Request a CatalogContact Us
 0 Items
Home > Support > Curricula > Should I skip manuscript and teach cursive first, or are there reasons that manuscript comes first?
 
 
Question: I have a 5.5 year old son who will be in K/1st grade. I am for the most part using CHC's First Grade lesson plans. I would like to teach cursive handwriting first. Do you recommend against this? If not, which book of the handwriting series do you suggest to start with? Thank you.
Answer:

AMDG+

Dear Parent;

What a wonderful adventure you are embarking upon, and what an interesting question you pose.

There are both advantages and disadvantages to learning or skipping manuscript, particularly in association with CHC's carefully designed lesson plans. Examining both sides, and taking into consideration your child's unique skills and abilities, will enable you to make an informed choice. That choice will allow your child to succeed in several areas of language arts, with the least amount of frustration for both you and your child.

First, there is one advantage to starting right in with cursive, and that is that children don't need to learn one system of penmanship, only to be faced with learning another a few years down the road.

There are a few disadvantages, however, to skipping manuscript. The greatest disadvantage is that CHC's Catholic Heritage Handwriting [Levels K and 1] teach not only manuscript, but provide phonics, spelling, and reading reinforcement linked to lessons from the Little Stories for Little Folks reading program. If the student progresses directly to cursive in Catholic Heritage Handwriting, Level 3, he misses a valuable language arts component of the program.

Another disadvantage to skipping manuscript is that the student never learns proper letter formation for manuscript, which could put him at a disadvantage when that skill is required. In addition, cursive writing requires more small motor control than manuscript, which is another reason that cursive is generally introduced when the child is a bit older.

Finally, learning manuscript reinforces early reading skills. Since books are rarely printed in a cursive font, tackling cursive at a time when the child is learning to read in manuscript can be a little confusing to the child.

So, if your child has good small motor control, has finished all four levels of Little Stories for Little Folks, and therefore is reading fluently at 2nd grade level at the very least, he might do well moving right into cursive. On the other hand, if he might experience frustration staying within the narrower confines and lines of cursive, and could benefit from the additional reading and spelling practice provided within the Catholic Heritage Handwriting series, waiting another year or two before introducing cursive might be the best choice.

May the Holy Spirit grant you wisdom and guidance as you tenderly form your child to His glory!

Nancy Nicholson

   
© 2024 Catholic Heritage Curricula