Switching notebooks to improve handwriting

[mamabear]

I'm using the first grade curriculum for my second grader and I am pleased with his progress since switching over to the Spalding system. I am taking the on-line course for home schoolers as well. My question...my son has always struggled some with hand writing. We have started his spelling/vocabulary notebook in the pink primary notebook, but we have both noticed he does much better with his letter formation/sizing with a narrower line. I think the 5/8" line makes him feel as if he is drawing his letters rather than writing them and therefore, he doesn't feel as if he has very good control of his hand writing. At this point, do you think it would be wise to move him over to the blue intermediate notebook even though we are doing the first grade curriculum?

Thanks.

Julie

[Mom2Six]

I noticed no one answered your question. I am just another mom who took the home educators online class. My children attended a school which taught Spalding until we moved, and that option is no longer available to us. My children are now homeschooled.

In the school my children attended, second graders used the blue spelling notebook just like third through sixth graders. If a child does better with the smaller lines, I would have no qualms about switching to the larger notebook with 3/8 inch rulings. Just continue with your curriculum, and let the child write comfortably. Second graders are supposed to practice writing smaller anyway in preparation for learning cursive.

I hope that helps, and am sorry your question was overlooked here.