Notebookin/Copywork question....

[juliekay]

OK. Recently I just read an article that children still developing their handwriting should always have paper that lined with a 1/2 line..... This past year we have switched to using only composition-styled notebooks - no 1/2 lines. This is fine for my older 2 dc. I have an 8 y.o. that is just learning cursive. I planned to use regular composition books next year, but now I'm rethinking this? At this point next year he will be tackling Bigger. He will work on his cursive via the Cursive Book used with Bigger, but he would also do copy-work via: Bible verse, weekly poem, science notebook, etc.... Thoughts?

[Mom2Monkeys]

My thoughts may differ very much from others, but I feel the really big lines teach them to draw letters and the smaller ones teach them to write letters. We use transitional paper with DS6 to write and it's target grade is 3-4 I believe. So it's still got the middle dashed line, but it's much smaller than some of the earlier primary type styles. He can also use regular notebook paper and although he generally writes in all caps he can still write better with the small lines. He still has a LONG way to go, but he just does better with the smaller lines than the large ones. I don't think you have anything to worry about. You might transition down if there are any issues-- start with smaller lined primary paper, then go down to regular paper.

Just my 2 cents! HTH!

[creativemommy]

I agree (and I'm a certified elem teacher)!

The large 1/2 lined papers are used for letter formation in both printing & cursive. When I taught 2nd grade a few years ago and taught my students to write in cursive, we used the 1/2 line paper. It was not as tall as the Kindergarten or 1st grade 1/2 line papers.

I would suggest you buy the 1/2 line paper that's only 1/2" tall or 3/8" tall (from the bottom line to the top line). I'd use this for all your son's writing (copywork, Bible verse, notebooking, etc) while he is learning to write in cursive and then by next year go to the regular composition books. It's what I'm planning to do with my son in another year...

[kvmck]

Do any of you know where I can buy paper like that--the 1/2 line that is smaller? I was looking for paper like that at a few stores and couldn't find it.
Thanks, Kristen

[juliekay]

Thanks for your input. Up until now year I have used HWT so it's been easy to use regular composition notebooks and skip every other line creating our own middle line as the solid line. So, he definitely would need a smaller lines. So, I too am anxious to hear your answers to Kristen's question about where to find this. I think HWT does have their own paper. I just really wanted to hear your opinions of continuing the middle line thing into 3rd and 4th and maybe 5th grade....