributor? This looks like what DD needs. Thanks! ETA: Have you used their iPad app? I wonder if it would make practice more fun.... Edited November 8, 2012 by sunriseiz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisB Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 We use Teaching Cursive! It starts with strokes. The program is simple and straight forward. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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