Daily Cursive Writing Practice© 2017 Chalkboard Publishing Inc Author: Demetra Turnbull

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This project is funded in part by the Government of Canada.

Daily Cursive Writing Practice © Chalkboard Publishing 1

Contents

Why Teach Handwriting? Handwriting is still an important life skill. Writing by hand ties in closely with the skills of reading and comprehending. Handwriting personalizes communication with others in a way that technological devices cannot. Neat, legible writing is a skill that your child can take pride in throughout his or her life.

Teaching Tips for Parents• Teach the formation of letters in modeled cursive writing sessions.

• Show your child some words in both printing and cursive writing. Ask your child to describe the similarities and differences in the letters. For example, the letters of a word are joined together in cursive writing, whereas the letters of a word are separated in printing.

• Point out that, in cursive writing, there is usually a beginning “tail,” and an ending “tail.” These “tails” are what join the letters of a word together.

• Demonstrate for your child how, during cursive writing, the pencil should not be lifted from the paper until the word has been completed. Only a few letters, such as capital “T,” do not connect to the rest of a word when cursive writing.

Why Teach Handwriting? ............................ 1

Teaching Tips for Parents ........................... 1

Cursive Alphabet—Lower-case Letters ...... 4

Cursive Alphabet—Upper-case Letters ...... 5

Writing Practice—Letters and Words ......... 6

Writing Practice—State Names ................ 84

Writing Practice—Number Words ............. 89

Writing Practice—Colors .......................... 92

Writing Practice—Days of the Week ........ 94

Writing Practice—Months of the Year ....... 95

Writing Practice—Seasons of the Year ..... 97

Cursive Writing Challenges ...................... 98

Practice Your Signature ........................... 99

Collect Signatures .................................. 100

Lined Practice Pages.............................. 101

Cursive Writing Rubric ............................ 118

Completion Chart ................................... 119

Achievement Awards .............................. 120

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a c d g

r s u w

h k

b o v

e f l

m n x

i j t

p q y z

• Teach letters with a similar formation in clusters. For example,

• In a notebook or on a whiteboard, demonstrate the formation of the cursive letter being taught in writing. Describe your movements aloud as you write. Focus on the proper alignment, shape, and slant of your writing.

• Invite your child to “write” the letter in the air with big arm movements.

• Use the practice sheets found in this resource as immediate follow-up to each lesson. Have your child circle his or her best letter on each line as a form of self-assessment. Encourage your child to express why that letter was chosen as the best.

• As your child is practicing cursive writing skills, make sure to reinforce good posture habits. Slouching will create unnecessary strain on your child’s young spine.

• You may wish to play classical music to create an inspiring atmosphere as your child practices cursive writing skills.

MotivationConsider these ideas to motivate your child to practice cursive writing skills, see progress, feel pride in accomplishment, and have a product to show for her or his hard work:

• Keep your child’s work organized in a portfolio, folder, or scrapbook, or bind practice pages into a book.

• As your child successfully completes cursive writing lessons (pages 6–83), have your child color in the personal completion chart provided in this resource.

• For proficient cursive writers, provide short poems and nursery rhymes to copy. Encourage your child to illustrate those pages and bind them together to make a book.

• Have a notebook or lined paper and pencils readily available for your child to practice printing and cursive writing at any time.

• Look for everyday opportunities to encourage printing and cursive writing practice. For example, when your child is drawing a picture or using a coloring book, encourage them to name the picture and to print or write that name on the page. You can also encourage your child to print or write little notes to a parent, grandparent, or sibling, and to print or write their name on lunch bags, etc.

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General SupportThe learning environment, and your attention to your child’s needs, can promote the learning and development of good handwriting. Here are some tips and suggestions for helping your child learn to write legibly:

• Display the cursive alphabet where your child can see it. Consider attaching a photocopy of the alphabet, with letter formation, to the desk or table for your child’s reference.

• Model legible writing at every opportunity.

• Remind your child to hold all writing tools properly.

• Ensure that pencils are sharpened before use.

• If you notice your child having difficulty with specific letters, provide additional instruction or review.

Encouraging Fine Motor Control and Finger Muscle Strength Provide activities that increase fine motor control and finger muscle strength, such as

• modeling clay to roll small balls, or create sculptures with details

• art projects that involve using crayons, finger paints, scissors, or tearing paper

• building blocks that snap together

• stringing paper clips together

• completing puzzles

• practicing lacing or stitching

• cutting, pasting, and folding paper

Monitoring Progress• Use the rubric in this book to assess your child’s learning. Encourage your child to self-assess his

or her cursive writing according to the rubric provided.

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Trace the lower-case letters.

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Cursive Alphabet—Lower-case Letters

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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Cursive Alphabet—Upper-case Letters

Trace the upper-case letters.

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A A A A A A A

A

A

A

a a a a a a a a

a

a

a

Trace and write. Circle your best A or a on each line.A a

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A A A A A A A

A

A Ashley a a a a a a a a

a

a ace ape

Trace and write. Circle your best A or a on each line.A a

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A A A A A A A

A

A Allosaurus a a a a a a a a

a

a add art

Trace and write. Circle your best A or a on each line.A a

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B B B B B B B

B

B

B

b b b b b b b b

b

b

b

Trace and write. Circle your best B or b on each line.B b

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