I AM right, I know I am, please will you all come and confirm it?

[LiegeAndLief]

Ds is learning to write and is forming his number 5 like an S. I have tried to teach him to do the downstroke first, then the roundy bit, then take his pencil off the paper and go back to do the top flat bit (all very technical, hope that makes sense). This is the right way, yes?

Dh says this is madness, and he should just start with the top flat bit and continue to the downstroke and the roundy bit all in one go, so writing it just like an S but making it look like a 5 by being a bit more angular about it. Surely this is wrong? I have vague memories of being severely chastised for forming a 5 like that as a child and being told it was lazy and would look like an S. Dh convinced he is right. Neither of us will back down. We are probably scarring ds for life. I put it to you (to tell me I am right).

And yes, the long winter evenings do fly by in our house

Ones are straight down (unless you are shh, French)

Love that explanation kissassangel although DH raised his eyebrows and muttered something about ballpoint pens, dinosaurs and the ark?

Rustybear, I'm going to advance a new hypothesis - all fans of Fairport and their ilk write their 5's the right way. And are generally correct about pretty much everything.

Fairenuff - a curly 2 looks like this. I used to make them into swans when I was little.

aren't biros French?

that crazy fountain pen hating, number violating nation?

(apart for the 7s with the cross through them, because that's the right way - obviously)

That's what I meant, loop at the foot and wrong, wrong, wrong!

I agree with you. you are right. Sadly, they see, to teach them to do it the s-way in school nowadays. As horrible as cursive writing, and l;ooks utterly ignorant.

Flat top last for me too.

Thanks Rusty and Orange awww those 2s are just too cute. I want to do them like that now.

Fairenuff you're loosing the run of yourself there. Don't do it. You'll be on the doing all you numbers wrong soon.

This is how my son has been taught in class to form the number 5:

"Down, big fat tummy, hat on top."

So you are right and your dh is wrong

I write my 5 like an S. I am shit. I teach adults. I write 5 and S on the board a lot. I say FFS a lot. My teachers spent 100 years telling me off because my 5 looks like an S. I didn't take it to heart and it doesn't constantly hound me to this day (much).

I don't think you should make it into the biggest issue in the world.
I think you should probably do it how the teacher does to avoid confusion?

I really should go to bed.

"I don't think you should make it into the biggest issue in the world"

Are you saying it's an over reaction on my part to file for divorce because DH does it wrong?

Bics are French biros, and most of our biros are bics. Pissibly.

You are, of course, correct OP and your DH is very wrong.

You are right, and DH is wrong.

But its a bit like learning to drive: you learn how to do it properly, and then once you've passed, you don't.

and starting sentences with 'but'

Leige I agree.

I do my 5s properly like you
And I love Fairport. And I'm always right

Moln you're right of course, thanks for that. I got carried away by the flambouyancy of it all. A moment of madness is all it was. I'm ok now.

Now I really AM a lone voice. I write my 5's in two parts, like the OP. BUT I do the 'hat' first, and then I do the straight down bit and the curve.

How's the spreadsheet going Liege? I have to go to bed now but look forward to seeing the results tomorrow.

Moln divorce is there for a reason.

Maybe, could you disagree over, erm, maybe...world domination?
Tumble dryers?
I'd probably let the 5/S issue go.
Maybe.
Or not?
It is an issue that needs addressing.
DS is learning but we havn't come across this conundrum yet.
i will wait in anticipation. Anticipationally.

Glad to hear Fairenuff. I can sleep easy now.

Exactly verlainechasedrimbauds, I bet that Bic fellow went around stealing people's fountain pens and leaving the evil can-go-around-corners-biro

Leaving number formation up the crick without a piddle

my daughter sings several Fairport songs, so obviously, as her mother and having encouraged her admiration for Fairport, I am also right about everything.

I write my 5, back bone first, curve, then put the hat on, does that make sense?

No no HuntyCat there is someone else on this thread that admitted to doing that.

She's been exiled though.

TuftyFinch we're decided to give it another go, but to make it easier we're not going to talk about 5s every again. I'm going to break it to DS2 in the morning that he's going to either be 6 or 4 again as he can no longer be that unmentionable age anymore