Getty-Dubay cursive, which level?

[Pensguys]

If this will be our first year with cursive (and we're coming from a different program), should we get Book C or D? I don't expect the italic part to "stick" with my dysgraphic son so we don't need a WHOLE lot of review on basic letter formation, but I've done some reading that going to a format similar to GD because of its likeness to cursive is a good thing for him.

[Deece in MN]

If this will be our first year with cursive (and we're coming from a different program), should we get Book C or D? I don't expect the italic part to "stick" with my dysgraphic son so we don't need a WHOLE lot of review on basic letter formation, but I've done some reading that going to a format similar to GD because of its likeness to cursive is a good thing for him.

Ok, I am going from memory here and it has been a few years since I have seen the books, but I am thinking level D is what you would want. I am thinking level C spends a fair amount of the book reviewing the printing of the letters before the cursive. Now, remember, my memory is starting to go, so take this for whatever it is worth. :D

[Tabrett]

I think it would depend on the type of print your dc has already learned. Did he learn 'ball and stick' or a form or italic like Denelian or HWT's. If he learned ball and stick the letter formation is going to be very different. If he learned something like Denelian or HWT's it should be a smooth transition.

Reviewing printing with GDI wouldn't hurt. Cursive in GDI is just printing adding connecting lines. That's the beauty of the writing program:D.

[Pensguys]

He learned HWT (sort of). He has dysgraphia so the physical act of writing has always been a challenge for him. He can form the letters fine, but they may not LOOK like HOW or italic or anything consistently.

[Pensguys]

Ok, I am going from memory here and it has been a few years since I have seen the books, but I am thinking level D is what you would want. I am thinking level C spends a fair amount of the book reviewing the printing of the letters before the cursive. Now, remember, my memory is starting to go, so take this for whatever it is worth. :D

Thanks, Deece, there is some basic practice in D before going on to the joins, but C has a LOT more practice of the basic letters and then spends a lot of time on the joins. (at least as far as I could tell from the TOC). I might need to do C and fast fwd through what he gets and does easily, then we can take our time on the joins, then go through D later in the year.

[Tabrett]

HWT's form their letters the same way as GDI except GDI is slanted. The main concern I had was if, for example, the letter "a" was made by drawing a circle then lifting up the pencil, going to the top and drawing a line straight down, instead of writing the letter in one continuous stroke without lifting the pencil.
If you dc has learned the letters with continuous strokes and makes all circles counter clockwise, I don't see any problem going with the higher level.
I'm using HWT's and plan on using GDI for cursive. I have compared the programs and think they will transitions smoothly from one to the other.

[Pensguys]

Great! I'll check the TOCs again and then make a decision with an eye toward D.

Thanks to both of you!

[StephanieF]

Also bear in mind how large/small he writes as the line spacing does reduce the higher the level. It can be difficult to write larger than you normally do just to get the letters to fit into the space. So when I was deciding between D and E for my son I checked how large his current handwriting was so that he didn't suddenly have to increase his letter size. Level C body height is 9mm reducing to 6mm later on and level D is 6mm reducing to 5mm
Stephanie