Did you see the CBS Sunday Morning piece about handwriting? - Page 2

[kittywitty]

Originally Posted by Dar 

Originally Posted by pampered_mom 
On the other hand, as was mentioned in the piece one will still be judged simply on the basis of their handwriting (job applications for one). 

I haven't seen many hand-written job applications anymore. A lot of places want you to apply online and/or submit a resume (which shouldn't be handwritten, of course).
 

Originally Posted by kittywitty 

Umsami- I would love to find a packaged Arabic font! My ds is interested in learning. It's so pretty.

Are you looking for stuff on how to do Arabic calligraphy or just on how to write in Arabic?  I learned to write in Arabic with Alif Baa, which is Kristen Brustad et al's intro book and the way most college students learn it... but I think it could be adapted for younger kids, and it does cover how each letter looks in each position (beginning, middle, and end of a word, as well as alone). There are also videos of a calligrapher writing each letter to imitate.... plus it's like $3 used on amazon.

It's kind of hard to learn Arabic writing without learning the Arabic language, though, I would think.... unless you just want to do something like learn to write your name, and google translate will do that for you.

Thanks, I'll look for that. He wants to learn the language, too. Until I can afford something like Rosetta Stone I have a small Arabic program (10 minutes a day or something?) coming.

[cappuccinosmom]

I think it is important.

We're using HWT, with success.  My middle son is doing the printing first, and the older one is about to start cursive.  I think the Palmer method causes more trouble than it's worth.  A simple Italic style is better.

[umsami]

Regarding Arabic writing, there's a book called, "The Arabic Alphabet: How to Read It and Write It"--which I really like.  It gives "real" Arabic writing, for lack of a better term.  http://www.amazon.com/Arabic-Alphabet-How-Read-Write/dp/0818404302/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1296072148&sr=8-2

For Arabic calligraphy, I've seen a few books through IQRA.  http://www.iqra.org/index/itemdesc.asp?ic=797325

You don't have to buy the big set.. they have individual ones for like $2.00  You can also see a preview of it if you click on the "inside view" icon.

http://www.iqra.org/index/itemdesc.asp?ic=797265&eq=&Tp=

[pampered_mom]

Originally Posted by Dar 
Quote:

Originally Posted by pampered_mom 
On the other hand, as was mentioned in the piece one will still be judged simply on the basis of their handwriting (job applications for one). 

I haven't seen many hand-written job applications anymore. A lot of places want you to apply online and/or submit a resume (which shouldn't be handwritten, of course).

I guess it depends on where you apply.  In most of the cases that I know of where folks have applied for jobs recently they've had to complete hand-written job applications.  There have also been instances where you may send in a resume when applying, but then have to fill out a handwritten job application when you come in for the interview.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AAK 

A lot of people worry about which "font" to teach and I seriously think that is over rated.  That said, I do think highly of handwriting practice.  We currently use HWT; my kids actually LOVE this.  Sometimes a letter is different than the way they were previously taught.  I tell them to make it nice, do your best work, I don't care if they are replicating that format--it is just a guide.  My 2nd grader really wanted to learn cursive.  We officially started this a few weeks ago.  She is remarkably good at cursive, where she is not good at print.  I am so glad I didn't make her master print first!  I do want them to know that a capital Q sometimes looks like a 2, but I don't expect them to use that form themselves; I sure don't.  The only thing that "bugs" me about HWT is that the cursive doesn't slant.  I have shown my girls various examples, and give them the option of slanting or not.  They don't.  Oh, we spend about 5-10 minutes 3x week.

Amy

ETA:  I have heard both my dad and my dh complain about peoples' handwriting in the workplace.  They have two completely different jobs and yes, computers are used there as well.  But, handwriting is still important!

It's a matter of aesthetics which I'll admit is entirely subjective.  I'm glad there are multiple fonts and approaches with which to teach handwriting - all the better to pick what works for the child.  :0)

[Shelsi]

Ds was taught d'nealian when he went to public kindy for the first part of last year so that's what we've stuck with.  I got a d'nealian workbook from Amazon that we work on every day and I have him answer a daily journal question to help practice his writing. 

I was taught the Palmer method (catholic school in the 80's).  Honestly my handwriting doesn't look like that anymore. 

I think people tend to end up with a mixture and basically develop their own unique style.  My mom does this bizarre blend of cursive and print.  My dad does basic block printing and it's very precise looking.  My handwriting honestly changes by the day and by my mood - even in the way I write my letters.  For example my lower case "y" might just have a straight line down or on another day I'll give it a nice "tail" without thinking. 

Imo, writing legibly is the most important aspect and the style of writing is secondary. 

[3girls1boy]

I just spent the last half hour struggling with my son as I made him work on writing in cursive.  He only had about 3 weeks instruction in the third grade and his 4th grade teacher does not make them do assignments in cursive.  He still doesn't even remember how to do all the letters.  This just shocks me, that teachers don't seem to think it is important anymore.  My daughters are older and they all have passable handwriting, even though none of them uses it often.  I think it is important just to develop fine motor skill.

Plus, recently I was in a store and saw a young woman who was asked to sign a charge card slip, and she made some loopy marks on the paper and I couldn't stop myself from saying, "Seriously, that's your signature?"  When she said yes, I asked her if it had anything to do with her name and she said no.  Now I think, maybe she didn't know how to sign her name.  Are we going to go back to people putting an X on paperwork?  We can't rely on technology for all this.

[zebra15]

As for handwriting DS 10 prints most everything.  He can sign his name (needs to as he has a bankcard) but at this point has no interest in learning cursive. Since we are unschooly I am not going to push cursive.  Some of the books DS reads have parts in cursive and he can read that so interpeting cursive writing isn't an issue.

Personally I learned to write in the 80's at a catholic school, then transferred to a public school for what now is considered jr. high.  My handwriting wasn't exceptional back then and now has warped into some combo of 'quick write' that could be cursive-print?  I can write the same thing 10x and it will never look the same.

Most things DS does and I do are typed.

[zane]

We are using this http://www.amazon.com/Italics-Beautiful-Handwriting-Penny-Gardner/dp/1576361500  It is the same "italic" as Getty Duby, but I bought it as a pdf so can make as many copies as I need.  I think the "font" is beautiful and simpler for my kids.  I would love to have good penmanship, and so hope to lead my guys in that direction.

[cloudswinger]

I use some books I got from Vietnam for language and handwriting. I think the writing style is based on the French style, it's got a few more loops but overall is very nice. They still have the philosophy that your "character" is reflected in your character, so good handwriting is very important. And 15 minutes a day? How do you get good at anything with just 15 minutes a day of practice? There's more time spent on transitioning between classes than that! That's the problem with this country. It's just a token effort. Might as well just drop it altogether.