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mathmama
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| Posted: March 08 2010 at 10:54am | IP Logged
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My dd is only 5, but she has excellent printing. She is one of those who is fast with the handwriting. By age 3 she had taught herself how to write all the capital letters. She just loves to write and does it all the time. I am not sure what more printing would do for her right now. I know that she would enjoy learning cursive. Is it too early?
I am wondering if I have missed anything with my approach to printing. What I did was buy a notebook with the lined paper and first had her learn all the letters both caps and lower case. Since then I have been giving her things to write everyday. Her writing has actually gotten a little worse recently (but still better than kids older than her), a product of sloppiness I think because of boredom. She also is pretty speedy with her writing, it doesn't take her long at all to do something like write out the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. I gave her that assignment before I went up to change the baby and by the time I came back down she was already playing in the other room. Is there anything else I need to do with her before she is ready for cursive?
Thanks for any insight. Also, does anyone like the CHC handwriting?
Beth
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Beth, wife to Tom and mommy to 4 beautiful girls:
Therese 11/04
Anna Mary 6/07
Veronica 10/09
Theodora 11/12
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Angel
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| Posted: March 08 2010 at 12:32pm | IP Logged
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I am using New American Cursive with my 6 yo ds. For the record, he is left-handed and his printing is certainly not better than the average 6 yo male. But he asked to do cursive so I got him a book. I'm pleased with the results. The New American Cursive book 1 is designed to be used with first graders, so it doesn't have kids write as small as the 3rd grade cursive books do, and it provides space for drawing, which is a fun touch. My ds likes it, and I have to admit -- his cursive looks much nicer than his printing.
Montessori schools often start kids out in cursive writing in their 3-6 yo classes. The good thing about cursive is that you can't reverse any of the letters (which isn't apparently a problem with your 5 yo, but I thought I would mention it as a benefit). If your 5 yo likes to write and is willing to make the switch, I doubt it will hurt to start cursive.
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Angela
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Three Plus Two
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hylabrook1
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| Posted: March 08 2010 at 1:01pm | IP Logged
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I agree with Angela that it wouldn't hurt to start cursive. If she picks it up easily, great. If it seems like she struggles too much, you could just let her kind of play around with it, and make the letters she can but not insist that she needs to get it all just so. I was going to say the same thing Angela said about Montessori schools starting with cursive.
Peace,
Nancy
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CatholicMommy
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| Posted: March 08 2010 at 2:34pm | IP Logged
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If you are looking for cursive handwriting books geared for younger children, Our Lady of Victory has them. They do a semester of print, then move right into cursive.
I agree that if she's ready, go for it. 
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mathmama
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| Posted: March 08 2010 at 4:39pm | IP Logged
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Thanks for the input and especially for the OLoV recommendation. Our Catholic HS conference is in a month and they have come in the past. Hopefully they will be there this year and I will have a chance to check them out.
Beth
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Beth, wife to Tom and mommy to 4 beautiful girls:
Therese 11/04
Anna Mary 6/07
Veronica 10/09
Theodora 11/12
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SuzanneG
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| Posted: March 08 2010 at 9:31pm | IP Logged
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It's worth a try! Why not? She may really enjoy it. I'd just follow her lead.
I have the New American Cursive book, and it's fine, but I think it's pretty pricey.
I'd probably start with something you can just make yourself and see how she reacts. Here is a free resource for making your own sheets:
Cursive Copy Work .
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Suzanne in ID
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: March 08 2010 at 9:48pm | IP Logged
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oh!! there's a program.. it's $40 I think.. but it let's you do printing or cursive in lots of sizes.. you print it out yourself..
StartWrite
I haven't gotten it.. but I think it was recommended here and I bookmarked it to hopefully buy here in the next while.. it would be so great letting me fit to whatever age and level they're at.. and since I have a lot of those.. 
ETA that it really works better if you get the name in the proper order.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
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All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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guitarnan
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| Posted: March 08 2010 at 9:48pm | IP Logged
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I taught myself cursive handwriting in first grade, using my older cousin's penmanship book. If your daughter is interested in making the move to cursive, I say let her try.
Jan Brett's website has some lovely free printables; my daughter used them when she was learning cursive.
ETA: We also used CHC's penmanship books, with much success.
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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Topic: When to start cursive?
