This is probably a silly handwriting question but...

[Surfside Academy]

I'm going to teach cursive first with my soon-to-be 5 year-old so I thought I would go ahead and teach my 7 1/2 year-old ds as well. He's been doing well with copywork (in manuscript) and we hope to start SWB's Complete Writer soon.

My question is when my oldest becomes proficient with cursive, do I also need to write out his copywork sentences in cursive? If I continue to write them in manuscript, will that confuse him? Is there some type of right brain vs. left brain issue if the writing styles don't match? I usually don't write in cursive so I might need to invest in Start Write. I'd appreciate the input!

[Heather in MD]

and it has sections where they child is supposed to translate print into cursive. So you could probably continue printing, and let him translate it into cursive. Or you could always alternate between the two.
:o

[WendyK]

I think when they become proficient in cursive it won't matter. I am currently teaching my 6 year old cursive and for the most part I try to write things in cursive because he is still learning the process of forming the letters. So that makes it easier for him. I also keep a small chart with the cursive letters in front of him in case he forgets how a letter is supposed to look. Since I am proficient in cursive, it is not confusing for me to go from print to cursive, so I assume it won't be confusing for a child who is proficient either. Although I will admit it was a bit of an adjustment for me when we started with cursive because my handwriting had morphed into some sort of cross between printing and cursive. :D

[Kate CA]

Is there some type of right brain vs. left brain issue if the writing styles don't match? I usually don't write in cursive so I might need to invest in Start Write. I'd appreciate the input!

We use Start Write and I love the features it offers to demonstrate how to write in cursive. Long after I have taught the children, they sometimes need the reminders so I like to use them. It is not necessary to have them see the cursive to translate it to cursive, but I think it makes it harder for them to do it if they cannot see it in front of them.

Just my thoughts!