Handwriting Styles

There are a variety of handwriting styles, including: cursive, manuscript, Italic, D'Nealian, and New South Wales. See samples of popular handwriting styles. A school district usually decides to teach one style. If you have a child who is not yet attending school and is ready to write, call the school office or contact the kindergarten teacher to learn the handwriting style used. You always have the option of teaching your child another style, but it can be a needless frustration for the child.

Homeschool parents have more options. Take time to familiarize yourself with the various styles. Most start with a manuscript form for the first several years, then move into a cursive form. Another option is to start with cursive. When my coauthor, Marie, was a child in the 1920's, she learned cursive first. Manuscript was learned separately, during lessons where maps were drawn or drawings were labeled. Several curriculum programs have reintroduced the concept of teaching cursive from the start.

Whatever handwriting style your children use, the steps toward legibility and speed are:

• form letters correctly
• slant the letters consistently
• make the letters a consistent size
• use consistent spacing between words and letters
• keep the hand loose and comfortable

Most important -- make handwriting practice fun!

Handwriting Charts

There are many styles of handwriting, each with its own letter formation -- see them all in one place on our sample page of handwriting styles. The following list includes online sources of handwriting style charts (don't miss Jan Brett's alphabet charts). For a complete selection of charts, visit a teacher-parent school supply store. Some of the large discount retailers carry a good selection of handwriting style charts.

Manuscript, Cursive (Zaner-Bloser)
HandwritingForKids.com -- charts and demonstrations on how to form the letters -- a generous, well-organized site! This site has many variations on manuscript and cursive writing, including the popular style developed by Zaner-Bloser.

manuscript - uppercase
manuscript - lowercase

cursive - uppercase
cursive - lowercase

Spanish

lined paper

Peterson-Handwriting.com -- another great place to get charts and demonstrations on forming the letters. Peterson has lots of products for teaching handwriting. (These demonstrations are not Zaner-Bloser.)

manuscript - uppercase
manuscript - lowercase

cursive - uppercase
cursive - lowercase

Modern Manuscript and Modern Cursive - (D'Nealian)
D'Nealian introduces slanted letters right from the beginning and has gained popularity in many school districts in the United States. Products similar to D'Nealian are sold as "Modern Manuscript" and "Modern Cursive".

D'Nealian - manuscript and cursive chart
D'Nealian - manuscript only

Handwriting Without Tears
Handwriting Without Tears was developed by an occupational therapist. This style is simplified, and does not have a slant. The Handwriting Without Tears program has lots of products for writing readiness.

Print - Handwriting Without Tears
Cursive - Handwriting Without Tears

Italic and Italic Link
Italic writing is beautiful and fluent. There are several variations -- Portland Italic, Barchowsky, New South Wales, Victorian, and Queensland.

Italic charts

Barchowsky

	Handwriting Styles There are a variety of handwriting styles, including: cursive, manuscript, Italic, D'Nealian, and New South Wales. See samples of popular handwriting styles. A school district usually decides to teach one style. If you have a child who is not yet attending school and is ready to write, call the school office or contact the kindergarten teacher to learn the handwriting style used. You always have the option of teaching your child another style, but it can be a needless frustration for the child. Homeschool parents have more options. Take time to familiarize yourself with the various styles. Most start with a manuscript form for the first several years, then move into a cursive form. Another option is to start with cursive. When my coauthor, Marie, was a child in the 1920's, she learned cursive first. Manuscript was learned separately, during lessons where maps were drawn or drawings were labeled. Several curriculum programs have reintroduced the concept of teaching cursive from the start. Whatever handwriting style your children use, the steps toward legibility and speed are: • form letters correctly • slant the letters consistently • make the letters a consistent size • use consistent spacing between words and letters • keep the hand loose and comfortable Most important -- make handwriting practice fun! Handwriting Charts There are many styles of handwriting, each with its own letter formation -- see them all in one place on our sample page of handwriting styles. The following list includes online sources of handwriting style charts (don't miss Jan Brett's alphabet charts). For a complete selection of charts, visit a teacher-parent school supply store. Some of the large discount retailers carry a good selection of handwriting style charts. Manuscript, Cursive (Zaner-Bloser) HandwritingForKids.com -- charts and demonstrations on how to form the letters -- a generous, well-organized site! This site has many variations on manuscript and cursive writing, including the popular style developed by Zaner-Bloser. manuscript - uppercase manuscript - lowercase cursive - uppercase cursive - lowercase Spanish lined paper Peterson-Handwriting.com -- another great place to get charts and demonstrations on forming the letters. Peterson has lots of products for teaching handwriting. (These demonstrations are not Zaner-Bloser.) manuscript - uppercase manuscript - lowercase cursive - uppercase cursive - lowercase Modern Manuscript and Modern Cursive - (D'Nealian) D'Nealian introduces slanted letters right from the beginning and has gained popularity in many school districts in the United States. Products similar to D'Nealian are sold as "Modern Manuscript" and "Modern Cursive". D'Nealian - manuscript and cursive chart D'Nealian - manuscript only Handwriting Without Tears Handwriting Without Tears was developed by an occupational therapist. This style is simplified, and does not have a slant. The Handwriting Without Tears program has lots of products for writing readiness. Print - Handwriting Without Tears Cursive - Handwriting Without Tears Italic and Italic Link Italic writing is beautiful and fluent. There are several variations -- Portland Italic, Barchowsky, New South Wales, Victorian, and Queensland. Italic charts Barchowsky
This site is by the authors of Draw Write Now. StartWrite Handwriting Software Print your own handwriting worksheets in the handwriting style you prefer. Samples of handwriting styles in Startwrite: Manuscript Z-B Cursive Z-B Manuscript Z-B Simple Cursive Z-B Simple D'Nealian Print (Modern) D'Nealian Cursive (Modern) Palmer Handwriting Without Tears Spanish Italic (Portland) New South Wales Victorian Queensland		How to Hold a Pencil www.janbrett.com look under "Activities Pages", Alphabet Samples of Handwriting Styles
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