D'Nealian Handwriting

D'Nealian Handwriting is the original continuous-stroke handwriting program, covering manuscript and cursive handwriting for grades K-5. It was first introduced in 1978 and is now published by Savvas Learning Company.

The continuous-stroke method has few pencil lifts. Savvas says this cuts down on common letter reversals, and because most D'Nealian lowercase manuscript letters already look like their cursive forms, the move from manuscript to cursive is easier. Lessons focus on proper letter slant, size and spacing, and the program covers prewriting skills and numbers as well as letters.

Each lesson follows the same short routine: teach, model and guide practice, practice, and evaluate. Skills are modeled through audio, visual, tactile and kinesthetic activities, and the teacher materials point to stroke-modeling animation videos and printable practice pages at the point of use. An Activity Bank at the end of each lesson adds enrichment, letter practice and creative projects. Teaching support for each tracing and writing skill is available in English and Spanish, and Savvas notes that the continuous-stroke approach supports students with learning needs such as dyslexia.

D'Nealian is a supplemental program, so it sits alongside whatever reading and language arts curriculum you already use. It is sold to schools and districts through Savvas Learning Company, which took over Pearson's K-12 programs. There is no consumer homeschool bundle on the Savvas site, so families buying for home use should contact Savvas or look for the student and teacher editions through used-curriculum sellers.