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Italics, Beautiful Handwriting for Children

Penny Gardner's book is just what parents and teachers using the Charlotte Mason Approach to Education have been waiting for! It relates what Charlotte Mason said about italic handwriting and copy work, or transcription, and makes it easy to teach and use in the home and classroom.See sample pages from Italic workbook

New 2nd edition is now AVAILABLE. This is a 100-page, reproducible ebook for only $10. You may print copies as needed by immediate family members. This is a huge savings if you have more than one child.

To order this digital book, you may use the order form and mail a check OR you may send $10 (US dollars only) to my PayPal account by simply sending funds to penelopegardner@msn.com. PLEASE SPECIFY THE TITLE OF THE BOOK YOU ARE ORDERING. I fill orders promptly. If you ordered an e-book and did not receive it, please check your junk mail folder and make sure your system allows attachments.

From the introduction to Italics, Beautiful Handwriting for Children:

Charlotte Mason, a British educator who lived from 1842-1923, recommended teaching children Italic handwriting. She wrote: "Some years ago I heard of a lady who was elaborating, by means of the study of old Italian and other manuscripts, a 'system of beautiful handwriting' which could be taught to children. [This is] a style of writing which is pleasant to acquire because it is beautiful to behold. It is surprising how quickly young children, even those already confirmed in 'ugly' writing, take to this 'new handwriting.'" (Home Education, p. 235-236)

Features…

  • Italic handwriting instruction within a 'Charlotte Mason' framework
  • Suggestions for writing-readiness activities
  • Overview of steps in teaching handwriting to children
  • May be used at all grade levels—elementary through high school
  • Lessons and practice in Basic Italics and Cursive Italics
  • Articles on copy work
  • Models in handwritten basic and cursive italics for children to copy
  • Quotes to transcribe into basic or cursive italics
  • Variations on copy work--ideas to make it more challenging and instructive
  • 100-page consumable workbook in PDF format that will be sent via email

You may view the instructional videos of this book. The videos are located at You Tube.

Basic 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzgAyK2sAJc
Basic 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_WfB4z-qMg
Cursive 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqrhU3MhjBk
Cursive 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPwPmrIzNGk
Cursive 3:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKi_CydwuCY

See sample pages from this new book. See complete Table of Contents . Read book reviews. Print out additional copy work quotes for your children to write. New quotes added 10/09.

“To all of you who have been waiting for a purely Charlotte Mason handwriting program, you can rejoice; it has finally arrived!” --Merri Larson, TX

“I thought you might like to know that we have found your italic book [the 2nd edition e-book version] to be really useful. It is the best of its kind that I have seen and I have been looking for some time! I love the way we can print out the page again should it go wrong! and I can give them a page at a time so they don't feel overfaced with seeing how much there is to go. They are making real progress. So thank you very much for doing it. I will certainly recommend it to others.” --Lindsay, UK

"I have been using your Italic Handwriting book with my 12 year-old, who's handwriting is truly illegible. She is doing very well. We have tried MANY programs including the Getty/Dubay Italic." --Sheila Carroll, Worldwide Educational Resources, www.educationinabox.com 

“I have used your book for my three oldest children and was amazed how quickly and beautifully they wrote by your example. I honestly have to say to see them sit down with your book and just immediately start writing so beautifully was wonderful. And I loved the flow of which letters you started with and the order...it was perfect!” -- Neve

Read more reviews.