How is this handwriting for year 1?

[cotdotton]

I'm a bit concerned about DD's handwriting. She's an only so I have nothing to compare it to - would really appreciate some honest opinions.

In foundation they were taught to print their letters and by the end of the year it was nice and legible.

Moving up to year 1 however they've started on cursive and it feels like she's really gone backwards. She's trying hard but not all of it is joined properly so it looks messy but more concerningly, looks like she can't spell (see in photo "place" looking like plane)

I'm going to do some practice with her over half term, focusing on forming letters on the line as well as practising joins. But honestly - is it ok for this stage in year 1? Thanks

[user789653241]

Not an expert, but tbh, I think it looks quite good . Maybe you can work on finger space, punctuation and use of capitals a bit? But I don't know the expectation for those in yr1. So, sorry, but it's just my impression.

[DearMrDilkington]

I think it looks alright, she just needs to remember to put spaces between words.

[cotdotton]

Thanks. Yes finger spaces definitely! That's another thing that seems to have gone out of the window since she started cursive. I think she's focusing on joining the letters and forgetting the other basics.

[GallivantingWildebeest]

Bloody cursive in Year 1! That's the problem. Finger spaces and joining flicks between letters - makes it so hard to read. Wish schools would go back to printing.

[empirerecordsrocked]

Dts are in yr 1. One is better and one about the same as yours - finger spaces have disappeared! Had parent w evening last week and teacher was happy with both.

[GU24Mum]

I've got one in Y1 who is a good writer - but what I am always reminding my older one (Y4) is to make sure the letters start in the right place, are the right size and formed properly. One of mine was taught "start on the line and it will all be fine"!

[catkind]

Looks great to me. Obviously needs to work on capital letters, but that was very common in DS's class in year 1 and 2 judging by the work on display. I can see the finger spaces okay I think but maybe it would be easier to read if they were a little bigger.

She could do with being given wider lines, and maybe proper handwriting lines to help with lining letters up. She's obviously got a lot of ideas she wants to get down. Perhaps when she's finished she might want to try then writing it out in best handwriting so she's actually thinking about letter formation not thinking about what to write.

I think messy starting cursive is a stage that has to be gone through at some point. DS's class are going through it in year 2-3, and it seems to be even more of a battle when the children keep defaulting to print because that's what they're used to and they can get their ideas down faster that way. DS moved from a start-cursive school. While handwriting is hard for him, at least he only had to learn it once. He's gone from bottom of the class for handwriting at old school to middling now.

[RueDeDay]

Better that DD's, who is in year 2, and I'm not worried!! So think your DC is fine.

[cotdotton]

Thanks all. I wish they'd started it in reception! I honestly think her handwriting was better this time last year!

[mrz]

"Bloody cursive in Year 1" but it isn't cursive it's print

[mrz]

Or more accurately neither one or the other.

[cotdotton]

It's supposed to be cursive!

[Gildedcage]

My personal feeling is that it's too early. But that's just me. I feel like they are always in such a rush to get them to move on that the basic bones aren't there. My daughter does not use cursive (same age). However her writing is beautiful and perhaps more importantly she uses punctuation and acknowledges when to use capital letters etc. Her spelling is also very good. Ultimately it's more important to me that she can make herself understood in a written format than her actual handwriting, I understand though that this is a school thing as my niece is the same age and her school is very much into cursive in infants. If your dd has all the building blocks it will come together just fine. Then she'll be mithered about getting a pen licence hahaha ;)

[QuackDuckQuack]

Place looks like plane, but I think it is spelled plase. That works well with the phonics she will have learned so far. I'm not sure what they cover c sounding like s, but she's got the a-e sound right.

The cursive thing is interesting. My DD's school starts with cursive in reception. It seems to have worked for my DD as you can't write letters back to front with cursive, which she was doing before. The parents don't really like it.

Apparently reading lots is the best way to improve spelling.

[jamdonut]

It looks reasonable for joined up writing, we've got Year 2s whose writing doesn't look as good as that. We changed to doing cursive as a school this year, so some are only just getting to grips with it...Including staff! I've found it quite difficult to get used to doing all the joins and flicks and loops! ( I learned italic hand-writing at school which is very different!)
I just think plenty of practice so she doesn't get I to bad habits, like doing 'n' like a bridge, without doing the straight bit first.

[user1486613612]

"Once upon a time there was a place called Switzerland". I can read it, no problem. Anyway, in the future people are going to tap into computers, or even talk to them, so cursive is soon as obsolete as an old-fashioned mechanical typewriter or a quill pen. I think it looks good, I have to say this, because I wrote the same when I was that age especially if forced to make writing (or math) exercises.

[TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross]

Just me who loves the pale green storks, then? So cute!

[GallivantingWildebeest]

Bloody cursive in Year 1 but it isn't cursive it's print

Mrz. It's joined-up writing. Um...

[mrz]

I know it's meant to be ...but it isn't is it!

[booellesmum]

Looks fine to me for year 1.
Mine both had writing like that - they are now 15 and 12 and it did improve!

[cotdotton]

Ah yes place is plase. See, I can't even read it myself! So frustrating as it used to be far more legible when she was printing. Hopefully it is just a phase as she adjusts and learns.

[mrz]

I would ask for a copy of their handwriting style because there seem some odd joins and some not joined that I'd expect to be

[cotdotton]

They gave us a sheet of the official school style with all the individual letters on with their flicks etc, but no actual examples of how they're supposed to be joined.

If her joins are in the wrong place or letters aren't joined up its because she's still learning. This is what I mean about it being a step backwards!

Should all letters be joined do you think? I find it really unnatural to do that.

[mrz]

It really depends on the style the school uses.
We don't teach cursive until children are forming letters correctly usually the end of Y1 but all lower case letters are joined with capitals standing alone.

If not taught how to join correctly before expecting children to use cursive in their writing poor habits become engrained at the expense of fluency and readability.