Just wondering.

We started when dd said, "I want to learn cursive." She had just turned 8, and had friends in 3rd grade ps learning it.

One of the private schools around here teaches it first, before print. I can see their point -- you never have to pick up your pencil, just keep looping around.

We just started with cursive for Austin. Writing was a struggle for him - but he is doign SOOO much better with cursive!

Handwriting without tears had a cursive readiness exercise that I had him do. Basically could he make hte pencil go under, up and over without cutting across. When he could do that, I let him start the cursive book. His writing is sooo much better and he doesn't balk at handwriting anymore. Actually, most days he asks me if he can do a page. (no, you can't do ANY school work, my son! lol)

Short answer... when Austin was ready both physically and wanted to do it. This was 7... second half of second grade for him.

Caroline is only 4 1/2 so I'm sure not teaching it yet. She loves to write stories and such, though, and she's always got a writing instrument in her hand. Recently she's been noticing that grown-ups write in "style" as she calls it. She now often does her own version of cursive where she slightly slants her letters and connects them as she's writing. It's harder to read than her printing, but as her mom I think it's adorable.

Thanks guys! Ds is almost 7 and recently started 2nd grade work. Our curriculum offers cursive starting at 1st grade, which I chose not to start, and I wasn't sure when I should actually make sure he is learning it. We started recently, but he was really finding it frustrating, so I wasn't sure if I should keep pushing it, or hold off til later.

Most of the homeschoolers I know in real life don't even bother teaching it unless the child is interested.

I don't think we'll put any real emphasis into it unless the girls ask for it.

My dd learned cursive this year in 2nd grade. She loves it and actually writes in cursive better than she prints.

My dd is learning now, she is 8

A lot of homeschoolers I know use A BEKA and they start cursive in K.
My almost 4 year old wants to write 'the swirly way'
I may try teaching her cursive before printing

Hope

Yup, that's the curriculum we use. I didn't want our kids behind, but they start it so early I wasn't sure when I should actually push it. I decided that I would still do it, but we've cut back on how often we do it so as not to stress ds.

Originally posted by mamathyme
My dd is learning now, she is 8

A lot of homeschoolers I know use A BEKA and they start cursive in K.
My almost 4 year old wants to write 'the swirly way'
I may try teaching her cursive before printing

Hope

Candace,

If I wanted to just get the books for my dd to practice cursive, what workbooks would she use from A Beka?
Do they do cursive in K4?

Thanks!

Hope

Abeka does have cursive in K4.

I am thinking of starting cursive k/1st grade and kinda like the McRuffy ones because they have the cursive in K and up.

I wouldn't use the Abeka handwriting series because they use pictures (my current one i have for dd has pics too so I will be getting another one). We are using a phonics course without the pics because the pics are believed to be a distraction. If your phonics/reading course has pics, it probably won't matter.



Jennifer

I'm looking at my catalog right now, and yes they have a K4 "ABC Writing Tablet" for $8.50 that teaches cursive. There is also another workbook called "Writing with Phonics K4" that teaches cursive along with phonics sounds, for $8.15 . They also offer manuscript versions of the same workbooks.

Originally posted by mamathyme
Candace,

If I wanted to just get the books for my dd to practice cursive, what workbooks would she use from A Beka?
Do they do cursive in K4?

Thanks!

Hope