Handwriting/Penmanship

Do you teaching handwriting aka penmanship to your students?

When do students in your school learn cursive handwriting?

Do you teach Modern or D'Nealian cursive?

My school begins to teach D'Nealian cursive in second grade.  The kids are pumped up to learn it but many just aren't ready.  Still others have been taught incorrectly by well-meaning siblings or parents . . . or better yet, self-taught.

Does it seem to you that our students' handwriting is getting worse or do we just not stress it as much as we should?

Many of my students grip their pencils in the most bizarre ways.  Ways that are so ingrained in their muscle memory that I don't think I could undo them with a million dollars.  It's no wonder their handwriting is atrocious and they don't like to write.

Then again there are always those kiddos whose printed writing is nearly illegible and then their cursive is amazing.  Is it because they are finally slowing down and taking their time?

What are your thoughts on teaching handwriting?

How do you teach handwriting to make it fun?

When do you think cursive should be taught, if at all?

I found a good site for making your own worksheets for handwriting practice.  Yes, I know worksheets aren't very exciting but I try to make the worksheets fun by using tongue twisters, jokes, or alliteration.  I also include my student's names and things about them.  Sometimes they are silly and sometimes not.  I've also used summaries of stories we've read and content from all areas.

To go to this site and check it out just click on the picture.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on teaching handwriting/penmanship and/or cursive.  If you have any suggestions for correcting those grips I'd really appreciate it.  :)