He tunes out during cursive, isn't learning What to do?

joyfulheart · Post by **joyfulheart** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 9:23 am

First, we have him on Handwriting without Tears Cursive. I considered the Cheerful cursive, but couldn't find any samples, and really wanted something SIMPLE. My oldest (8 1/2) has dyslexia, dysgraphia, and a problem with fine motor skills. Long story, but he's finally learned to do a messy version of handwriting and he's not wanting to learn anything new.

He's done 1/2 of the book and if I ask him what letter he's working on (on his current page) and he doesn't have a clue.

He admitted he's just doing it as "busy work" and isn't paying attention at all to anything other than getting it done. He's just tuning out.

I'm not sure if switching to Cheerful would help? Wont he just tune out on that too?

Any advice from experienced mom's would really be appreciated. I just don't know what to do.

netpea · Post by **netpea** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 9:31 am

With my son, if he doesn't do it neatly, he has to do an extra page. That's usually enough of a motivator for him.

He also prefers copywork to doing a handwriting workbook. Have you tried doing copywork?

Vicki · Post by **Vicki** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 11:03 am

Bless your heart! It sounds like his struggles with dysgraphia might be the root of the problem. It's just too much for him to deal with.

Would it work to do something kind of silly that reverts back to learning manuscript for younger children---like cursive writing in shaving cream, or some of that colored bath foam for kids? It might take the help of a therapist to help with some things that will make writing easier for him.

inHistiming · Post by **inHistiming** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 3:00 pm

I don't know how much 'work' you're having him do at one time, but my suggestion would be to reduce the amount if possible. Maybe you could spend more time on each letter until he 'gets' it, but doing only a few words a day?

I know others will have great suggestions.

netpea · Post by **netpea** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 9:03 pm

Before we dove into a cursive program though, we started with simple cursive placemat from Target, they are selling them again right now.

My son would just trace the letters on each side with a dry erase marker and then be done for the day. He really enjoyed that. Maybe that could help your son?

my3sons · Post by **my3sons** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 10:02 pm

We really like Cheerful Cursive. Sometimes just starting something different can be motivating. But, whatever you decide to do, I do think that doing a few letters/words in cursive neatly and correctly, is of a much greater importance than doing more of them sloppily.

Maybe you could have him tell you the letter orally before he begins (since you mentioned he's not seeming to want to make that connection), do just a few of them (or however many) and maybe a few words (I guess I'm trying to say have him do just a portion of what's on each page), and tell him if he does it very neatly, and it's quality work, he won't have to do the rest of the page. Be tough on it though - it should be quality work if he's going to be doing less of it. Just an idea!

In Christ,
Julie

joyfulheart · Post by **joyfulheart** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 11:03 pm

Thanks for the advice!

I pulled out his handwriting for the last 2 months and asked HIM to read his (printed) words to me-- and he couldn't. It was just too messy.

The specialists want him to eliminate handwriting completely-- I disagree and refuse. He CAN do it, it just takes more practice...

Anyway, then we looked at his cursive books and they are readable. Sloppy? Yes, but definately readable. He actually got excited when he realized how "neat" the cursive looked compared to his printing.

He then asked if he could do ALL his schoolwork/copywork/handwriting in cursive. I said yes, but first he has to learn to do cursive.

He agreed to try harder, but asked for a different book with a different teaching style. After spending all day researching different cursive programs, I just ordered Cheerful Cursive. Everything else HOD (Bigger) is working great, so I'm sure this will be great too!!

6timeboymom · Post by **6timeboymom** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 11:17 pm

I have loved working with cheerful cursive. My 12 yr old is a very sloppy writer, but he does beautiful work in cheerful. Plus its very short lessons, so he focuses on one or two lines of good work versus the line after line of mediocre work he was doing before.
He also did well with italic handwriting, but I don't like that for cursive so when we switched over to HOD completely I go the cheerful cursive. And like you said, Carrie has done such a splendid job of finding the perfect stuff for the curriculum I didn't worry when I ordered!

momof2n2 · Post by **momof2n2** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 2:55 pm

okay - I have read a few places where cursive is better b/c it really limits turning letters backwards, etc. It is all my boys have ever done so we didn't have to make the leap from one way to another. But what I am really trying to say is that the cursive curriculum I picked a few years ago [and I don't even know if it is around anymore

] included cards that I laminated [you'd love 'em Darci!] and had them practice and practice and practice with their fingers first. My second son just practices and practices with his eyes, too. How funny is that? You can see him sort of just trailing them with his eyeballs, over and over.

ANYWAY - the part I am trying to say is maybe doing them other ways - with fingers, eyeballs. The curriculum here even suggests filling a ziploc style bag with some concoction and having them write with their finger on the bag.

I think the encouragement of seeing how legible it was might be the best motivator!

momof2n2 · Post by **momof2n2** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 2:58 pm

OH! I JUST REMEMBERED SOMETHING ELSE that worked GREAT for my firstborn, and was sort of well received by my second one. Maybe it would work for your son?

After he completed his half-page of practice letters, I had him decide which rows were the best, or which individual letters were the best and he would place stickers next to them. He was VERY discerning and I was so impressed with how carefully he did evaluate them. Obviously this only works if it fits your child, but maybe you could modify it in some way???? He could find the five best for a week or so, then look for the 10 best... etc. I don't know. Just a thought.

holyhart · Post by **holyhart** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 3:03 pm

I just read online recently that many ps are not going to be teaching cursive anymore. It is considered unuseful, except to sign one's name, due to computers being used for virtually everything. So they will teach early grades to print, no spelling and now no cursive. Lovely.

One more point for homeschooling.

I like the idea of having something printed out and laminated, then having them use a dry erase marker that they can wipe off as practice or even to just use their finger with. (the placemat from target might be a good one for that...)