Cursive Question (for Julie and others)

[Heart_Mom]

Hi, Ladies!

My son is 10 and starting Preparing. He's been through Cheerful Cursive, and also Handwriting without Tears' two cursive books because he didn't quite "get" cursive at first.

Today was the first day he was supposed to do cursive copywork, and it was extremely difficult for him. I seem to remember Julie (my3sons) saying in a thread a while ago that once her sons gave cursive a good try that she let them do printing instead if that worked better for them. Am I right about that?

I don't know that it's worth the struggle for my son to continue cursive, but I want to make sure I'm not making a poor choice. Writing in general is not easy for him, but printing is MUCH easier for him than cursive.

Any advice for me?

(And I just wanted to mention that my 8 year old daughter is 3/4 of the way through Cheerful Cursive and flourishing with it ... so it's not Cheerful Cursive that's the problem!)

[lmercon]

The fourth grade teacher in me wants to tell you to make him write in cursive! I always required cursive in "finished product" work when I taught school, mainly because they were still learning to master the art of cursive writing having only learned it two years before coming to me. However, I think the beauty of hsing is that you can make adaptations for your dc. If cursive is a burden for him, I would limit how much he has to do. You don't want to inadvertently make copy work and writing a negative experience simply because of the cursive. But, I do understand the concern you have about "giving up" on cursive. Many ps don't even teach it to kids anymore, which I think is a huge mistake. Maybe you could make a compromise. Select one portion of his writing load that needs to be done in his very best cursive. All other written work may be neatly printed. I think that option allows you to accomplish your desire to encourage neat cursive and keeps the writing load enjoyable and your little student feeling successful.
hth,
Laura

[tiffanieh]

I agree with the PP. I am old school in that I still think the written word (esp. cursive) needs to be taught, learned and practiced. However, that's not to say that the length of some of the copy work in Preparing needs to all be done in cursive. I think if it is truly a difficult act for him, that I would only require one sentence per day until he is more comfortable and able to handle larger assignments. I wouldn't want to mix manuscript with the cursive, however, as I would want his assignments to have a neatness to them that would not happen when combining both forms. I would come up with something different all together. Perhaps a short verse, or a grammar rule you're trying to memorize, or a character issue you are working on with him, or something completely silly!

[LynnH]

I have a slightly different perspective. My ds has dysgraphia due to mild Cerebral Palsy. For him manuscript is much more difficult than cursive, but like your ds all writing is a challenge. When he was in Preparing I only had him do 1 thing of copywork a day. If something was too long there were times I cut it short at a reasonable stopping place. I didn't do this very often, but I remember doing it a few times. His stamina did improve and this past year in RTR copywork was never a problem. So there is something to be said for having him continue to do it to improve his ability. However, there is also the fact that your ds has already gone through 3 handwriting books and is still struggling. My ds is that way with manuscript writing. I could have him do manuscript copywork forever and it wouldn't matter, his manuscript writing will never be very legible and it zaps all his energy and focus so that he has less of it for other things. If you think this is the case for you ds then I think I would let him do most if not all things in manuscript. If that is going to be his main method of written communication, which it sounds like it will be, then I would focus on refining that. That is why I have my ds do the cursive copywork, because if he has to write, cursive will most likely be how he chooses to write. One thing I think you will want to make sure of is that he can read cursive. This would be easy to do in Preparing by having him read the passages in Draw and Write Through History to you.

One thing I would also do, if you haven't already started it, is get going on a typing program. My ds types all his written narrations, his dictation and answers to science questions. I have him do this because the act of writing is such a challenge that it impacts the quality of his work. If he types his work is much longer, more thought out, and just overall better work.

[Heart_Mom]

Thanks for your responses, Ladies!

My husband and I talked about this for a while last night and we're leaning toward letting him print. In a perfect world, I think he would master cursive, but like the pp said: there are just other areas that are more important for him. My husband, himself, never writes in cursive, and it's never been a problem for him.

I will have my son write his name in cursive on the top of his school papers (so he'll be able to sign his name easily when he's older) and I'll also make sure he reads cursive a few times each week. I think it also makes sense to start him on a typing program now.

Well, thanks again, and I'm still open to suggestions and ideas as my husband and I are going to wait until the weekend to make a final decision about this.

[my3sons]

What a good discussion this is here! Some very good thoughts have been shared, and you and your dh can weigh what's best for your ds considering all the different thoughts represented. I'll add my 2 cents to the thread, and you can ponder that as well. Since ds has already been through multiple cursive programs (3 already), and it is not a behavior concern, I'd be apt to have him print almost everything. Technically, it is like he has already done cursive for 3 years having done 3 programs, and that is what HOD advocates (1 year in Bigger Hearts along with maintaining print, 1 in PHFHG along with maintaining print, and 1 in CTC along with maintaining print, then choose between print/cursive in RTR on up). I taught various grades in ps through the years (2, 3, 4 and 6), and I can tell you that it does become quite clear over time whether a child will be able to adequately convey their ideas best in print or cursive. It sounds like it is clear ds conveys his ideas best in print. It is actually quite important that dc can READ different types of cursive - can ds do that? "Cheerful Cursive" helped my dc be able to read cursive quite well. To keep up his cursive a bit, he can continue to write his name in cursive, and perhaps write 1 sentence each week in cursive, looking at a model you have written for him to copy. He can even trace it if you write it in pencil, if you prefer. I'd also have him continue reading people's cursive to keep this skill sharp. We have our dc read aloud the b-day cards they receive, for example, as many different styles of cursive and print are used. Those are just my thoughts though - you and your dh will know what is best for your ds! HTH!

In Christ,
Julie

[Heart_Mom]

What a good discussion this is here! Some very good thoughts have been shared, and you and your dh can weigh what's best for your ds considering all the different thoughts represented. I'll add my 2 cents to the thread, and you can ponder that as well. Since ds has already been through multiple cursive programs (3 already), and it is not a behavior concern, I'd be apt to have him print almost everything. Technically, it is like he has already done cursive for 3 years having done 3 programs, and that is what HOD advocates (1 year in Bigger Hearts along with maintaining print, 1 in PHFHG along with maintaining print, and 1 in CTC along with maintaining print, then choose between print/cursive in RTR on up). I taught various grades in ps through the years (2, 3, 4 and 6), and I can tell you that it does become quite clear over time whether a child will be able to adequately convey their ideas best in print or cursive. It sounds like it is clear ds conveys his ideas best in print. It is actually quite important that dc can READ different types of cursive - can ds do that? "Cheerful Cursive" helped my dc be able to read cursive quite well. To keep up his cursive a bit, he can continue to write his name in cursive, and perhaps write 1 sentence each week in cursive, looking at a model you have written for him to copy. He can even trace it if you write it in pencil, if you prefer. I'd also have him continue reading people's cursive to keep this skill sharp. We have our dc read aloud the b-day cards they receive, for example, as many different styles of cursive and print are used. Those are just my thoughts though - you and your dh will know what is best for your ds! HTH!

In Christ,
Julie

This is so very helpful, Julie! I'll show my husband your thoughts on this, and it will be very helpful in our decision. And you're right that he conveys his ideas best in print! I love the idea of having him write just a little bit in cursive each week!

Thanks, everyone, for your help!

I'm so blessed to be here with HOD!