Cursive Handwriting ~ step-by-step for beginners

We use laminated charts instead of handwriting books or programs!Most bought cursive handwriting programs start with rows of patterns, then teach similar letter shapes, and so on.  I find that these programs progress too slowly and my children get bored.  They just want to start writing in cursive!

I teach them handwriting quickly and easily with a laminated alphabet chart and a whiteboard marker.  You can purchase my Teaching Cursive Handwriting Step-by-Step guide as well as my Handwriting Tip booklet on my Packages page.

To practice meaningful handwriting, we use Charlotte Mason’s method of narrations and copywork where the child writes out quotes, extracts or narrations, and they practice writing both the upper and lower case letters in beautiful cursive.

Here’s how I teach the cursive handriting step-by-step~

• Talk as you demonstrate and show the child how to form each letter.
• Let your child carefully trace over each letter, repeating aloud your description.
• Watch closely and wipe any mistakes out immediately and correct the writing before bad habits or confusion is set in.
• First trace over every letter, then a whole row.
• Next your child will copy each letter & row on lined paper.  My step-by-step Ebook shows how to place hints along the margin of the lined page to help your child know where to write.
• Finally your child will refer to the chart until they can write in cursive without references.
• These are short lessons, maybe practicing just one or two letters, or a row to start, and before long, your child can trace over the entire chart in a few minutes.
• Gently move from phase to phase until you child remembers and correctly writes out the chart.  This may take longer for some children.  Just keep repeating until your child has the confidence to move to the next phase.
• Now they will be able to do simple copywork instead of handwriting charts.

Your child must know the following ~

• Position of the letters: Notice all the letters sit on the base body line
• Angle of cursive writing: All the letters slant slightly to the right
• Shape of letters:  Almost all the round body shapes are ovals, not circles like in print
• Starting & Joining: All the letters have a sloping starting stroke starting at the base body line
• Ending & Joining: All the letters end with a finishing stroke that ends at the upper body line.
• Unique letters: Some letters have loops at the top. some at the bottom

Click over to my Packages Page to get your Handwriting Tips & Teaching Cursive Step-by-Step booklet.

Pop over to my Handwriting Pages for FREE handwriting charts as well as all my handwriting downloads, tips, posts and practical advice.

Blessings, Nadene

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