How long do you use a handwriting program?

[Kate in Arabia]

My kids use the Zaner-Bloser books for handwriting practice. My oldest (10 yrs - 4th grade) is pretty settled in writing cursive now, is it worth it/important to keep using a handwriting curriculum? We got the year 4 book from ZB, he's already finished it; I'm debating about trying to find copywork online for him to practice with for the rest of the school year. Plus, of course, he has plenty of writing to do for history, science, writing (we use CW), although I don't generally focus on penmanship in those subjects.

But next year? Should I bother? How long have you stuck with a handwriting program?

tia!

Kate

[Laura Corin]

But next year? Should I bother? How long have you stuck with a handwriting program?


Calvin still uses a writing programme (HWT 5th grade) but he has coordination difficulties. He writes in cursive, but still has to work on evenness and sizing.

Laura

[PamInMN]

I've told the kids they will keep doing handwriting until they can do it with some mastery....... I figure 4th or 5th grade.... they are in Zaner-Bloser 4 right now. Problem is, they like it and want to keep going with it.... so it is something they do independently.

[Kelli in TN]

Generally 5th or 6th grade here.

[Plaid Dad]

I wouldn't take the time for a separate handwriting curriculum at that age unless the child is still struggling with legibility or needs prompting on how to form certain letters or letter combinations.

The rule in our house is that penmanship counts in every subject, including math. If, in Papa's expert opinion, the average adult would misinterpret what my dd has written, I make her do it over. Once she has mastered the basics of cursive, I will drop handwriting as a subject, although she'll still get copywork in CW. That and the other writing she'll be doing is plenty, imo.

[Sue G in PA]

it is A Reason for Handwriting and it does include copying a scripture at the end of each week (copywork I don't have to plan!). She does enjoy it and it's independent. Once this book is done, I'm not giving her a new one. She's mastered cursive.

[Beth in Central TX]

I stopped a separate penmanship program after 4th grade since they know how to write at this point. I still continue to stress legibility though. We work on penmanship during dictation, and I have them rewrite any work that is too sloppy to read.

[dirty ethel rackham]

When they finished the books, they were done with handwriting. If they finished in 4th grade, they were done. If they finished in 8th grade, they were done. It only takes a couple minutes per day to do a couple pages. It has helped my kids with speed as well as legibility. I want my kids to be able to hand write things as well as type. It really helped my 14 yo on the SAT essay last year. They have to hand write it. Some kids are so accustomed to typing everything that they struggled with writing by hand.

[Robin Hood]

I bought Startwrite and will begin to use that after my 2 9yodd finishup ZB #4 instead of buying any more workbooks. They then can practice with any copywork I desire done in cursive. You make your own copywork with this. I have done their history narrations with it leaving blank lines under each printed line for ease in copying. I was glad to discover this because I fatigued in writing their narrations. Now the narrate as I type. I would link it for you but I haven't figured out how to do that yet, but I believe it's startwrite.com

I don't think I am being very clear but I need to move on. I hope you understand what I am saying.

[Robin Hood]

OK, I see where I need to be more clear. You can make your own type of ZB pages, even specializing in trouble letters.

[debbiec]

Ditto ~ and well stated!

[mcconnellboys]

My older son was settled in his writing by fourth grade and so I discontinued it after that. But my younger is not, so I will be continuing it for him in fifth, next year. I think it depends a little on the child.

Regena

[BizyPenguin]

We tried HWT and Zaner-Bloser, but they were not a good fit. I found good 'old copywork did the trick for teaching my ds manuscript and cursive writing.

[kdeno]

I have a 7 year old son with horrible handwriting. I am going to get the HW books out again.:eek:

[Mom2boys]

My fifth grader's handwriting is still barely legible. He will be using Zaner Bloser book 6 next year. My husband's handwriting is horrible, and it is a problem for him sometimes at work, so I have seen the value in plugging along until they master legibility.

[Cindyg]

Same here. My 4th grader is no where near done with handwriting.

For what it's worth, BJUP has a handwriting class all the way up to the 6th grade, so I always thought that was standard. I guess not.

[Suzanne in ABQ]

My 4th and 6th graders still do cursive handwriting. The 4th grader needs it. The 6th grader just loves it. They're totally independent with it, and I mainly have them do it as "filler" or "busywork": if they need my help, and I can't come right away, I have them do handwriting while they're waiting. We do A Reason for Handwriting (Levels D and F). I like that they copy a scripture every fourth lesson. They both enjoy the program.

[LindaOz]

I actually don't use a handwriting program at all anymore, even with the youngers. I tend to just have them do copywork and use that as their practice. When they are learning cursive, I sometimes write a passage out myself in cursive and have them practise it underneath my writing, stopping to show them how to do joins etc. After that we just work on any little areas that they still need work on.