I was recently blessed to be sent a few products to review with my 3rd grader to help with the instruction of Cursive from Logic of English. I received the Rhythm of Handwriting Cursive Student Book (softcover), which retails for $15 either as a softcover book or as a PDF download.
In addition to the student book, we received the Rhythm of Handwriting Quick Reference (Cursive), which retails for $10.
Rhythm of Handwriting
The Rhythm of Handwriting program has two options available: cursive or manuscript. We chose to review cursive because my 3rd grade daughter has been begging to learn how to write in this way. She thinks it looks fancy. Her grandmother taught her a few letters, and she has been hooked ever since.
I wanted to make sure that she was able to learn the letters in the most efficient and complete way possible, and receiving this program certainly ensured that would happen! It was also the perfect timing for our family.
The Rhythm of Handwriting Cursive Student Book has over 170 pages. The first 10 are for the instructor, so in this case, ME! There are the 15 Steps to Teaching Handwriting, Handwriting Tips, Suggested Schedules, and Ideas for Handwriting Practice.
I particularly liked the last part with different ideas for handwriting practice. There were typical suggestions, such as letter dictation and sandpaper letters, but there were also some new things I hadn’t ever heard of before. Foot writing was one that we tried out and enjoyed. I’m all over any kind of a way to engage my daughter in learning outside of just doing desk work!
The rest of the book is divided into Lowercase Letters and then Upper-Case Letters. Each of those sections is further divided into different groups of letters such as Loop Letters, Letters that Connect at the Baseline, and more. I like the idea of this because it groups similar types of letters together so that the student can practice a particular handwriting skill all in one big chunk at a time before moving on to a new one.
In each subsection, the letters are introduced and a bit of instruction is given on how to form them correctly based on their particular trait. For example, for swing letters, it tells the student that they begin on the baseline with an upward swinging motion up to the midline. Next, a few letters are given at the same time for the student to practice on a HUGE writing space and more in-depth instruction is given in steps.
After that, each letter is on its own page, with a large example with numbered steps at the top and then 8 practice lines of varying size below it. At the end of each subsection, there are practice pages for the student to practice all of the letters they have recently learned.
The Rhythm of Handwriting Quick Reference resource can be used with the Rhythm of Handwriting materials, as well as with Logic of English Foundations A and Foundations B. We got the Cursive Chart to match her student book.
The chart is printed on durable, glossy card stock, and is in full color.
The letters are organized in the same way in which they are introduced in The Rhythm of Handwriting. For cursive, this means the lower case letters are divided between Swing Letters, Curve Letters, Loop Letters, and Bump Letters. For uppercase letters, they are divided into Curve Letters, Roll Letters, Loop Letters, Circle Letters, Slash Letters, and then there few Miscellaneous Letters.
There is a flap that explains the different types strokes made while forming letters and shows how to properly do them. For example, it shows how to do a proper Drop-Hook, like you would do with a lowercase f, q, or z.
The back also has 11 great tips for teachers on the steps of teaching handwriting. Even as a standalone product, it would be simple to instruct students on the proper formation of letters in cursive.
Our Thoughts on Rhythm of Handwriting
We enjoyed this program! While my daughter is a 3rd grader using it, I do think that someone starting our by teaching handwriting could easily use this with their kindergarten students. I think the age range on this for initial cursive instruction would probably be anywhere from 4-10 years old. (Of course, anyone with an interest in learning to write in cursive could use it, so it’s more of an all ages kind of thing.)
We used it 3-4 times a week at night. My daughter worked on her cursive while I tucked her younger brothers in bed. When I got to her room to say goodnight, we talked about it and discussed what was coming up in future pages. I gave her pointers on how to improve what she had been working on using the chart and the tips in the student book. I watched as she practiced a few more times and we talked about what words she could make with the letters she had already learned.
This provides solid instruction for cursive handwriting. I am very pleased with the product, and with the resulting handwriting that my daughter is able to produce. I’m glad that it gives so many ideas and descriptions on how to form the letters, because I wouldn’t have had the patience or the thought process to be that detailed and thorough.
I highly recommend Logic of English and their Rhythm of Handwriting resources.