Handwriting

We use our laminated chart ~ Handwriting Cursive instead of books or programs. Cursive upper & lower case Most handwriting programs start with patterns, then teach similar letter shapes, then words with those letters and so on, but because we do copywork and narrati ons my children want to all their written work in cursive, I find these programs progress through the letters too slowly. I introduce them to the alphabet chart, and teach the letters in the following o rder: (you can download these letter groups here: Cursive step-by-step ) Lower case letters ~ Find and copy over Find and copy over Find and copy over Find and copy over Find and copy over ~ i, j and t Find and copy over Find and copy over Upper case letters Find Find Find Find Find Find This

all round oval body letters ~ c, then a, d, g, and q all the loop letters~ l, b, h, f and k top curve letters ~ n, m, p and r bottom curve letters ~ u, v, w and y dot and cross letters (only letters to lift pen to complete!) e, s, x and z bottom loop letters ~ g, j, y and z ~

and copy over oval letters ~ O, Q, A and X and copy over loop letters ~ C, G, L, S, E and Z and copy over curving over letters ~ N, M, U, V, W and Y and copy over straight shape letters ~ H, K, P, R, D and B and copy over start @ top letters ~ T, F and copy over loop from middle letters ~ I and J method helps children ~

familiarize themselves with the entire alphabet recognize letters and find them randomly learn to form letter shapes correctly practice short, happy lessons as Charlotte Mason suggests run through the alphabet in sequence (when mom is sure they know how to form eac h letter) Some more tips ~ talk as you show the child how to form the letters watch closely and wipe any mistakes out immediately and correct the writing befo re bad habits or confusion is set First trace over, then copy, then refer to chart until they can write without re ferences http://practicalpages.wordpress.com/2009/11/23/cursive-handwriting-step-by-stepfor-beginners/