Everyday Education, LLC gave us the opportunity to review their handwriting curriculum, Perfect Reading, Beautiful Handwriting. As a homeschool mom, I struggle with teaching this subject! I really don’t recall learning handwriting while in grade school. And I really feel directionless when it comes to helping my children have better penmanship. So, I will give a mom confession right now and let you know that I have let my kids grow up without the best handwriting. In fact, my daughter Anne Mary agreed to review this one. She is 16, so not a beginning writer by any stretch, but she wants to improve her handwriting.

This product came to me in a file that you can print just the days you need. Anne printed out ten pages or so at a time. The program uses a method that requires the student to first trace the letters, then connect-the-dot tracing. It begins with an italic text (vowels first, then consonants). Once you have mastered the individual 14593578_10154335234257702_1842838212_n letters, you begin slanting the letters to prepare for cursive. The cursive is basically connecting the slanted italic letters artfully. (The program gives the options to NOT slant as well- which is the option she is choosing since she is left-handed and that is her preference.).

Anne Mary used it about 10-15 minutes per session. It is her opinion (and mine) that this is a sufficient amount of time to spend on this per day to make significant improvements to her penmanship.

For a younger student, the book recommends using it for 5-15 minutes, depending on their age and what activities they are doing.

I do want to mention that this book CAN be used and is intended to be used in four different ways:

To teach young children how to read and write. 2. To teach children with reading difficulties how to read correctly (dyslexia). 3. To teach children to have fast, legible, attractive handwriting or 4. For an adult or older student to learn to write beautifully.

In our case, Anne did not need help with reading, so we did not use that portion of the program. The reading program is based upon the phonics methodology. I did not look at it in too much detail, but it seems simplified compared to what I am doing with the boys. I do, however, love the reading tips she provides the parents and it very much resonated with how we teach in our home. One of the things that I really love about this book is that the author very clearly has a love for teaching and learning. I felt inspired as a mother and teacher from reading her tips. She is joyful and loving in the way she talks about children and the entire learning process. Even though I did not meed to read through much of this book for the way my daughter was using it, I found myself inspired and wanted to read the book just for that purpose.

Anne Mary said she liked the program, and does feel like her handwriting is improving, even though she was only able to use it a few days a week. She said she will continue using it, and after reading all the inspiring encouragement from the author, I may use it for improving my own handwriting as well. I am so glad we have been able to review this.