Is it worth backing up to work on manuscript if child is doing well with cursive?

[KarenNC]

I never really used a formal handwriting program with my daughter for manuscript writing. We started Explode the Code when she was 4. As she was so young and her fine motor control was still developing, I didn't really stress perfection in how the letters were formed as long as they were legible. Her preschool wasn't very focused on this either. As a result, her manuscript handwriting still leaves a great deal to be desired. I had hoped that it would improve dramatically with just time and muscle maturation, but that is not really happening, at least not yet.

When she turned 7 late last summer, she had a really strong desire to learn cursive, so I took her to the store and she picked out the HWOT first cursive book to try. I thought she would very quickly tire of it, but she surprised me. It has worked really well and her cursive is much, much better than her manuscript. We have finished the HWOT book and are doing copywork right now in cursive, but she is still doing most of her schoolwork and independent writing in manuscript.

After reading all the good things folks are saying about HWOT and the way they teach manuscript letter formation (as well as seeing how well cursive went), I am beginning to wonder if it is worth getting a printing book from them and working through it to see if it improves her manuscript.

Any ideas?

[Laura Corin]

Once she moves over to using cursive for everything, I can't see a real reason for learning to print. Calvin has horrible printing (he was badly taught in school and had coordination problems). He uses cursive for everything except filling in forms - for those he uses block capital letters.

Best wishes

Laura

[Susie in CA]

I would not bother going back to print. In fact I was never thaught print and I can do it just fine. I wish I had started my boys in cursive as I believe that the kids will eventually know how to print because of reading print everywhere. This is not going to happen with cursive.

In short, I would stick with cursive.

Susie

[Ellie]

A person still needs to have legible manuscript, if for no other reason than that every form he fills out as an adult will say "PLEASE PRINT."

I would want my dc to be competent in as many areas as possible, including the ability to write legibly in both manuscript and cursive.

[Isa]

I taught my boys how to write in cursive first, and only did a little instruction in manuscript. They write well in cursive, but during their free time will often write stories in manuscript. When I noticed that they were sometimes using capital letters in the middle of words, I took some time to review with them how to form the capital and lowercase manuscript letters. I want my boys to know both methods well.

[Excelsior! Academy]

It won't hurt. HWT even has a 5th grade printing book that my dd requested to do again. I think you can always improve on a skill.

[OhElizabeth]

I taught my dd cursive first, but she's gotten on this kick about printing. Yes they need to be able to print neatly, so I'm going to go back at some point in the coming year and have her work through a printing workbook. It's not a big deal. Girls like to work on handwriting! :)

[KarenNC]

Well, her printing, as bad as it is, is still better than that of my poor lefty husband:). It would probably stand her in good stead to do some remedial work in this area.

I'm going to have to try to get a hands-on look at both the 2nd and 5th grade printing books at the homeschool store the next time I go (if they have them both available). It's hard to get a really good feel for the 5th grade book from the sample pages. On the one hand, one of my major goals is to encourage her to use smaller printing, but I don't want to go overboard with the practice material as she is still 7 and a half.