Downstrokes, left to write. Montessori materials have sandpaper letters to trace the shape with the fingers. Some letter reversal is normal, and self-corrects. So is writing in mirror image.

In my child development course, the system that we learned was the Zaner Bloser system. The best examples that I could find are this and this, though on better worksheets, the arrows are numbered to show the order that each part should be done in.

@alfredaprufrock: I totally remember that from Montessori!

Thanks Alfreda and flyaway :)

I think that cursive should be a choice. I am extremely bad at it.

check out http://www.dnealian.com/. @90s kid: question is about print, not cursive.

I know, I am just saying that learning to print is enough.

My son’s OT swears by Handwriting Without Tears.

not a teacher
I always thought that the best way to do it would be to learn letters by formations, first lower, then upper case, as lower case is used far more often:
downs/straights (i, l, z, w, t, k, v)
circles (p,o,d,a,c,b)
curve (s, e, r, f )
humps (h,m,n,u
below baseline (q,y,p,g,j)

—we were forced to learn cursive. In the end, my “print” handwriting ends up looking more like a hybrid. Some letters connect, some don’t.

When you write your a’s, do you do an o with a tail or “a”?

@blastfamy I am kinda doing something a little similar w/ the uppercase… P >> B, C >> O >> Q (well it doesn’t look like that >> Q), P >> R, F >> E, V >> W, etc. i.e. similar goupings….Great idea for lowercase!

@90’s kid I think they are taught to make a circle w/ a stick….although mine is more like a circle w/ a tail.

you mean like this “a”?

No…however, that is how my mom and aunts write an “a”....

And then there are g’s. :D

I’ve only seen two or three people write out a’s as seen in this font.

Far more common is something looking like

O|

for the a.

As for cursive, I actually do thing that it can be valuable. Not in the sense that the strict formation of every cursive letter would be followed; cursive, by nature, flows. Interjecting it in the right places in one’s writing allows their writing to look more fluid, and less looking like it was written on PB paper. Granted, depending on what developmental stage theses kids are at, cursive may be an innappropriate addition to the writing curriculum.
My 2 cents

@blastfamy thanks..

Mine are preschoolers….so we are only talking about print, ALL CAPS. They are teaching them to print. When I asked the teacher about how she basically said they aren’t concerned about the exact mechanics…..just that they are doing something.

That is just dandy fine….I am all in to the no pressure learning. BUT…..it seems silly for me to be teaching my kid to make an A by starting in the lower left corner if it should be done by starting at the top and going down….

I am really not pushing it…..just don’t want to undo bad habits down the road…..

:)

I pass.

while cursive writing is still taught in most schools, there is a sort of in-between that is a more natural form of writing. i am a teacher and have perfected my cursive “teacher handwriting” for writing on the board or on students’ papers, but in my own informal writing – notes, letters, etc. – i write w/ a combination of print and cursive. this is a much more natural way to write. and yes, when children are taught, they are taught specific starting points for each letter. many letters have little rhymes or sayings to help the kids remember how to write them.

The fact that you are taking an active interest in your child’s education is more important than any ‘method’ I’m sure one of the fine jellies will give you the answer you need. I just wanted to say AWSOME job being involved with what your kids do. I truly believe that makes ALL the difference in the world.

@ jfredrick
When I am taking notes, I do the in-between.
I think of it as lazy print though, because I just connect letters basically.

I don’t know that there is a write way (ha ha!) or a wrong way to print, as long as it’s legible….