We started our oldest on Abeka cursive early on, and continued using Abeka handwriting books up through the beginning of his sixth grade school year.The Abeka practice sheets remind me of the old Palmer method writing exercises that our parents and grandparents learned in school.If you’re familiar with the Palmer method, you can instantly spot a Palmer writer.Recently, I watched a Commerce Bank CSR as she filled out paper work for my new checking account.Even reading her writing upside-down I could spot her Palmer training.That woman could have forged my mother’s handwriting without even trying.They were a spot-on match.I asked her which Catholic school she attended.She laughed, and told me about her childhood in inner-city Philadelphia and the nuns that trained the school in proper cursive writing.That explained it!Their other faults aside, no one can drill-and-kill a subject like a nun in a habit with a sturdy oak ruler!That also identifies the key to developing good handwriting – PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!
Developing good handwriting is no different than learning to throw a ball, shoot a free throw, swing a golf club, or shoot a bow and arrow.It takes repetitive practice and care.Handwriting is a mechanical movement that must be practiced until “muscle memory” makes it habit.Unfortunately, learning good handwriting skills isn't quite as exciting to a child as learning to throw a ball or shoot a free throw.Therein lays a home schooling parent’s big challenge.Since we do not have a nun to step in with strong oak ruler or threat of eternal punishment to coerce our young charges’ minds into mastering the lost art of penmanship, homeschool moms and dads must ask themselves if this is a battle in which they wish to engage?There can be a lot of whining, crying, fighting, sulking, and foot dragging over daily penmanship exercises.There is no magic curriculum that, once engaged, will create beautiful writers out of children who seem to have had their hands replaced with chicken feet when it comes to the physical act of writing.While some penmanship curriculum is a better fit for our children than others, good penmanship still boils down to care and lots of practice.And so, mom and dad, how hard are you going to battle with your reluctant writers over the quality of their calligraphy?
Our oldest printed his work from preschool through second grade.He began his cursive practice in second grade. The lessons took no more than 10 minutes each day, if he focused on his work and stopped worrying about the density of his navel lint and other distractions. During third grade his work was a combination of printing and cursive.When he entered fourth grade we required that all work be completed in cursive.He continued daily cursive practice and completed all his work in cursive through the first part of his sixth grade year.
Something amazing happened over the summer between fifth and sixth grade.His hands were returned to him and some chicken somewhere got her feet back.The kid has pretty good handwriting.The years of practice were worth it.I highly encourage all home schooling parents to fight the good fight.Make your children practice.It is another way that homeschooled children will stand out from their peers when they grow up, move out, and head off into that big, big world that we are preparing them for.Every advantage helps!And the public schools just aren’t teaching cursive like they should.
We've all missed our friend and fellow blogger, Arby. But we all KNEW his children wouldn't stop providing him with blogging fodder just because he quit blogging. And we also knew that he'd haveto have an outlet for his nutty stories. And furthermore, we were all fairly certain that, on more than one occasion, writing about his kids probably kept him from strangling them. So when he sent me this story, I knew I had to publish it...for the children's sake. Enjoy!
I'm not certain which was more troubling, the fact that Captain Chaos' preschool teacher gave my daughter a cup of "pumpkin juice" at the class Halloween party last Thursday, only to watch her slop the orange liquid down the front of a brand new white turtleneck sweater, or her admission to me that she knew better, because for two months the Captain has bypassed any juice offered to her during snack time, preferring instead a cup of water.Either way, I did not appreciate the cavalier attitude demonstrated by a woman wearing a court jester's costume when she blithely commented, "Oh well, I guess it's time for some bleach!"I did experience mildly juvenile satisfaction when this weeble-shaped teacher admitted that a kindergartner stopped her in the hall to ask if her costume was filled with air.Out of the mouths of babes.
When I arrived home I decided that there was no need to take the Captain out of her Halloween costume since it was going into the wash later that night.Two homeschooled students were at my doorstep, waiting to resume their weekly study of Romeo & Juliet, so I allowed Captain Chaos to run in the backyard with her brothers.What's a little dirt compared to a large orange stain on the breast of her sweater?And do you see some foreshadowing in that question?
We weren't five minutes into act II when a blood curdling scream erupted in the back yard and Major Havoc ran in to say, "The Captain has blood!"I dashed to the patio door to meet General Mayhem, who was walking the Captain into the house, a river of blood running from her left nostril.I discovered while wrestling the screaming girl to the floor and attempting to stop the flow of blood, that General Mayhem had been sitting on a TWO MAN SWING, but did not wish to share the second seat with his brother.Major Havoc, the offended party in the great swing debacle of 2008, became so enraged with his older brother that he grabbed the red plastic airplane swing that hung next to the General and attempted to launch the aircraft into orbit.Forgetting for the moment that the plane was attached to a metal pole by four strong ropes and would return towards him, he threw the craft as hard as his six-year-old arms would allow.Right into the Captain's face.
Shocked and bloodied, the crying girl grabbed at her face, smearing blood and snot from her hair line to her chin.It ran down the front of her orange stained sweater, down the front of her cheerleader outfit, and down the front her new white tights.Yes, I had finally found the perfect use for the Chicago Cubs cheerleader's outfit that the Boss found at a thrift store for $1.50.It was the Captain's Halloween costume, probably the one and only time she'd have a reason to wear it.And it was covered in blood.
Oh, I thought about not washing it.It was a frightful sight, befitting the occasion.It was also the perfect metaphor for the Cubs' goatless 2008 season.But, I ran the entire outfit through several washings.The jumper came out clean.The tights came out clean.The orange stain disappeared, and the light blood stains that did not leave the sweater were hidden by the jumper.All was well.The next day the girl was running house-to-house, always the last in line behind seven other kids, quietly waiting for candy, and helping herself to handfuls of goodies from offered bowls. Home owner after home owner encouraged her to take lots of the sugary goodness after the kids in front of her were given one or two pieces.Her haul was easily three times that of her brothers' combined.
Good things do come to those who wait. And are really, really cute.
"There is a joy in the journey,
there's a light we can love on the way.
There is a wonder and wildness to life,
and freedom for those who obey."
(Michael Card)
Need help with homeschooling?
We can help!
Stay in Touch!
Join "The Joyful Journey" Blog Network on Facebook!
Stumble It!
