dorothy Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 I do not see people posting about this but it looks good to me - clean and simple cursive. Anyone like/dislike it? If I go with it, do I need to buy the TM? What should I buy for a 4th and 6th grader? The 6th grader has bad handwriting. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlockOfSillies Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 I've liked their stuff. You don't need the TM. Go by grade level to choose the books. You might want to look at the self-teaching book on penmanship for your older dc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maria/ME Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 This is totally a matter of opinion and if you like ZB go for it! I found in our personal experience that the ZB that I grew up with was too cumbersome, difficult that is, and didn't make sense in terms of some upper case (and lower) letters. I don't like how cursive Z's, G's, B's, P's, Q's etc don't look like their printed counterparts. Many people like it tho for it's old fashioned quality. I found that Getty Dubay was beautiful to look at and transitioned very easily from printed to cursive. The only thing negative I can think of is that, at times, one has to lift the pencil more than you do with ZB. ZB is more continuously fluid if that makes sense. My dd11 doesn't have the best penmenship and GB seems to work very well for her. Especially in the last couple months she's taken off with it and made it "her own"! I'm sure, however, you will get some ZB fans here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susie in CA Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 We use Zaner Bloser and like it. We have been using for a long time. Susie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dorothy Posted February 11, 2009 Author Share Posted February 11, 2009 can you tell me what I need to purchase to instruct the children? Do I need a TM and student workbook? OR, just the student workbook? Anything else? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lulubelle Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 We have done the K and are on the grade one and it is working very well for us! We do not use the teacher manual. I had my son sample 3 writing programs and my son fit ZB the best. I actually wanted another program, but it wasn't going to work for him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsmom Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Use it, love it , and recommend it. TM not needed! My son loved this program. I also use their grammar program and they have a great spelling program. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helena Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 We are using 4th grade cursive, 1st grade printing, and 2nd grade cursive. This is our second year using it, and I haven't heard any complaints so far! I don't use the t.m. The cursive looks nice and the pictures are easy on the eye. Have you looked at the sample pages on their website? I have been thinking about trying SmithHand, or Spencerian Cursive next year just to bump it up a notch. Most likely my girls would want Z.B. back:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melmc Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 I'm using K, 2C and 5. No teacher's manual is needed. It's very straight forward. The kids never complain about doing their handwriting pages, either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JABarney Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 I have really enjoyed ZB and I have seen great improvements in handwriting. I also enjoy using their fonts online to print out copywork etc. We have just finished up first grade and will be starting 2c shortly. May I ask you how many pages you have your dc complete in one setting? Or time per week? I know it is child dependent, I am just trying to plan the transition to cursive so that it will not be too much new material at once. (even though both dc ask every day if we can begin cursive!) Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dorothy Posted February 13, 2009 Author Share Posted February 13, 2009 thier site or some other site? tia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Novafan Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 I looked at ZB for cursive, but ended up going with Cursive Connections and my boys have been very successful with CC. http://www.cursiveconnections.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melmc Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 I have really enjoyed ZB and I have seen great improvements in handwriting. I also enjoy using their fonts online to print out copywork etc. We have just finished up first grade and will be starting 2c shortly. May I ask you how many pages you have your dc complete in one setting? Or time per week? I know it is child dependent, I am just trying to plan the transition to cursive so that it will not be too much new material at once. (even though both dc ask every day if we can begin cursive!) Thanks! I have my son do 2 pages at one setting. This is very manageable. He'll often do more on his own. Some weeks we do handwriting every day. Other weeks we do it three times. I can't believe how nice he can write his name in cursive. He just loves cursive. Even though he's doing 3rd grade I put him in 2C because he hadn't done much handwriting during 2nd grade in private school and his printing was horrible. I felt we needed to go over manuscript before moving into cursive. I just wish I would have found this at the beginning of the school year and not around November! Oh, and whoever asked, the only place I could find to buy this was at ZB though I did find next year's book for the two youngest on the For Sale board here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsmom Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 thier site or some other site? tia I have found that it is best to buy from their site! Awesome customer support. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daybreaking Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 When buying from their site, be sure to mention that you are a homeschooler, as you won't have to pay the extra fee charged to "non-school" buyers. Also, even though their site says shipping is a minimum of $5, that hasn't applied to any of my orders. I've ordered from ZB several times and am only charged the actual shipping, which is usually a dollar or so. I've been very pleased with their service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheCoffeeChick Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 I love zaner-bloser! It is neat, clean, and simple. I don't buy their curriculum as there is so much to print for free from the internet. The best place I found is on the zaner-bloser website . Their Fonts Online tool that lets you make any sort of copy page you could think of (even just blank zb paper). Click on Get Started, a window will pop up, and you can choose grade level (changes the size of the lines), Manuscript or Cursive, and what kind of sheet you want to print. After you click the page, you can click on any line and type what you want for copywork. I think this is very helpful, as you can include work that is pertinant to what you are currently studying in history or science. HTH :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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