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.  :)

April Showers & Musings

It's been dreary the last few days around here.  We've had rain and a chill in the air.  A few days were so dark and depressing that it was really hard to get out of bed and go to school.  It didn't help that I've been a bit under the weather and the kids are super, duper crazy!
But as I was out today running my daughter to volleyball I saw glimpses of new life in my flower beds and borders that made me smile.  I love spring and the new life it brings.
Like most of you, we are in our last quarter of school before summer vacation.  These last few weeks fly by and things get hectic.  Days get longer and yard work begins.  This time of year always makes me long for the lazy days of summer.
But we have a ways to go before that happens.
In the meantime, head over to the Honey Bunch Blog Design site and pick up your free blog decoration to help you get through some of the dreary days of spring.

Wanna Win?

My vacation is over.

I'm so sad.

It's been a blast having three whole days off from school but all good things must come to an end.

My couch and computer will miss me deeply.  My pj's will miss me.

I will miss them much more though than they'll miss me.

On a happier note, the Honey Bunch is having an April Fool's Day linky.  If you share your favorite April Fool's joke, prank, or story you could win half off of a package 2 design which includes a background, header, sidebar titles, signature, post divider, and button.

So run, don't walk and enter now!!

Currently & a Freebie

I'm on spring (Easter) break!!!!

Yeah, sounds better than it is people.  I get a whopping three days off from school!

I'm trying not to sound ungrateful or bitter.  But I am.

The public school was off today and had an early out yesterday on top of the three days we get off.

What?  Really?  I'm at a Christian school and it's Holy Week and I get three days off.

Uh, did someone make a mistake and mix up our vacation times?

I'm taking some deep breaths and trying to feel the chi.

WWJD?  (that stands for "What Would Jesus Do?)

I'm sure He wouldn't complain, be ungrateful, or bitter.  But ya know He hasn't been working with these little crazies who already are suffering from serious spring fever.

Oh well, I'll get over it I suppose.  Maybe.  After a few days of sleeping in until at least 10:30.  Maybe.

Anywho, I was so bummed I missed Farley's March currently.  Not missing this one though.

Here's my super power explanation:  I need a multi-purpose super power thus the witch wiggle.  It would work for anything . . . such as cleaning up this seriously messy house, cooking dinner, fixing hair, tripping the kid who won't stop running in the halls.  (Oh, that was bad!  WWJD Erika?  Pretty sure it wouldn't be to trip the kid!)  

Ya ever had that kid?  You tell them to stop running, go back and walk, etc. They look right at you.  You know they heard you.  But they still run.  It's like they are just willing you to try and stop them.  Today I had a secret (well it was secret until now) fantasy of an invisible trip wire I could pull up with my mind or nose twitch that would send that kid sprawling.  See if s/he ever does that again.  (insert evil laugh!)

Slap me now.  I know I'm horrible.  Maybe it's just because I'm still bitter about the lack of vacation days.  Sounds like some of you have had like two whole weeks off.  Or at least a full week with a couple weekends tacked on each end.  I'm so jealous.

But to make up for my evilness and because I want all of you to have a fabulous Easter, I'd like you to head over to the Honey Bunch Blog Design site and grab the free Hoppy Easter button to put on your blog.

Thank goodness we have a forgiving God who sent His only Son to die so our sins would be forgiven . . . or I'd be really doomed!  Happy Holy Week friends!

I'm It! & An Interview

Watch out!

I'm it and I'm gonna getcha!

Simone over at Busy as a Honey Bee tagged me!

Here are the questions Simone asked me.  She is a very good interviewer.

(Author's note:  portions of this interview are fictionalized.)

S:  Hi Erika.  How are you today?  By the way, I love those pj's you're wearing.