Teacher Created Resources Practice Makes Perfect: Cursive Writing Grades 3-5, 2nd Edition (TCR3331) (Practice Makes Perfect (Teacher Created Materials))

All I wanted was a simple workbook so my 9-year-old daughter could practice her cursive handwriting. Happily, this workbook fit the bill!I actually read through quite a few reviews of other workbooks before making this purchase, and I'm glad I did. Mostly, people had very specific complaints about other workbooks, and I'm happy to confirm that those concerns do not apply here.This book is a full-sized 8.5" x 11" workbook. It is not miniature-sized in any way.Sample letters - capital and lowercase - do have arrows to show the direction in which to write each letter. The tail of the arrow indicates the starting point. There is only one arrow for each pen stroke, so the person learning to write cursive does need to understand the concept of re-tracing lines, as required when writing, say, capital N and capital M. If a letter requires more than one pen stroke - like capital K - there is an arrow for each separate stroke, plus a small number that indicates the stroke order.Pages are perforated, so they can be cleanly torn out and used as worksheets.The bulk of the book consists of one practice page per letter. Each page includes the letter written in upper and lowercase cursive, a funny little picture of something starting with that letter, and two sample words describing the picture. So, for example, the N page shows a picture of a necktie, and the words "nifty necktie" are written in cursive beside it. There are guidelines for practicing - solid lines along the top and bottom of each capital letter, and dashed lines in the middle to show the height of lowercase letters. Each page has 8 practice lines, including 6 traceable capital letters (pre-printed in light grey), and 6 traceable lowercase letters.Additional pages focus on some specific aspect of cursive writing. For example:- Curves- Ascending letters (lowercase letters that are as tall as capital letters)- Descending letters (lowercase letters that go below the bottom-most guideline)- Frequently seen consonant combinations and a sample word - with picture - of each (like br for brush, sp for spoon, etc.)- Frequently seen vowel combinations and a sample word - with picture - of each (like oo for book, ou for house, etc.)- All the months of the yearThe workbook has 48 numbered pages, but taking out the title page, table of contents, and introduction, there are 44 sheets to practice on - that is, there are 22 "pages", front and back.The only thing that stood out to me is that the lowercase t is written at full-height, like lowercase l. I have a clear childhood memory of learning that the lowercase t should be slightly shorter than the lowercase l. I don't know if standards have changed, or if it's just a different style, or what, but I guess it doesn't really matter!The bottom line is, this is a great workbook. Plenty of space to practice, plus fun little pictures to go along with sample words.

With the help of this and one other work book, my then 11-year granddaughter was able to learn and practice cursive writing over her summers with her Grammy and me, Granddaddy. It features easy-to-learn examples and exercises and she did most of the work. Her school doesn't teach it, yet much of our history and letters are written in cursive, and nothing is more elegant than cursive compared to block printing. My granddaughter is really proud she worked hard to acquire this life-long skill. Best testimonial? I received this note from her in November:"Dear Granddaddy,Thank you for teaching me cursive,. I have been writing everything in cursive in school and have gotten multiple compliments on this form of writing. I think cursive makes me look a lot smarter.Love, Jessie" Of course, her note was written in...cursive.(I have to watch out for those onion-cutting Ninjas when I read her sweet notes)

This is easy for my third grader to work through. I make a copy of the page for him to try first, then the next day he writes in the book. It isn't overwhelming so my son likes doing a page or two a day.

Not too impressed. When I learned cursive, I distinctly remembered more swoops and curls and loops... the P and R and C in this just looks like you slapped the printed letter a little sideways and all it would need was a V8 to straighten back up. So it's ok for what it is. Just not what I expected. Really not worth my $6. Maybe half that and we'll call it good.

It's a book teaching cursive writing. It does that. I wanted something that wasn't geared toward younger kids and this was it. I discovered that my grandkids who are in jr high and starting high school couldn't write and I was furious. I ordered this and it seems to do the job.

Excellent for teaching cursive writing. Because the schools are lacking in teaching our children how to write rather than print, doesn't mean parents can't teach their children the simple task of signing their own name. This book is a positive method of teaching how.

gets the job done

Ordered this to help an 11 yr old learn cursive because the schools didn't require it when he was in the 3rd grade. NOW that he is in the 5th, we have to practice. This book provides exactly what we needed. I am not disappointed.

My daughter is only five and she loves writting. I photo copy the pages and then she can write as much as she likes. It helps her a lot . Only thin is the flick are too much. They are to help with joining the letters but can confuse the child but still a good practice paper

This book was a good price and reminded me of handwriting when I was at primary school in the 80's. Although joined writing these days is different, this book helps you to practice ascenders and provides lines for you to do so.

Written for the North American markets were they use different capital letter formation

Probably a good book, but not the style of handwriting his school was learning so he didn't use it at all.

Only teaches you the letters and not how to tie them to each other not great but not horrible i guess. Thank you