Which curriculum for cursive handwriting?

[Pensguys]

I'm not one to feel that writing in cursive is the "be all that ends all" but my ds' OT thinks that it may help him with his handwriting (dysgraphia). He prints much better than before we started OT this year and we'll be ready for cursive this fall.

Has anyone found HWT cursive or maybe Getty Dubay to be helpful....or other programs?

Thanks.

[Laurie4b]

HWT worked well for my ds. I think he was about 9 or 10 when we went through it.

[Laurie]

Has anyone found HWT cursive or maybe Getty Dubay to be helpful....or other programs?

.

There are two HWT cursive workbooks. My dd (11/dysgraphia) is almost through with the first one and I'm very pleased with her progress.

[Pensguys]

Thanks to both of you. I'll give it a shot. Did you know you can't get these through RR anymore? I was going to add them to my order, but I can't now.

[CactusPair]

Penny, RR still carries HWT cursive, but they haven't put the new 2nd editions on their website yet. At least, they weren't there the last time I checked. The new editions have different item numbers. Check your catalog or call them and they'll give you the right item numbers. Or try these:

my current new catalog lists HWT cursive 3rd grade as

007396 for the student workbook and 007371 for the teacher's guide

4th grade HWT cursive success is

007409 for the workbook and 007372 for the teacher's guide

HTH

~ Hope

[Pensguys]

Thanks so much!

Have you (anyone) found the TG necessary for this level? (3rd grade)

[DianeJM]

Take a look at this website -- diannecraft.com
She is a specialist who works with kids -- anyway, I heard her at our state convention this year, and man, she blew me away.
On her home page, scroll down a bit and look for a "Featured Article" entitled "Smart Kids Who Hate to Write". You will see her seminar handouts there. She has an exercise that she recommends doing with such children, called the "Writing Eight" exercise. You will see it described and illustrated. She says that doing this exercise every day for something like six months will help connect the hemispheres in the brain, enabling kids to be able to improve their handwriting. (Only she says it a lot better than I just have.)
It sounds too simple, but she says it works. I have yet to try it, but I'm definitely going to.
Just thought I'd pass that along, and hope it helps.
Blessings,

[Pensguys]

Thanks so much! I have the "8" and I need to start doing it again with my ds.

[ClassicMom]

Her stuff is great! And she is an amazing woman!

[Pensguys]

I'm definitely going to order the Brain Integration Therapy book. We'll be finishing our OT in Sept and won't be able to go to any more until Jan if he needs more (re-assessment). I'm willing to try it if it will help my little guy. And it isn't that expensive.

[Pensguys]

Her stuff is great! And she is an amazing woman!

Can you tell me what you've used and how you've seen it be beneficial? This is probably separate post, but feel free to email me or PM. Thanks!

[farmgirlinwv]

I hope someone comments on this. I have her BITM and tried it w/ dd. Dd cries throughout. She eventually got some better, but just HATED it and would do anything to get out of it. I e-mailed Dianne and she said to just make her do it. I'd like to here some BTDT comments as well.

[skylark]

Getty Dubay works well for my children.

[mamaof2andtwins]

Just wanted to give another thumbs up for HWT. All four of my children have used it. I did have the TM. I didn't use it a lot.

Jennie

[salinda]

We went through all the Handwriting w/o Tears levels, but my dd still had problems with the loop letters(l,f,g, etc.) This year we switched to Italics(no loops) and her writing is much more legible. I'm still glad we did HWOT because it gave her a good foundation. I think the main thing for dysgraphics is keyboarding so they can use the computer for their writing.
My dd is using Typing Instructor Deluxe. I don't want to be discouraging, but some dysgraphics also have a hard time learning the keyboard. I know it's taking my dd more time and she is going slowly, but steadily. I hope you find a program that works well for your dc.

[ELaurie]

I hope someone comments on this. I have her BITM and tried it w/ dd. Dd cries throughout. She eventually got some better, but just HATED it and would do anything to get out of it. I e-mailed Dianne and she said to just make her do it. I'd like to here some BTDT comments as well.

Got the tee shirt :tongue_smilie:

I heard Diane craft at the Illinois Christian Homeschoolers Conference two years ago. I went to all of her presentations, and bought the BTI workbook. I was impressed by much of what she has to offer, and hearing her presentations was an important stepping stone in my journey to help ds 9 with a number of issues.

That being said, I have since learned a great deal more than I knew then, and have come to the conclusion that the issues BTI is designed to address are often complex, and can be exceedingly difficult to address.

It's my opinion at this point that the exercises in the manual may be helpful for some, and create undue stress for others. In our case, ds 9 had underlying issues that needed to be addressed prior to doing the types of activities suggested in the BTI manual.

We ultimately sought help from a HANDLE (http://www.handle.org/) provider (at the suggestion of Claire on this board) in our area (http://www.mcnattlearningcenter.com/) and have been very pleased with the results of this approach.

For handwriting, I used Peterson Directed Handwriting (http://www.peterson-handwriting.com/)at the suggestion of ds 9's HANDLE provider, and it has taken a lot of the frustration out of handwriting for him. He no longer reverses letters, and he finds spelling, copy work and dictation less frustrating as well.

I will be glad to provide more details later if you have questions.