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Begin the transition from printing to cursive by learning the flow of lowercase letters.
Imagine your pen is a tiny roller coaster that never wants to stop! What if you could write your whole name in one smooth, flowing motion without ever lifting your pen from the paper?
When you first learned to write, you learned manuscript (printing). In manuscript, every letter stands alone like a person in a line. You write a letter, lift your pen, and move to the next one. Cursive is different! In cursive, letters are like dancers who hold hands. They use connecting strokes to stay joined together. This means your pen stays on the paper for the whole word. Because you don't stop and start, cursive can actually help you write your thoughts down much faster once you practice!
Quick Check
What is the main difference between how you move your pen in printing versus cursive?
Answer
In printing, you lift your pen between letters; in cursive, you keep your pen on the paper to connect them.
Most lowercase cursive letters start at the bottom line and 'swing up.' This is called an undercurve. Think of it like a swing at the park going up into the air. Instead of starting at the top like a printed 'o' or 'c,' cursive letters often start with a little tail that reaches out to grab the letter before it. This 'tail' is what makes the connection possible. We also use a slant, which means the letters lean slightly to the right, like they are running toward the end of the sentence!
Let's look at how a simple 'u' changes: 1. Start at the bottom line. 2. Swing up to the middle line (undercurve). 3. Pull straight down to the bottom. 4. Curve back up to the middle line. 5. Pull down and finish with a 'tail' that stays on the bottom line to catch the next letter.
Quick Check
Where do most lowercase cursive letters start on the line?
Answer
They usually start at the bottom line and swing upward.
The magic happens when we join letters. When you finish the letter 'i,' your pen is already at the bottom line, ready to swing up into the next letter, like a 't.' This flow creates a rhythm. Instead of choppy movements, your hand moves in smooth waves. This is why cursive is often called 'running writing.' It’s all about keeping the energy moving forward without breaking the chain.
To write the word 'it' in cursive: 1. Start at the bottom, swing up to the middle for the 'i'. 2. Pull down to the bottom. 3. Without lifting your pen, swing all the way up to the top line for the 't'. 4. Pull down to the bottom and make a finishing tail. 5. Only now do you lift your pen to dot the 'i' and cross the 't'!
This combines three letters in one flow: 1. Start at the bottom, curve up and around to make the 'c'. 2. From the end of the 'c', swing right into the 'a' circle. 3. From the 'a' tail, swing straight up high for the 't'. 4. Finish with the 't' tail, then lift to cross the 't'.
What is the name for the style of writing where letters are joined together?
When should you lift your pen when writing a word in cursive?
Cursive letters usually stand perfectly straight up and down.
Review Tomorrow
Tomorrow morning, try to draw three 'swings' (undercurves) on a piece of paper without lifting your pencil. Can you remember what that stroke is called?
Practice Activity
Try writing the word 'at' in cursive. Remember: don't lift your pencil until you are ready to cross the 't'!