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You'd think one area I could avoid over analyzing is HANDWRITING!

I really think the Getty-Dubay Italic is beautiful. I think it is easier to write more quickly and maintain neatness with GDI. Also, I can see how the transition from the printing to the cursive italic would be easier.

But I have a few concerns over it.

1. No printed materials are written in italics. So, especially with young learners, I wonder if writing in a way so different from what you see in print would be confusing.

2. I wonder if italic writing would be more difficult for a child with fine motor issues.

3. It seems like it will take much more instruction than traditional printing because of the slanting and the joins.


We used Handwriting Without Tears last year. I like that it is very developmentally appropriate and the practice is short.

But with both HWOT and ball & stick traditional printing, the transition to cursive is HUGE. The cursive is SO different from the printing.

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I would love to know your experiences & opinions of HW choices.

Also, Carrie, what do you hear from parents regarding what they like/don't like about the different options?

Thanks!

Shannon Randolph

Mom to
Cassie (6) and Will (5) Both Homeschooling with LHFHG,
Ellie (3) "Listening In" to LHFHG,
and Jack (8 months) Also "Listening In" to LHFHG : )

we used italic with two of my boys who just weren't "getting it" with traditional zaner-bloser handwriting. They did a couple books of the italic, then the older of the two chose to transition himself back into the zaner-bloser cursive. Now he is doing the cursive with "Bigger..." and the other one is still doing some italic off and on with "regular" printing with copywork.
I am planning on getting him the cursive that comes with "Bigger" when he's ready because it is SO wonderful at making the transition to cursive easier for the child.

We really don't hear negatives about either one of the handwriting options, so that is a blessing. Zaner-bloser is still the most commonly used manuscript in school systems today. Italic is a very pretty handwriting and is said to transition easier to cursive.

We sell quite a bit of both kinds, so hopefully more moms will chime in with their choices and what they've discovered. We've always had good luck with the Zaner-bloser style, as I just used what I was familiar with writing and teaching myself.

Blessings,
Carrie