OT-how to teach cursive writing to teens?

[riu girl]

I have two teens with incredibly sloppy cursive writing, most of their school assignments they do on the computer and if they can't do it on the computer, they print. They also barely can read cursive.

I told them this summer they are both going to learn cursive properly.

Any suggestions on where/what I can buy learning materials to help them?

Thanks

 

[aristocat65]

Good luck to you. My DS is almost 20 and in college and can't do cursive handwriting despite my efforts. The had a workbook in grade 3 or 4 ( can't remember) that they were supposed to practice in, but the teacher hardly used it. I tried to get him to do it, and he did to a degree, but stopped. It hasn't hurt him as all assignments are done on a computer now anyway.

Sadly, I think it is a lost art, but I wouldn't worry too much about your kids not being able to do it.

 

[pigletto]

My handwriting was pretty terrible until I was about 17 or 18 and then it got very neat. I can't even blame computers. Honestly I think it was a hand/eye coordination issue and just something I needed a little more growth and brain development to master. I remember trying and trying but my hand wasn't steady enough. And then poof over night it just looked much better. The not being able to read it would concern me more. That indicates to me they aren't being exposed to it enough.
I think good old fashioned note books with lessons and examples would probably be best.

 

[CanuckTraveller]

I used to love using this program with kids, and I see they have an adult version:
http://www.callirobics.com/

 

[Lisa Anne Colling]

At any educational supply store in Ontario, you can get a book called Canadian Handwriting. I have used it for my homeschooled son and my two schooled children whom like your kids have not been exposed enough to it in school. I also make my other kids do as much as they can in cursive as the school does not make them. They are only going to get better at it if they practice. Good Luck!

 

[riu girl]

Thanks everyone for all the advice/support.

I will visit the teachers store in Peterborough this weekend and see what I can get.
Thanks again.

 

[sheboz]

Hand writing without tears is an excellent program, works well for people with learning disabilities and coordination problems. My son has dysgraphia and this system has worked well for us. Check out there website.

 

[PinkMagnolia]

My son sees a Occupational Therapist for handwriting - We used "Handwriting without Tears" for printing (and LOVE it!), but his OT actually prefers "Loops and other Groups" as oppose to HWT for cursive.

I could be wrong... but I don't think you can buy either of these programs at a Teacher Supply store.. it's more of a specialized thing. In our Board, we have to buy them directly from the Hospital where the School OT's work out of (but I've seen them online from the US too) I would make a couple of phone calls to the Resource Teacher and ask about these workbooks -- they are popular and the resource teacher should know about them.

Good Luck -- I have learned more about handwriting the last 2 years than I ever though I would in my whole life... I could go on and on and on about it!

 

[Lisa Anne Colling]

Handwriting without tears is available at the Learning tree in Burlington. They also have a website you can order through. It is also available through Homeschool suppliers like learning house. The printing program was awesome for my LD son, but we were not getting anywhere with the cursive side.

 

[coastgirl]

Argh--I thought I replied to this days ago, my post must've been eaten.

I ordered Handwriting without Tears cursive for my son online. http://www.hwtears.com/hwt No problem getting it in Canada. My son is another who used the printing program, and it was wonderful for him. I ordered the cursive materials, but he has never used them. He has a netbook at school and we agreed that cursive wasn't a priority for him. (He has coordination issues and we are thrilled that he can print. We are leaving it at that!)

Good luck!

 

[Cdnmom2001]

I have a hard time accepting the fact that the schools in Ontario touch on cursive for a bit in grade 4 and never return to teaching it. I was at yoga class a few weeks ago with my kids and there was a high school teacher there marking her grade 11's essays. I asked her how many were printed and how many were handwritten. She asked why and I told her how schools teach it for a small amount of time only in grade 4 and that is all, she went through her essays and all of them were printed and none were in handwriting. She was baffled, she said she had never actually paid attention to it and was shocked. I don't blame computers, I blame the school system for removing areas that need to be focussed on and do things that in my opinnion are not important(med evil times, etc etc) Focus more on basic math(multiplication, division, addition, subtraction) seems to be another lost art. The way they teach kids, is baffling to me lol and again more focus on language, printing/handwriting

 

[Cdn Gal]

I use Handwriting without Tears with my Grade 6 class. It is an excellent program, best of luck to you!