Joined up writing right from the start?

[katepol]

DD's school teaches joined up writing right from reception. All phonics are taught with lead-in and lead-out strokes right from week one, with the expectation that they should be joined together.

I think that this approach is confusing for children who may have only recently learned to write (by printing).

I also think it deters them from developing their writing as there is so much for them to do, it makes writing so much more effort.

My dd is pretty bright, but reluctant to write anything of any length as it is 'hard'. Her friends at other schools have much clearer writing and seem happier for it.

Why do some schools have this policy? Do you think it is a good idea?

My DS is writing joined up after 6 months in reception. DD didn't write joined up until Year 2 so had to re-learn how to write. Makes sense that they start as they mean to go on really. I think the school have had good results for the three years they have been doing this system and I am still amazed by DS's joined up writing!

I think the idea is that they don't have to learn 2 different styles of writing, so it's meant to be easier for them in the long run. Don't know if it does actually achieve that or not though.

oh dear misread your post vskbear thought it said d/s writing from 6 months and i haven't been drinking !!

Our children have been taught to write with the "tails" straight from the start at school, no printing at all, so no confusion. In fact, in the nursery attached to the school, they give each parent a pack containing a copy of the "correct" scripts. and again at the start of reception, so there is no confusion for the child, starting as they mean to go on. My Ds is more of a reader than a writer, but is doing ok considering he is a May born boy in a school that only has a spetember in take!

I thought cursive script was pretty much the standard across schools now. didnt realise some schools still teach print. It is just as easy IMO for kids to learn to form letters with tails on as it is to do it without. Also it helps them to write letters in the correct way. It can be hard for young children to do this but the benifits are huge in the long term as they will be able to write much more fluently, quickly and clearly when they get older.

dd has done this. She can now join up her name (year 1) and will continue with it next year. ds was taught various different printing styles and found it confusing and hard ot adjust it cursive later.

I think this is standard now, and seems to work well from my experience. In the longer term it seems to be easier for the children to produce clear, joined-up writing.

I think you have to remember that most children starting reception class haven't actually learned to write at all, or perhaps just their name or similar, so it's not usually a case of unlearning one way, more a case of learning one way right from the start.

I don't think it's any harder to learn to write with the 'tails' than it is to learn the letters without them.

i do much prefer it

It's a much better to learn cursive form the start. DD didn't in reception but in year one that was how they were supposed to write so the class are going backwards. I think that they are now teaching them that style in reception now.

I agree much better to learn cursive at the outset. Our school is one of the few it seems that doesn't, leaving joining up till year 2. Result - both children have crap handwriting!!!!!

yup
is best to do this
really helps spelling patterns too
quicker
more fluent writers
start as you mean to go on

I totally disagree - DD2's year was the first to start cursive writing from the start, and they put so much emphasis on the tails and lead-ins that she found it really hard to form the actual letter shape as well. So now she doesn't write at all if she can help it "because I can't make it look nice". DD3 forms her letters with a little "flick" at the end (who remembers the Magic Pencil?) which will naturally lead onto joined-up writing, but hopefully without the horrible horrible curly f.
Sorry, pet peeve of mine .

I like cursive script too. I taught dd simple reading and writing alongside her doing it at p/t nursery via Jolly Phonics where theyintroduce the joining tail from the start.

Now in reception they have carried on with cursive.

Much better imo. The pre schools and nurseries who are still teaching to print should have a think about how this is affecting children when they start school.

I think the issue is that most nurseries and pre-schools teach printing the letters, so it is confusing for children who can already do letters before they start school.

From what I have seen, most 'teach at home' type books are also predominently printed writing, not cursive.

I did ask our nursery if they could introduce the idea of cursive script when dd2 was writing (as I do at home), but they said that as they weren't 'supposed to teach writing' in Foundation Stage, they couldn't, plus some schools in our area teach printed letter not cursive script.

DD1 is a fluent reader at just 6, and very imaginative, but I feel her worry about joined up writing is holding her back... DD2 (4) has seen a lot more cursive script than her sister ever did, so I hope she will adapt better - we shall see.

my biggest issue with cursive writing is that when they're learning how to form the letter shape, each letter has a lead-in and a tail. So, when they're starting to write simple words, there are loads of "extra" loops and swirls between the letters - e.g. mat will have the flick at the end of the m, but the lead-in to the a starts just above the line, so you get an extra bump, and then the same between the a and the t. I much prefer the flick at the end of a letter, whcih automatically flows into the starting point of the next letter (with mat the flick at the end of the m carries on to the "proper" start of the a at the top right hand of the rounded part).
Plus most of the writing they actually see (books, signs etc) is print rather than cursive - it's like trying to learn two languages at the same time.
Sorry, rant over

cursive writing has sounded the death knell for ds2's writing - he has poor fine motor skills so still can't hold a pencil properly at 7 and a half - he was in tears when I picked him up last week as they'd all had to write a letter to the head in "lovely joined up writing" (presume it must have been SATS) and he just couldn't do it. He can sort of print letters - but because he thinks he should be doing cursive he adds all these superfluous curlicues and flourishes which make it less legible and slow him right down

grrr

According to our headmistress, it aids the learning process if children can see that the letters join together to make a word, rather than being stand alone. And also saves un-learning the printed letters. DS1 class seem to get on with it fine.

DD is in reception and I have noticed her putting little flicks at the end of a lot of her letters lately, I assume this is preparing them for joined up writing. Having said that I just looked down at my notebook on my desk and none of my writing is joined up!

Has to be done from the beginning otherwise it's confusing imo.

Joined up writing is so much nicer, I've seen 6yr olds with nicer writing than many adults I know!

i hate joined up writing its a waste of fucking time.

i do joined up scribble for notes ...occasinally - no ucker else can read them - i can'teeen read them sometimes.

we live in 2007 for fucks sake. what is the use for it?

printing is good. one needs to print for essays - although why kids can't use computers for exams is beyond me.

but we live in a technological age - it seems to me that we are still teaching children outdated practices that have no use. the kids get upset - the teachers have a go cos they cant read it - and for some children nothing has been learned or gained.

waste of time
waste of energy,.

I guess it depends if you're a handwriting person!

I love to see nice writing & people always comment on mine, makes me feel good - at least I'm good at something!

tis true - my daughter has average writing, my son ( her twin) is left handed and his writing is shit shit shit. so he is re taught how to do his letters to make it easier for left handed kids, then he is taught to print then he is told to join it up. the teacher constantly angry face blah blah writing poo blah blah must try harder.... i gethome and even 4 years ao - i'm like " whats the fucking point? he will be using computers for everything anyway why get so fucking anal over it. they can't do joined up in essays anyway."

arrrrrrrgh major bug bear of mine - especially as i have 2 sons who are not academiclly inclined and a daughter who is, i saw how the boys struggled for years being berated for their sloppy work, how i was berated for being a sloppy not whipping them into handwriting form for homework type of parent.

i always thanked god i have at least one academically able child - she isn't gifted or talented and she works hard. but the schools teat the parents like they dont give a shit when their kid isn't able - the kis isn't able - some can some can't just teach my kids to write god dammit. at leasti could always point to daughter with a metaphorical ner ner ner ner ner. some kids just can't. so why persist with outdated unused by society means of communication. all one needs to do as an adult is use a computer and leave the occasional notes for other people.

this is a bugbear of mine too. I can see why they teach it but for children with problem writing, it is a nightmare.

Dd couldn't write when she started school - was then taught cursive from the off and now, coming to the end of year 2, she still can't write joined up and forms loads of her letters completely wrong. She finds it (and found it from the start) really confusing to start with the tail and then have the shape come back on itself (iyswim, like with a a) to come round and make the circle.

For those who are good at writing, I can see why it works!

I don't think it's right for teachers to constantly point out a child has bad hand writing...That's awful Custardo!

My Dad, Brother & I all have what you'd call attractive writing, my Mum & Sister are another story!