The New American Cursive is an easy-to-follow resource for teaching beginning cursive. It presents simplified letter forms, using multi-sensory methods to aid in the learning of motor skills necessary to write well. Developed by Iris Hatfield, with over 35 years of experience in the handwriting field, the book improves the process of teaching handwriting and allows students to start at a younger age.

The character Mr. Meerkat is the book's guide, making learning tasks fun; step-by-step, he shows the way to draw each letter and encourages creativity. There are clear arrow directions for letter creation, and plenty of shaded letters to trace for practice. The book is bound at the top for equal access for left- and right-handers.

NAC's simplified strokes and letter forms allow first grade students to truly master beautiful cursive. We have used NAC in our school, Highlands Latin School, with dramatic results. Every child can master cursive in the first grade and many of our first graders write better than typical third graders. Learning cursive early ensures that they are not slowed down or frustrated in the upper grades when they are focusing on other subjects such as grammar and composition.

New American Cursive Workbook 1 features:

• Designed with the first grader in mind.
• Unnecessary strokes are eliminated. The NAC alphabet has 26 fewer strokes than the top three most common cursive programs.
• Letter forms are simplified but retain the classic form for legibility.
• The NAC natural right, slant is easier for beginners and left-handers. If the slant is too far right it can be difficult for lefties. Writing absolutely vertically is tiring and can slow down the writing.
• The NAC program was created to be simple, clear, and effective. It focuses on accuracy and increasing legibility.
• A teaching guide is included. It takes students only twenty minutes of their day to practice in their NAC book.

New American Cursive Workbook 2 features:

• Eight-page Teaching Guide included
• 125 instruction exercises for excellent penmanship development
• Practice pages include Bible verses and character building quotes
• Simplified alphabet, unnecessary strokes eliminated
• Bound at the top for ease of use by left-handed students
• Clear starting dots and arrow directions
• Includes exercises to develop creative writing skills
• Blank reproducible practice pages included
• Flexible method allows for the individuality of the child

We now have a secular version of Workbook 2! New American Cursive with Quotations from Famous Americans!

"Congratulations! With penmanship training so grossly neglected, your cursive handwriting program is a delightful method that can change that scenario. You've created an easy method for children to learn and for teachers to teach."
- Jeanette Farmer, Handwriting Remediation Specialist, Colorado

"The children have enjoyed the challenge of cursive writing, and their attitudes tell me on a daily basis that the program will be successful for them. The workbook is very simple to work with, gives plenty of practice, and allows space for the children to do some creative artwork. Even built into the program are encouraging statements on values and successes, which the students need at this young age."

"Just a note to say thank you for the Cursive Writing Program. Elizabeth loves it and so do I! It is so easy to follow. Elizabeth started the third grade this school year and the teacher didn’t even mention starting cursive writing. This meant I had to teach cursive writing on my own to Elizabeth. Your program saved the day! She is writing beautifully and enjoys it! Her ability to write quickly allows her to keep up with so many things in school."
- Mary Quinn, Massachusetts

“I was very intrigued by the idea of cursive for my first grader and my excitement was contagious enough to make him excited as well. A cute character, Mr. Meerkat, guides the student through this simplified version of cursive. I was happy to discover that my first grader found cursive to be easier than print, as it flows smoothly across the page. I was also pleased that the letter was displayed in print as well, helping him to connect the printed version with the cursive version. I love this particular cursive so much, that I plan to order the New American Cursive StartWrite Software and teach this to all of my children next year!”
- Lori, Home School Reviewer

"I am a retired teacher. The New American Cursive alphabet deserves a standing ovation." - Linda Green, California

"It is thorough and easy to follow. This is overdue. So simple, important and logical. Thanks for all your hard work!" Debby Peddy, Arizona

"Work on cursive continues with New American Cursive. Simple and effective." - Golden Grasses Blog

other popular picks:

Copybook Cursive

• Software to create additional worksheets is available at http://www.newamericancursive.com/software/