Handwriting HELP!

[jahall2000]

For kindergarten, we've been using MFW and my son learned the traditional ball and stick letters. However, I'm concerned because many times his letters are disconnected. With changing to Little Hearts for 1st grade, I was thinking of using the Italic Handwriting. Has anyone else made this change before? I anticipate a bit of resistance from my son, but I think in the end, the italic may be better for him because most of the letters are made with only one stroke without lifting the pencil. Any thoughts?
That being said, eventually when we move onto cursive, I'm not sure I would want to use the Italic Cursive. I really think it's important for him to learn to read the traditional loopy cursive and that may be easier done, if we actually teach him that way.
Thoughts on this?

[queenireneof3]

Hi! We are making a transition in our handwriting this year too. We have used HWT for my 1st grade son, but I would like to make a switch before we get to cursive. I looked seriously at the Italic, but then discovered the D'Nealian style. It is simple one stroke letters like Italic and HWT, but makes the switch to a more traditional cursive very fluently. BJU also puts out a handwriting curriculum that is similar to D'nealian and Italic, and also makes the switch to cursive easy, but the uppercase prints were too different from HWT, so I think D'Nealian will be our choice. The Italic print looks like a great curriculum too. Rainbow Resource carries D'Nealian books. They also carry "Character Handwriting Books" in lots of styles (Italic, HWT, D'Nealian, etc) that get the kids writing about different character traits with quotes and Scripture. Simply Charlotte Mason also has handwriting books with D'Nealian style. Rainbow also has a cool resource for younder kids with the D'Nealian style called 26 books...something else in the title, where kids make a little 4 page book for each new letter they learn how to write in the D'Nealian style.

[MelInKansas]

I did HWT for my oldest for K and 1st handwriting. Then I have had her do some Italic at the start of her 2nd grade year this year. Then she got to start Cheerful Cursive after finishing her Italic book. I don't know if it "worked" all that well, or if its just my daughter's personality because handwriting is not a favorite thing for her and she doesn't really try to do it well (and I have let her get away with poor work sometimes too so I'm guilty as well). But I would say she didn't have trouble transitioning between those programs and she really likes Cheerful Cursive. For the first time I see her trying to do well and doing pretty well with handwriting work.

My 2nd has been doing Italic. I think we will do Italic (and ARFH - A Reason for Handwriting for some extra practice) and then Cheerful Cursive again when she is ready for that. I would highly recommend either of those.