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The Ultimate Guide to Poetry for Multiple Ages (For the Intimidated)

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In creating this ultimate guide to poetry for multiple ages, I’ve recalled my own lack of experience in teaching poetry. Unlike other areas of language arts, poetry can be intimidating to teach.

Taking the abstract to concrete, associating images with thoughts, limited experiences of child and teacher to appreciate figurative language, and comprehending the difference between imagery and metaphor are just a few of the elements that caused me to delay teaching poetry.

The Ultimate Guide to Poetry (For the Intimidated). Like living books, poetry needs to be appreciated first for the ability to move a reader. Rhythm and meter are art forms of poetry. And choosing the right words, a pause or space in between stanzas, and giving life to soulless objects are ways that a skillful poet evokes thoughts, feelings and imagination. Click here to learn how to skillfully teach poetry!

Crippled with my lack of education in understanding the language of poetry, I used prepared lesson plans to teach it in the early years of homeschooling.

Gaining momentum in the middle and high school years to move away from laid out resources and learn alongside my sons, I learned that poetry is similar to my love of reading; it’s more about the experience of reader to language than identifying all the poetry elements.

Like living books, poetry has to be appreciated first for the ability to move a reader.

Rhythm and meter are art forms of poetry. And choosing the right words, a pause or space in between stanzas, and giving life to soulless objects are ways that a skillful poet evokes thoughts, feelings and imagination.

Releasing the Inner Bard

Poetry is now one of my essentials in a reading program.

Although it may seem strange to an avid writer or reader, one point I appreciate more now is that a person is not obligated to share the joy of reading, writing or an emotional connection with a poem.

It can be intrinsic and the reader can possess an inner satisfaction without feeling compelled to tout all of his life’s experiences,  positive or negative to the whole world.

Personal views and intimate thoughts about poetry can stay as an inner secret. Or if you want to join the great conversation of the world, a poem can pull you and others into discussing feelings, thoughts and experiences.

Like discussing a great book, agreeing with another person or not when discussing poetry isn’t the point. It’s about the power of moving you to think beyond your own life’s experiences or predetermined cultural values and expressing yourself with profound meaning.

Conversations with others, like reading words painted by a poet, are educational, entertaining, and expand our understanding of them. And reading poetry is like conversations with ones you love, like your children. It’s about speaking the right words in the correct order.

It’s taken me almost my whole journey of homeschooling to grasp those two very different views I can take to poetry. I hope it won’t take you that long to look beyond teaching the elements of poetry and peer into the hidden power of poetry.

Poetry Needs to Be Read Outloud

In this ultimate guide to poetry for multiple ages (for the intimidated), I hope to give you a starting point in reading and writing poetry.

Encourage your children to write poetry. Even the simplest word from their heart is rich with meaning and it is the stepping stone to creative writing. Encourage your children to read poetry outloud. They’ll love the option of keeping an inner secret or delighting others by publicly expressing their emotions through picture words.

General Lesson Plans, Teacher Guides, and Unit Studies

Haiku Writing Lesson
Poetry and Prose Lesson
Traditional Sonnet Forms Lesson
Immigrant Poetry Lesson
Culture Through Poetry Lesson
Line Breaks in Poetry Lesson
T.S. Eliot Biography for Children
Middle to High School: The Odyssey 104 page download.
Shape Poetry 2 page download.
Leaf by Leaf Autumn Poetry Lesson Plan		Writing Acrostic Poems Lesson
Rebus and Rhyme Lesson
Cinquain Poems Lesson
Emma Lazarus Lesson
African-American Poetry Lesson
Shel Silverstein Lesson Plans
Emily Dickinson Poetry Guide
My Book of Poems
17 page download
Sixth Grade Poetry Unit 59 page download.


Printable Poetry Resources

Poetry Memorization Printables
Lyric and Free Verse Notebooking Pages
Ballad Notebooking Pages
Pastoral and Sonnet Notebooking Pages
Printable Motivational Poems
Fall Poetry Printables
Poetic Devices Minibook
Nursery Rhymes Notebooking Pages
Printable Limerick Exercise
Cinquain Poem Printables
Printable Nonsense Poetry
Printable Jumbled Poetry Worksheet
Rhyming Couplets Worksheet
Irony in Poetry Worksheet
Poetry Foot and Line Flash Cards
Simile Poem Worksheet
Poetry Terms Worksheet
Street Sign Poetry Worksheet		Printable Robert Frost Copywork
Poetry Memorization Cards
Narrative Poetry and Haiku Printables
Villanelle Notebooking Pages
Limerick and Nonsense Verse Notebooking Pages
Emily Dickinson Riddle Poem Cards
Printable Limerick Activity
Over the River Poem Copywork
Mother Goose Rhyme Copywork
Printable Five Line Poem Worksheet
Acrostic Poem Printables
Printable Poetry Language Planner
Pirates Acrostic Poem Worksheet
Poetry Vocabulary Match Worksheet
Poetry Alliteration Worksheet
Biography Poem Worksheet
Writing Onomatopoeia Worksheet
Writing a Ballad WorksheetNarrative Poetry Worksheet
Epitaph Poetry Printable Activity
Rhythm and Rhyme in Poetry Printable
Poetry Uses Rhyme Worksheet
Printable Greece Poetry Copywork
Printable Texas Poetry Copywork

Homeschooling Poetry Tips

Charlotte Mason Poetry Homeschool Routine
Haiku Poetry Lesson
Self-Expression Exercises for Kids
Describe the Sky Exercise
How to Write a Diamond Poem
Using Poetry for Family History
Ways to Use Poetry in School		Reasons to Teach Poetry
5 Steps for Studying Poetry
How to Notebook with Poetry
How to Teach Shakespearean Sonnets
Tips for Teaching Haiku Writing
50 Tips for Teaching Poetry
How to Write a Name Poem
Exercising Imagination Activity


Poetry Crafts and Hands-On Activities

Life-Sized Poetry Board Game
Mary Mary Quite Contrary Craft
Poetry Journaling
Historical Poetry Writing
Create a Poetry Scrapbook
Poetry Smelling Game
Throw an Open Mic Poetry Party
Lunch Bag Sestinas Writing		How to Add Fun Teatime To Your Homeschool Poetry Study
DIY Magnetic Poetry Kit
Creating Art Haiku
Picture and Poetry Activity
Poetry Shopping Spree
Poetry Invisible Ink Activity
Jump Rope Rhymes
Poetry Charades Game
Photographic Poetry Activity
Writing Found Poetry
Photograffiti Poetry
Blackout Poetry
Poetry Learning Station Ideas

Poetry Books for Homeschoolers

Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets by Kwame Alexander
Poetry Speaks of Who I Am: Poems of Discovery, Inspiration, Independence, and Everything Else by Elise Paschen
Poetry Matters: Writing a Poem From the Inside Out by Ralph Fletcher
The Random House Book of Poetry for Children by Jack Prelutsky		 Here’s a Little Poem: A Very First Book of Poetry by Jane Yolen
Where the Sidewalk Ends: Poems and Drawings by Shel Silverstein

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21 Hands-on Ideas for Homeschool Spelling From a Seasoned Mom

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Wanting my sons to love words and spelling as much as I do, I was anxious when I started to teach spelling. And there was plenty I did wrong, but there was a lot I did right. I want to ease your fears by sharing this list of 21 hands-on ideas to teach homeschool spelling because playing with letters and learning sounds in the beginning builds a solid foundation into adulthood.

Holding my sons responsible for their spelling from the time we started doing formal spelling lessons until they graduated high school was key. But good spellers don’t start with formal lessons.

Spelling, like the three Rs, is a skill subject. This means you look for a period of readiness that comes before formal steps. Children need time to explore with letters, sounds and parts of words until they formally put them together. Don’t rush it like I started off doing. That is why it’s called preschool. Pre-reading, pre-math, and pre-spelling come before formal lessons.

Backing up, I put away my formal lessons in Kindergarten to be sure my first son had plenty of time to explore the concept that a symbol or letter represented a sound. Teaching my children after him followed that same pattern.

I’m here to tell you, at the beginning stages it’s not so important to teach letter names as it is the sound they represent.

This doesn’t mean you have to push aside playing an ABC game in spelling, but try to think in terms of how spelling flows into reading.

Reading is partially about memorizing words but strategies for attacking unknown words begins with solid spelling skills.

As you begin applying 21 hands-on ideas to teach homeschool spelling, remember that you’re building a foundation for spelling mastery. And by communicating with your child every day, he has already picked up a lot about spelling through natural interaction with you.

I had wished that mindset was something I valued more at the time, but it’s hard to appreciate that when you feel you may mess up your kids for life. Right?

Although it wasn’t back in covered wagon times when I started homeschooling like my boys think, it was back before more information was available about using a multi-sensory approach.

That is just educational jargon for learning to take information in through more than one sense. Learning hands-on and through sight makes the language of spelling stick.

Here’s how to do it.

Practice beginning homeschool spelling with chocolate pudding. Yum! Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Practice beginning homeschool spelling with licorice and white icing. Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

1. Write in chocolate pudding. No arguments from the kids – ever. Yogurt works great too.2. Write using candy licorice. Using a clean pair of kid-friendly scissors, my boys cut the shapes of letters and stuck them in white icing on a graham cracker. Yum. That is the way I got their sugar in for the day.

3.  Write in salt.

4. Write on a chalkboard.

5. Cut out letters from card stock and spell words.

6. Write with a squirt bottle of water or paint on sidewalk.

7. Write with a paintbrush dipped in paint.

8. Write in shaving cream.

9. Paint on small rocks. The boys also loved this activity. They would play for hours arranging the rocks to spell words.

10. Form words and letters using play-doh.

11. Form words and letters using edible peanut butter dough.

Hands down this was a favorite for my boys. It worked beautifully with each son as they showed readiness. I timelessly used this recipe of powdered milk, peanut butter and honey over and over again.
And unless your kids are allergic to peanut butter dough, you’ll love using this recipe for letters, words and teaching ending and beginning sounds.

12. Match pictures or cards with sounds. Toys and manipulatives always engage young children. Buying a few games and educational learning supplies early, I was able to use them extensively with each child.13. Use music for singing and spelling words. Big books aren’t just for a classroom. My kids fell in love with them at home. I used them for teaching spelling.

We listened to the music, while looking at the letters and singing along R – E – D red.

The wonderful thing about this is that a child can touch the letters, point to them while listening to the words and letters through music. It’s a way to learn through another mode.

Spelling Super Tips

14. Use magnetic letters.

Magnetic letters placed on the refrigerator and at the height of the your child encourages him to learn letters and practice spelling in quick learning spurts. This timeless teaching tips still works in today’s techie world.

15. Write with a magnetized pen to trace over letters.

16. Write using a trace erase board. I had no idea when I purchased the trace erase board how much I would use them through the years. I started using them spelling practice and purchased other pages to insert inside them for other skills. I loved these because I could take them with us.

The kids write on the acrylic face. In other words, unlike slipping a page into a plastic sleeve, your kids always have a hard surface to write on. There is a space between the face and the backboard to insert pages. You can change out the skills. Writing, erasing and practicing kept my kids learning for a long time.17. Use alphabet sound teaching tubs. I bought a set of tubs and used them for several years with each child as they came along. When I bought them they were not as expensive as they are now; I bought mine from Lakeshore Learning. I think this alphabet object set is just as good if you don’t have time to hunt for one or make your own.

Something else you can do is to make your own set. Save small plastic dishes with lids or buy an inexpensive set at a dollar store and collect miniature dollar store toys.

I did this too and it works great although some letter sounds are hard to find.

18. Hole punch letters. This is what I call a two-fer. Not only do your kids work on their fine motor skills more directly, but they learn their letters.

19. Write using stencil sets.

This also was a big hit at my home. Finding a large size stencil is not hard. These Karty Large Alphabet Stencils work great for coloring, placing glue in the area and pouring glitter (uggg, not my favorite, but the kids loved it), tracing and filling in with tiny pom poms, cereal, beans, play-doh or paint.

20. Match letters-the fun way. This is an easy project you can set up at any time.

Instead of drawing lines on a boring page to match lettters get creative to make it hands-on and engaging. For example, I used a slab of play-dough to form a big square. Creating two columns, I placed plastic letters on each side and my husband’s golf tees (he “lost” several that way) above each letter. My boys used yarn to match the letters.

21. Hit a balloon up in the air. This is great for boys because they can hit something and not each other. I know, I used it with each son and it always returned great learning results.

Blow up a bag of balloons, use a marker, and write one letter on each balloon. Your kids can play, hit the balloon in the air while saying the letter or sound. This works great for pretty well anything like numbers, math facts, and cvc words. I know that is beside the point, but when beginning to teach it takes time to get the teaching wheels turning so I’m hoping it will get your creative juices flowing.

Having used numerous spelling programs but without a multi-sensory approach, I was delighted to be able to use All About Spelling when it came out.

All About Spelling

It truly is one of the best spelling programs I’ve used and I’ve used many. I know you’ll love how easy All About Spelling makes spelling now.
I hope these tips will help you to teach spelling in a way that make your children become master spellings because they worked for me!

What spelling ideas have worked for your kids?

Do you want to see how this step leads to the next one?

Look here at how early letter writing and spelling blossoms into beautiful writing. Teaching Handwriting When Homeschooling the Early Years Part 1, Teaching Handwriting When Homeschooling the Early Years Part 2 and Teaching Handwriting When Homeschooling the Early Years Part 3.

Hugs and love ya,

Signature T

Don’t forget to follow BOTH of my Pinterest accounts for AWESOME pins.

Visit Tina Robertson’s profile on Pinterest.


Visit Tinas Dynamic Homeschool ‘s profile on Pinterest.

How Early Should I Begin Homeschooling My First Child & Free Checklist

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Being both anxious and excited, I couldn’t wait to begin homeschooling my first child, Mr. Senior 2013. Also, look at more tips on my page The Dynamics of How to Homeschool Easily and Smarter.

Being around the homeschool community because my mother homeschooled my younger sister, I had an idea of how to begin.

As I began, I knew some things, but it was nowhere near what I needed to know.

How Early Should I Begin Homeschooling My First Child? (and free checklist)

I still had many questions.

For example, when do I formally start, where do I purchase curriculum, what is considered curriculum at the preschool years and how much do I really need to teach my son at two or three years old.

These were just a few of my anxieties and probably some of yours as you begin homeschooling.

Begin Homeschooling with Little Ones and Not Panicking

I wanted details or some way to know when to move to the next step.

So I’m hoping some of these important details will ease your mind.

  • When do I formally start? 

You already know that kids begin learning from the time they are born, but estimating a more formal start is not as easy.

Like public school, you can use kindergarten or about 5 years of age as a formal start.

However, the one thing I could not possibly appreciate was that my son was very advanced in some skills and at the same time such a baby.  It seems a paradox and hard to explain as I look back.

Stay with me as I give you the full circle view.

When my son was 2 years old, I started receiving a box monthly with age appropriate activities for him.

It had a craft, a music cassette (yes this was before all the free downloads now) and age appropriate language building skills. It was always centered on themes.

Little did I know then that I would create my Kindergarten curriculum around that format. Back to my point.

My son was already writing his name, knew his letters and was reading before Kindergarten.

Out of my stupidity (I say this kindly about myself) meaning I really didn’t know what I was doing, I taught him to read.

It was normal to me for him to be that advanced and we were ready to go on to other skills in Kindergarten.

It set me back in Kindergarten when I realized that the curriculum I purchased started off with the same skills I felt my son had mastered.

Things I taught him like colors, one to one correspondence, opposites, letter sounds and about science were being introduced in the Kindergarten curriculum.

Homeschool Preschool Resources

Too, I had another problem. The curriculum required too much sitting time for such a young age.

Did you know that Kindergarten only requires short periods of sit down work done in about 10 to 15-minute spurts?

And that preschool and kindergarten are not the grades to make kids sit for hours because you decided to make a more formal start?

I’ve asked forgiveness from my first son.

I’m here to tell you that he turned out beautiful, but it was hard to forgive myself for being so overbearing anxious. Don’t make my mistake.

I knew that playing is learning in the preschool years and like any developmental age, it shouldn’t be rushed.

It’s hard to grasp that when you feel the whole weight of your child’s future rests on your shoulders and all he wants to do is play, chew on toys and destroy your house.

However, those precious years are momentary flashes that you can’t ever bring back if you rush homeschool.

If you search the definition for kindergarten, it would probably say something like a grade or class to prepare your child for first grade.

But the meaning has been lost through the constant push of the education world, and you need to resist the urge to hop onto the formal education track too soon.

How Early Should I Begin Homeschooling My First Child? (and free checklist)

The translation of Kindergarten means “garden for the children” and a child has a right to a stress-fress childhood that is full of play, tender moments and your warm embrace.

Here is a tip that will ease your mind if you ever feel like anytime in your journey you are behind; in one grade or even one month, a child can make significant learning leaps.

No pushing or cajoling on your part will move him ahead faster.

The years before and during Kindergarten should be about singing, dancing, crafting and practicing fine motor skills.

I gradually folded in preschool and kindergarten; it wasn’t until first grade that I required a bit more sit down time.

When You’re Anxious to Use Homeschool Preschool Curriculum

  • Where do I purchase curriculum? And what is considered curriculum during the preschool years?

Again, I can’t do anything balanced. I had curriculum overkill. My curriculum could have been scaled back to living books and crafts. And what I didn’t realize was that my house was already full of things ready to use.

Things like dried macaroni, dried beans for counting, measuring cups, bowls, jump ropes, dried cereal for graphing, rice for pouring, paper for painting, graduated mixing bowls, music for dancing to the alphabet, hopscotch made by chalk, building blocks, and toys for strengthening fine motor skills are what should consume a child’s day.

What I needed more of were living books.

Living books are opposite of basal readers, which are written by textbook writers.

Living books are written in a story form and uses rich vocabulary, which is the stepping stone to effective reading and writing skills.

Ditch the formal curriculum until about first grade and focus just on teaching your child how to read and more important, nurture a love for reading. How do you do that?

Reading aloud is the key to a lifelong reader.

When You’re Anxious to Use Homeschool Preschool Curriculum

But I know I wanted help too in the early years. I have listed some formal curriculum below that fits what a relaxed beginning should be.

12 Homeschooling Preschoolers Resources, Activities, and Curriculum

There is no doubt play-based learning is hands down the best way for preschoolers to learn.

You'll love some of these resources which can help you both teach and schedule if you want to do a bit more formal teaching.

I’ve said many times how I’m not quite sure what I did to help Mr. Senior 2013 read, but I do know for sure that I read a variety of books he loved over, over and over again.

Too, I included nursery rhymes every day so that he could predict the next word.

Then, one day he started to mouth the words and took off reading with easy books. Look at my tips at Teach Your Homeschooled Child How to Read in 20 Easy Lessons.

I know you want some kind of format for how to teach this age and a few my favorite programs are Before Five in a Row and Moving Beyond the Page Curriculum for Preschool.

Here is a list of read-aloud books to get you started.

These are just some of the ones I read to each son as I got ready to formally teach them.

They instill a lifelong love of reading.

Here are more tips, because knowledge IS power!

More Begin Homeschooling Resources

Remember that everything you do daily like conversations and reading gives your child a foundation for grammar, phonics and reading more than any curriculum can do.

From Public School to Homeschool For a Relaxed Lifestyle

You are your child’s first teacher. Savor it.

Do what your heart moves you to do each day in a natural way because he will learn and anything that you drop the ball on regarding teaching, you always have time to make up.

Relax, you got this!

How Early Should I Begin Homeschooling My First Child? (and checklist)

How to Get the Free Get Me Ready for Kindergarten Checklist

Now, how to grab the freebie. It’s a subscriber freebie.

How Early Should I Begin Homeschooling My First Child? (and checklist). Being both anxious and excited, I couldn't wait to begin homeschooling my first child, Mr. Senior 2013. And being around the homeschool community because my mother homeschooled my younger sister, I had an idea of how to begin. As I began, I knew some things, but it was nowhere near what I needed to know. mess up my sons, they turned out fine!

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get my emails in your inbox and you get this freebie.

1) Sign up on my email list.

2) Grab the freebie.

3) Last, look for all my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following me!

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24 Borderline Genius Ways To Relieve Language Arts Boredom

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It can be challenging to add fun to homeschool subjects that can become stale and boring, like language arts. After all, how can you possibly jazz up phonics?

Today, I’m sharing 24 borderline genius ways to relieve language arts boredom.

24 Borderline Genius Ways to Relieve Language Arts Boredom @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Sparking a Love for Language

Too, some of these tips can be used across multiple ages and other ideas will apply to only certain ages, but it will get your creative juices flowing.

  • Try a scavenger hunt. This was a life saver for me while teaching my middle son phonics and sight words. And it doesn’t take long to set up. Use index cards, flashcards  or sticky notes and hide them around the house.
  • Send cards to grandma. For reluctant writers, sending a card to grandma or to extended family gives his writing a sense of purpose. 
  • Find a pen pal. A pen pal encourages a budding writer and other kids are not so judgmental of writing; it gives the novice writer a place to express his creative outlet whether it’s Lego playing, paper engineering or coding.
  • Learn phonics, through nuts and bolts, make a tube, use letter cubes, create flip books, dig for them, rhyme it, make a phonics phone, an I spy game, make clip cards,  and make an ant mobile.
  • Go Fish.  By grabbing more than one card deck, I wrote on the card and then the boys played together matching up sight words. Simple.
  • Bingo. A fun way to learn letters, phonics, grammar and sight words.

More Language Arts Activities

  • Add magnetic letters or puzzles to the refrigerator. My boys loved to stand and learn and the refrigerator was the perfect pallet.
  • Scrabble, Jr. And my boys never tired of games that were fun.
  • Combine P.E/phonics. Though I never recommend jumping off furniture in the house, it was the only way I could get one son to recite the vowels and sight words. He would jump off the couch and clap. Of course, this can be done outside when the weather is good, but at the time he was learning, it was pretty cold outside. So we did P.E. inside.

  • Go see a Shakespeare play. The local college in our area hosted several plays throughout the year and it was a fun way for my boys to learn about subjects they initially found boring like Shakespeare.
  • Make up a funny story. I would have the boys narrate back to me a silly story using the sight words or phonics word they were using. The sillier the better.
  • Vocaroo. Your kids will love recording their voices so they can write back what they recorded.
  • Mad Libs. They are always a hit in our home and anytime we could move away from a textbook or workbook to do a mad lib story, we did.
  • Do crossword puzzles to learn spelling. Lists are a great way to learn spelling but crossword puzzles breathe life into learning spelling.

  • A real audience counts for writing. Writers of any level are inspired when they have a breathing human being on the other end reading their creative expression. From elementary to high school writers, they can start a blog or enter creative writing contests.
  • Have your kids keep a journal of words or phrases they find amusing. The first time my kids heard me use the phrase come-uppins or come-uppance they said it all day long. I never dreamed it was so comical, but apparently it is. They added it to their journal.
  • Turn a book into a unit study. Look at a unit study about Charlotte’s Web.
  • I love this idea of using matchbooks to do chapter summaries in a novel.

Though it may seem that only science, history and art are easier to bring to life, language arts is the glue that bind the other subjects.

Teach language arts in a way that makes reading, spelling, phonics and even poetry a delight because when a child can read and write well, he nourishes his mind for a lifetime. What a gift!


Grab some other tips. How To Teach Your Homeschooled Children Shakespeare, Shakespeare Unit Study Starters and Free Middle and High School Homeschool Language Arts.

Hugs and love ya,

Signature T

Don’t forget to follow BOTH of my Pinterest accounts for AWESOME pins.

Visit Tina Robertson’s profile on Pinterest.


Visit Tinas Dynamic Homeschool ‘s profile on Pinterest.

Teaching Cursive Handwriting Matters Style Doesn’t And Free Resources

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Should teaching cursive handwriting not be a priority in this digital age. Also, look at my page Practical Homeschool Writing Curriculum from Pre-K To High School for more tips.

Is storing information in digital form is safer than paper? However, that process is not without problems. Technology is rapidly changing.

And hardware and devices, which store vital information from paper can become obsolete.

Teaching Cursive Handwriting Matters Style Doesn't And Free Resources

Businesses scramble to constantly update their systems as important paperwork could become lost.

Should cursive be lost to the vacuum of the modern digital age?

It’s not easy to answer that question unless you know how to teach cursive.

If you have never taught cursive, it can be easy to cast it off.

Or think that a child is not capable of it.

Will we be doing our kids a disservice if we skip the cursive and keep the keyboard?

You may think so, but not so fast.

IS CURSIVE OBSOLETE FOR HOMESCHOOLED KIDS?

First, look at a few of these points to show cursive should be taught.

And more importantly the value of it.

Also, I have some free resources at the bottom for you to use to teach cursive.

It doesn’t cost a lot to get a beautiful return.

ONE/ Teach cursive first, before print.

When I taught cursive to my first son, he already had learned the ball-and-stick method that I taught him in Prek and part of Kindergarten.

Switching quickly and teaching him simplified cursive at the end of Kindergarten and in first grade were key to him successfully learning cursive.

Teaching my first son cursive, I learned that it was easier to teach him cursive first. Letters were connected and flowing.

I also learned a valuable lesson as a teacher which is to not have my son unlearn the ball-and-stick method he had been taught.

That is not the way I wanted to teach.

As he progressed, I noticed that with the ball-and-stick method that he could get confused with letter direction.

At that point, I had him do all his work, including crossword puzzles in cursive.

By the way, fun crosswords puzzles was a fun way to teach him to practice writing individual cursive letters while his attention was focused on the fun of the puzzle.

As he progressed through the years, he quickly recaptured knowing how to print and it turned out beautiful.

Master Cursive Writing @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

(My son’s cursive at the beginning of second grade so I could judge his progress.)

When my second and third sons came along, I taught them cursive first.

Their letter reversal struggle was just about non-existent because they didn’t learn to print them until they were older.

As they have progressed through the years, I find it ironic that as they have grown, they developed their own order of how to write some numbers and letters.

For example, in writing the number four, one of my sons writes the longer side first (the part on the right) and then he writes the part on the left side last.

Of course, this is opposite of how we teach our kids to print the number 4, but it’s his handwriting style.

Of course, I remind him how to form the numbers and letter easier, but I don’t fuss too much over it.

More on that in a minute.

TWO/ Understand the three broad strokes of cursive.

To understand the simple way to teach cursive, you need to know the three broad strokes.

The first is a downcurve or sometimes called up and down, an overcurve and an undercurve.

When you see how to tame cursive, it becomes very easy to allow kids to make huge curves and loops.

For our first lessons in teaching cursive, my sons wrote real big on butcher roll paper.

Understanding that most children don’t have control over their fine motor skills until about half way through first grade, I didn’t expect them to write small cursive letters.

I did allow each child to write a lot of big strokes, up and down, loops, curves and circles, which they like to do anyway.

From there we progressed to lined paper in first grade.

3 Broad Cursive Strokes to Teach

After teaching all of my sons cursive and resisting the print first tradition, which can confuse children, I learned that when letters are connected and flowing, it’s easier to learn to write.

When a child has to decide where to place straight lines and circles as he is learning the ball-and-stick method, he can get confused and write letters backward.

Cursive built confidence in my boys because when they placed their pencil on the paper on the left side of the paper for the first letter each letter flowed effortlessly.

Instead of focusing so much emphasis on down up, around, lift your pencil up, place it back down, my sons focused on their spelling not the constant placing of where to begin and end letters or lines.

Penmanship was more legible because there was no guessing which letter faced forward or backward.

THREE/ Cursive avoids confusion where one word starts and stops and another begins or end.

Another battle I didn’t have to face though I didn’t fully appreciate it at the time was that my sons avoided the confusion of not being able to tell where one word ends and the other one begins.

This is not only important for new readers, but for anybody that wants their handwriting legible.

My sons’ reading and writing advanced quickly because cursive helped them to see which letters stayed connected to make words.

When my sons did start using printing interchangeably with cursive on some of their compositions, I noticed that some of the printed words ran together.

It’s hard to read when two words run together. Why? Because they’re not spaced properly.

This is a common mistake for the child to guess where to start the next letter in a ball-and-stick method, which is why some words look like they have a few extra letters at the end of them when they are really the start of the next word.

What I have learned is that cursive matters because it has not only built confidence in my sons, but helped them to learn to read, spell and taught them the value of being proud of something uniquely theirs.

Each son has developed different handwriting styles that are as individual as their personality, which is another myth about cursive.

Cursive is not uniformed among writers.

Persons who have mastered cursive can read different styles of it.

CAN HOMESCHOOL BECOME PART OF THE DUMBING DOWN MOVEMENT IF WE DON’T TEACH CURSIVE

There is plenty of room for personality and differences. Some writers prefer more vertical writing and others prefer slanted writing, which is why handwriting style doesn’t matter because we are not trying to confine kids to a mold.

I am not telling you to not keep the keyboard, but I’m telling you that cursive goes beyond the value of teaching a child how to write well.

FREE HOMESCHOOL CURSIVE PROGRAM AND RESOURCES

Look at some of these free resources which rock because they help you to teach cursive.

MORE CURSIVE HANDWRITING TIPS

WRITING CURRICULUM TIPS

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