PreScripts Cursive Writing program

Name: PreScripts Cursive Writing program
Brand: Classical Conversations, Inc.

by Classical Conversations, Inc.

ElaGrades Pre-K–12

PreScripts Cursive Writing Program: Art-Integrated Handwriting with Rich Content

PreScripts is a cursive handwriting program by Classical Conversations that integrates art lessons with meaningful content practice. Students copy Scripture, historical documents, and literary passages while developing fine motor skills through drawing exercises across nine progressive courses from preschool through high school.

Best for

Homeschool families and classical education schools seeking a handwriting curriculum that integrates art instruction with knowledge-rich content across multiple subject areas

Evaluation Criteria

2 strengths · 1 concern · 5 neutral · 1 insufficient evidence

Knowledge RichStrength

The curriculum is knowledge-rich, systematically building domain knowledge across history, Scripture, mathematics, and American documents.

Content connects to Classical Acts & Facts History Cards, covers ancient to modern history, includes American founding documents, and incorporates mathematical terms and biblical passages

Text ComplexityStrength

The curriculum offers appropriately complex texts that increase in sophistication across grade levels.

Progresses from individual letters to complex passages like Federalist papers with sophisticated vocabulary and sentence structure appropriate for older students

Teacher TrainingConcern

The curriculum includes brief instructions but lacks comprehensive teacher training materials.

Each book has brief instructions but does not provide extensive information on teaching handwriting fundamentals such as posture, page alignment, or pencil grip

Direct InstructionNeutral

The curriculum provides clear models with arrows and numbers for letter formation but lacks extensive teaching guidance.

Letters are taught with arrows and numbers showing formation, but the program does not provide extensive information on teaching handwriting fundamentals like posture or pencil grip

Retrieval PracticeNeutral

The curriculum employs spaced practice through progressive tracing and independent writing activities.

Students first trace letters and words, then practice forming them independently, with progression from large practice lines to smaller ones

Vocabulary BuildingNeutral

Vocabulary is built incidentally through exposure to rich content including historical terms, mathematical vocabulary, and complex literary language.

Students encounter mathematical terms and definitions, rhetorical devices in poetry like similes and metonymy, and sophisticated vocabulary from historical documents

Writing InstructionNeutral

The curriculum focuses on handwriting mechanics rather than composition, following the classical model of copying before creating.

Students practice by copying words written by others before writing their own compositions, with emphasis on letter formation and cursive mechanics rather than writing instruction

Whole Books Vs ExcerptsNeutral

The curriculum uses excerpts and passages rather than whole books, drawing from sources like historical documents, Scripture, and poetry.

Students copy excerpts from sources such as The Mayflower Compact, The U.S. Constitution, The Monroe Doctrine, and poems, rather than complete texts

Systematic PhonicsInsufficient Evidence

This handwriting-focused curriculum does not include phonics instruction.

The program focuses exclusively on cursive letter formation and copying meaningful content, with no mention of phonics or decoding instruction

Sources: cathyduffyreviews.com