Nancy just asked about the pencil vs. pen issue. I personally have decided that this is one place where I have to listen only to my own truth. Ballpoint pen just doesn't seem quite right for a little one, yet beeswax stick crayons were a bit on the thick side.

My kids use colored pencil (even the three year old) lyra ferbys. They do not know that these are erasable though, so that takes part of the pencil issue out of the equation. Sage happily practiced her signature in both stick crayon and colored pencil. She did not get overly contracted, even though she tends to when writing.

We'll use the colored pencils for our verse writing this fall for sure.

~jo

I will ask Vimala about this. I am using pencil. Pen is too finite for me. When she discusses using pencil I think that is definitely geared towards adults.

I asked Vimala:

> 1) We all are having our children use either colored large-sized pencils or stick beeswax crayons at this age -- it has a nice texture to the writing. Pen feels too constricted/contracted. At what age would you strongly suggest going to pen? What considerations come to mind for pencil compared to pen for children? This would definitely need to be addressed in the manual.


She replies:
In the past I have said pencils through second grade; pens from third on; I'm pondering this one. Pens need to come sooner, as pencils are deadly to the psyche after a certain age. I'll addresss this in the manual.

I have requested the book from the library and will read it soon, so I hope nobody minds my just jumping in with a question in case I don't read it before starting school.

Is the objection to pencil that it can be erased or something about the smooth flow?

Natalia

Hi Natalia,
It's about it being erasable ...

Deborah -

So is this pen thing just for handwriting or also for other lessons like math? Hunter, being dyslexic, has been taught that erasing is okay when he does letter or number reversals. He gets very frustrated when he's not doing the right thing

BTW I finally figured out how to get on this forum and talk - howdy everyone! :) Goes to show you that you CAN teach an old dog new tricks ... well ... I'm not THAT old yet. ;-)

Robin Mc2

I dont' know Robin. She does say in her book that for balancing checkbooks, etc. pencil is fine. She specifically mentioned that at least 60% should be in pen. If you read what she writes about pencil writers (do you have the book or the guide?), I wonder if you see Hunter at all? I also wonder what effect the handwriting has on learning issues, etc. The potential is huge here!

Good for you for getting on the forum. From one old dog to another, woof -woof!