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VanessaVH
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| Posted: Sept 23 2010 at 11:41am | IP Logged
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We are doing the prep level of Mater Amabalis this year. My son is 5 (as of this August). I wasn't going to worry about a handwriting program until Level 1, but he is
starting to ask how to write things. I am worried if I don't do something he will learn bad habits on forming his letters... He does seem to be dominantly
left handed if that matters at all.
I downloaded the sample for Startwrite (http://www.startwrite.com ) as a way to compare the different types of print. My DH didn't like the look of Italic (which is what I was planning on....) and I didn't like the look of Handwriting Without Tears (Which is the only other text I have looked at) We liked the Simple Manuscript and Simple Cursive (which it indicated is similar to Zaner-Bloser Simple)
I can purchase Zaner-Bloser books from the publisher's site, but I am unfamiliar with them, and not sure if I should or not. Has anyone used just the Startwrite without buying an actual curriculum, or do I really need to use a handwriting book? Or any other advice that will ease this first year mommy's worries about messing up her child for life if I don't pick all the right
programs to start, LOL! :-)
Vanessa
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Marybeth
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| Posted: Sept 23 2010 at 11:56am | IP Logged
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Vanessa,
For what is worth, both my ds and myself are left-handed. His writing is beautiful after using Handwriting without Tears for two years. His first time cursive is simply the best I have ever seen. I didn't gravitate towards this program for K-2 for him. It came highly recommended to me by our adviser. We only have used the teacher guide/student book. I know the cost prohibits some people from using the "whole" program.
My handwriting is terrible as I was the only left-handed student in my class,and nobody helped me learn correct letter formation in the early grades. I am not messed up for life but get tired of having to print so much as my cursive is unreadable by everyone. 
I wanted to give my opinion on the program we use and enjoy. It is rare to find a boy excited to do handwriting and happy with his penmanship. This program is not drudgery for my ds.
In my experience, boys in my classroom simply gave up if they didn't think they were making progress with cursive.
I'm sorry to go on and on about one program. I have a soft spot for left-handed kids. 
Marybeth
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Marybeth (Mb)
http://held-together.blogspot.com
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JennGM
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| Posted: Sept 23 2010 at 11:59am | IP Logged
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Vanessa,
I saw your question on the MA list and was going to give my personal choice. My son wasn't doing well on his grip or his writing at all, and I also didn't like the look of the HWOT, and my husband and I wanted to go the traditional block printing (ball and stick?), because this is a tool that will be used for his whole life, and it also helps the transition to reading, when it is similar to what he is writing (I know that isn't always agreed, just what I've read in some places, and what agrees with my observations).
What has worked for us is the Writing Road to Reading or Spalding approach, which combines handwriting, phonics, spelling all together. We used the Sound Beginnings program by Julia Fogassay which is a simplified and prepared lessons of the Spalding method, and have been extremely pleased. We started when my son was five and I really almost despaired of him writing.
Since MA doesn't have a reading program, this fits in well with the plans. The copywork and dictation in MA also dovetail nicely with the Sound Beginnings approach, giving practice. I bought the StartWrite software this year which is giving me the ease to produce our own copywork. The workbooks or programs didn't work for us.
I'd say the reason why SB was so helpful is that it kept minimal seatwork for my son -- having all that language arts rolled up neatly in one package made it easier for him to concentrate on writing well for a reason, rather than adding an extra step of writing homework.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Family in Feast and Feria
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VanessaVH
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| Posted: Sept 23 2010 at 3:09pm | IP Logged
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Thanks for the advice!
Jenn would you elaborate on how Sound Beginnings works in your family? What age did you start? Was it a lot of prep.? From looking at your link and the Writing Road to reading on Amazon, it looks really overwhelming, and I'm not sure I could do it.....
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Sept 23 2010 at 3:20pm | IP Logged
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Hi Vanessa.
I've used handwriting workbooks as tools with some of my children, but I now use Startwrite alone because of the versatility of the program and it simplifies things for me a great deal. One program prints all copywork selections for me - for brand new writers, those printing, and cursive writers.
Among the many options, one is to print the guidelines for letter formation. I do that on beginning handwriting practice sheets to introduce proper formation. I like that I have control over font size, font selection, printing mid-lines...or not...cursive or print...and I especially like that I can type my choice of wording into the program.
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Jen Mackintosh
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JennGM
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| Posted: Sept 23 2010 at 8:54pm | IP Logged
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VanessaVH wrote:
Thanks for the advice!
Jenn would you elaborate on how Sound Beginnings works in your family? What age did you start? Was it a lot of prep.? From looking at your link and the Writing Road to reading on Amazon, it looks really overwhelming, and I'm not sure I could do it..... |
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We started at 5, and I only used Sound Beginnings. It has all the lessons planned, and it is very easy. But this was my reading and phonics program, also. I didn't use anything else. We're repeating it each year. After this year, I'll just be doing the spelling words, and this year I'm adding StartWrite.
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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JennGM
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| Posted: Sept 23 2010 at 8:55pm | IP Logged
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Just adding, very, very little prep, if none. That's why I gravitated to it.
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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VanessaVH
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| Posted: Sept 25 2010 at 9:45am | IP Logged
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Thanks Jenn & Jennifer!!
I think I will go ahead with just Startwrite right now.. I am planning on following the phonics outlined in Ruth Beechicks 3 Rs book, but I will definitely revisit Sound Beginnings if I feel like we need more structure and little prep :-)
I am also thinking that I am starting too small for 5yo, I was giving him letters to trace that were only an inch or so. I am going to look into a white board and have him practice really large letters first.
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lamamaloca
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| Posted: Sept 25 2010 at 5:51pm | IP Logged
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I wanted to chime in and say that I've seen excellent results using the directions for teaching handwriting in the Writing Road to Reading by Spalding. Sound Beginnings uses a similar method, I think. I used HWOT and the kids loved it, but it didn't translate into better, or even readable, handwriting outside of the workbook. The Spalding method of teaching handwriting focuses on memorizing the motions one uses to write the letters, rather than copying, and after just a few weeks of using it both my boys' handwriting has improved tremendously. My 6yo has requested to start using regular wide lined paper, and is writing neatly enough to use it with no problem. His handwriting was barely legible a month ago.
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Becky
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lamamaloca
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| Posted: Sept 25 2010 at 5:51pm | IP Logged
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Wow, my sig is old! I have an 18 month old in addition to those kids!
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Becky
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4Real Forums : Language Arts Come Alive
Topic: Handwriting Help!!
