Catch on to Cursive: Homeschool Cursive Curriculum
As technology plays a bigger and bigger part in our kids’ futures, it’s not uncommon to hear the debate about the importance of practicing handwriting, especially cursive. But, as a former teacher and current homeschool parent, I’ve seen firsthand how important cursive is. Teaching cursive at home, however, can be a daunting task. Many parents struggle to find engaging methods that keep their kids interested and excited to learn. That’s where Master Books’ Catch on to Cursive curriculum comes in. As I’ve used this program with my 9-year-old son, I’ve discovered its unique approach to making handwriting practice fun and effective. In this review, I’ll break down the key features of this curriculum, share our family’s experience, and help you decide if it’s the right fit for your homeschool journey.
I received compensation and access to Catch on to Cursive in exchange for my honest review, but all the opinions in this post are my own.
What is Catch on to Cursive?
Catch on to Cursive is a comprehensive handwriting curriculum published by Master Books, designed for students in grades 3-6. This 36-week program offers a unique approach to teaching cursive writing that teaches much more than just how to form letters.
What sets this curriculum apart is the way it integrates the theme of fishing with Bible lessons. As a homeschool mom always looking for engaging material, I was impressed by how seamlessly these elements are woven together.
My son, who normally hates practicing handwriting, is really enjoying Catch on to Cursive too. He usually assumes that any handwriting assignment we try will be boring, but after trying Catch on to Cursive, he said, “I actually like this one.” He loves the way that every lesson has a fishing theme, and I love the way that every lesson includes Bible content too, so the curriculum reinforces our family’s values.
Curriculum Structure
Catch on to Cursive is a structured program that includes 36 weeks of daily lessons. Each lesson follows a similar pattern, which helps my son know what to expect for handwriting each day. I love the way the curriculum teaches handwriting sequentially, introducing both capital and lowercase letters in order based on how they are formed to make learning handwriting easier for kids.
Each lesson includes 3 sections:
- Gear Up: This initial section focuses on building hand strength and preparing muscles for writing. As a former teacher, I appreciate this approach – fine motor muscles are so important for good handwriting!
- Go Fish: The core of each lesson, where students learn and practice specific cursive letters. The curriculum covers each letter for three days, which gives kids plenty of time to practice.
- Weigh-In: This evaluation section at the end of each letter practice helps kids review and gauge their progress.
Learn more about Catch on to Cursive from Master Books here.
Reasons to Try Catch on to Cursive
My son, who normally hates handwriting, is enjoying Catch on to Cursive. Here are a few of the reasons why I’m so excited that my family discovered this curriculum.
Christian Worldview
As a homeschool parent, I am always looking for ways to incorporate our faith into every subject in our homeschool. I love the way that Catch on to Cursive seamlessly integrates a Christian worldview into every handwriting lesson. From copying Bible verses to learning about Bible stories and Christian themes, this curriculum offers lots of opportunities for meaningful discussions alongside handwriting practice.
What I particularly appreciate is how naturally these elements are woven into the lessons. It’s not just a Bible verse tacked onto a writing exercise; instead, the scriptural content often ties into the fishing theme or the letter being practiced. This approach has helped my son to reinforce his faith while working on penmanship skills.
Check out more options for Biblical homeschool curriculum from Master Books here!
Kid-Friendly Approach
In my years of homeschooling, I’ve learned that homeschooling is so much easier and more fun for all of us when we have engaging materials. Catch on to Cursive features pages that are colorful but visually simple, which makes the prospect of handwriting practice far less daunting.
The short, focused lessons have been particularly beneficial for my son, who previously hated practicing handwriting. The bite-sized approach keeps him engaged without feeling overwhelmed.
My son has also really enjoyed earning badges for completing his lessons. He loves coloring and cutting out a new badge to add to his collection, and I love the way that this little reward is motivating him to keep practicing each day.
Flexibility and Adaptability
As a homeschool parent, I know that each of my children is unique and that it’s important to find a curriculum that I can customize to fit each child’s needs. I love the way that Catch on to Cursive makes it easy for parents to adapt the curriculum to meet each child’s learning needs.
- Two schedules for different age groups: Choose the younger kids’ schedule for kids who are just starting with cursive, or the older kids’ schedule for children like my son who are using this book for extra practice.
- Additional activities for older students: These give kids an opportunity for more practice, or to apply what they’re learning.
- Left-handed writer accommodations: I love that the curriculum also includes information on what to do if your child is left-handed!
Download a free sample of Catch on to Cursive here.
Focus on Muscle Development
As a former teacher, I’m always on the lookout for a curriculum that incorporates the science of learning to make learning easier for kids. One of the things that impresses me the most about Catch on to Cursive is the way that it focuses on muscle development as kids learn cursive.
Practicing fine motor skills is a great way to improve handwriting for children, so I love that it’s a focus of this curriculum.
Each lesson begins with exercises designed to strengthen the muscles needed for cursive writing. These “Gear Up” activities match the fishing theme, which makes them fun for kids. Hands-on activities and gross motor movements get kids ready to focus on the written lessons.
Charlotte Mason Teaching Philosophy
Families who are following the Charlotte Mason approach to homeschooling won’t be surprised to see the way that Catch on to Cursive is inspired by Charlotte Mason’s philosophy. Short, focused lessons help kids build good habits including paying attention and forming the letters correctly. The integrated learning approach weaves together handwriting, Bible study, and science to help grow kids’ interest in learning.
Parent-Friendly Features
As a busy homeschool parent, I am always looking for a curriculum that’s easy to use, and Catch on to Cursive makes it so easy for me to teach cursive handwriting in our homeschool.
I love the fact that this curriculum comes with a complete set of lesson plans for the whole school year. A chart at the beginning of the book breaks down the lessons for each day of every week, and the individual lessons are also labeled with a week and a day number. I love that I don’t need to spend any time planning lessons- I just rip out the next page in the perforated workbook and hand it to my child!
The book also has helpful resources at the beginning and end including a comprehensive supply list and a scope and sequence for the whole school year.
Read more reviews of Catch on to Cursive here.
Try it for Your Family
I am so glad that my family discovered Catch on to Cursive. Its engaging fishing theme, Christian worldview, and short lessons have made handwriting so much more enjoyable for my son. If you’re a homeschool parent who is looking for a cursive curriculum with a Biblical worldview that teaches more than just how to form the letters, I highly recommend Catch on to Cursive.
Click here to learn more and get a copy of Catch on to Cursive for your child.
