Handwriting…it’s one subject that I dread doing daily with my boys. I’m not sure if it’s because they’re boys that they dislike it so much, or the fact that electronics are so accessible they don’t see the point. Regardless, it’s something that I feel is important for them to learn.
D is going to be heading into the 3rd grade this coming school year and has wanted to learn cursive writing, which I think is great. I put it off last year because in my opinion his print still isn’t what I consider great. L is actually just learning handwriting, so I don’t get tons of complaining from him at this point.
Even though summer has arrived, we still do about an 1-2 hours of combined learning in our home daily to keep their minds active and to keep what we learned this year fresh on their minds. Our days always begin with Bible study and end with one very short handwriting page. In between we do a craft/activity about what we may be studying at that time. Currently we are doing a mini-lesson on dinosaurs.
I admit that I dreaded putting handwriting in our daily summer schedule simply because I knew that I would hear tons of complaining and excuses, which I did until we received the Cambridge Handwriting At Home Series! There is just something about wipe-clean pages that seems to make handwriting more fun!
Cambridge University Press just launched their collection of Handwriting at Home series which is designed for Pre-K to Third Grade. Handwriting is such an important skill as I mentioned above and so many curriculum programs these days are dropping it. 
There are four books in the series, starting with ‘Getting Ready for Handwriting’ which teaches pattern and mark-making to develop early handwriting skills. The final book ‘Forming Cursive Letters’ is for Second and Third Grade children and introduces fully cursive letters, allowing your child to develop a flowing, easy-to-join handwriting style. This series is unique as it comes with a free app, bringing the letters and patterns to life.
Cambridge Handwriting at Home: Getting Ready for Handwriting
Getting Ready for Handwriting (ideal for pre-K and Kindergarten) offers practice patterns and ideas for activities which will help your child develop the motor skills required for clear and consistent handwriting to be school-ready.
Cambridge Handwriting at Home: Forming Uppercase Letters
Forming Uppercase Letters (ideal for Kindergarten and First Grade) introduces the uppercase manuscript letters.
Cambridge Handwriting at Home: Forming Manuscript Letters
Forming Manuscript Letters (ideal for Kindergarten and First Grade) uses a unique system of four ‘letter families’ to rapidly teach children the manuscript alphabet as preparation for cursive.
Cambridge Handwriting at Home: Forming Cursive Letters
Forming Cursive Letters is for Second and Third Grade. Children will learn fully cursive letters and develop a flowing, easy-to-join handwriting style. Each letter has clear instructions showing correct formation. ‘Notes for grown ups’ and ‘Top tips’ help parents ensure children learn best practice.
Cambridge Handwriting at Home uses the successful Cambridge Method of Handwriting which uses four letter families to introduce children to manuscript letters; long letter, curly caterpillar, one-armed robot, and zig-sag monster. Each of these books feature colorful designs and engaging characters to make learning for and so far it’s working. My eight year old hasn’t had an excuse yet for not doing his handwriting and my four-year old is showing major improvements! I really feel that the combination of bright colors, cute graphics and that he can just wipe it clean when mistakes are made that has turned the dreaded handwriting more fun!!
The series also is unique in that it comes with a free interactive app that is compatible with Android and iOS to help demonstrate pattern and letter formation. The boys always scan the phone on each page so that they can see the demonstration.
The Cambridge Handwriting at Home series workbooks are available on Amazon with a SRP of $5.95 each.
