starting cursive

[momofkhm]

We have 9 more weeks of school this year. (We started really early!) Would you start cursive now or wait until fall? I've also been thinking about starting now and going through the summer working on cursive so that by fall, he knows how to make the letters and just needs practice, practice, practice.

I'm going to start with HWT b/c it's what we used for print. After that we may change. I also have the R&S teacher book for 2nd grade where they start cursive. I would need to buy the workbook though. (I don't really like how the HWT cursive looks.)

Thoughts?

[Snickerdoodle]

I'm about to start my son in HWT cursive. I don't like the script either.

But for my second and younger son I think I'm going to look around for a program that gets him printing his letters in the cursive style. Does that make sense? Here in Europe I noticed when my son's age-mates printed, their printed letters were in the shape of cursive. Then they quickly get the joining part. So his 6yo friends are essentially writing in cursive. There is no separate print vs cursive script.

Did I explain that well? :confused:

[Joaly]

My experience has been that boys do not write well at that age - I think I would wait and give him some more time to develop. Let him play with his Legos all summer and strengthen those fine muscles. Then, if you begin in the fall, he may be more successful and have a real sense of accomplishment.

[Novafan]

I'm in the "sooner is better" camp when it comes to cursive (so take that for what it's worth). I'd start now. :D

We are working on cursive with DS5 right now using this:
Cursive Connections (Modern Style Book A)
http://www.montessoriservices.com/store/images/categories/68_04.jpg

My DS7 transitioned from print to cursive in just a few weeks using Cursive Connections halfway through 1st grade and he has beautiful cursive handwriting now (half way through 2nd). We did a little bit of practice at home and he did a little bit each day at school (he was in school at that time) and it took him about 5 weeks to get moving with cursive writing. It started out ugly (the writing that is, not the process), but with short practices daily, he improved dramatically.

As always, only do what feels right for your child.

[momofkhm]

I think De'nalian is what you want. My girls started out in private school with a regular ball and stick, switched to De'nalian print and then to De'nalian script. The second one was an easy transition.

[momofkhm]

I'm going next week to our local homeshcool store, I'll have to look for this. I don't remember seeing it there.