Christianbook.comDescription
The BJU Press Handwriting 5 Teacher’s Edition serves as an indispensable guide for homeschooling parents seeking to refine their fifth grader’s cursive handwriting skills while embarking on an engaging multicultural learning journey. This comprehensive 144-page spiral-bound resource transforms handwriting instruction into a captivating exploration of world cultures, featuring writing exercises that highlight diverse languages including French, Greek, Irish, Japanese, and Chinese.
This teacher’s edition provides detailed lesson plans and instructional strategies that make handwriting instruction both effective and enjoyable for busy homeschooling families. The curriculum emphasizes essential handwriting fundamentals including proper posture, precise letter formation, consistent slant, accurate alignment, appropriate spacing, and overall neatness. Parents will appreciate the structured approach that includes pretests to assess current skill levels, guided instruction, ongoing practice opportunities, self-evaluations to build student ownership, and comprehensive post-tests to measure progress.
The cultural theme woven throughout the curriculum offers homeschooling families unique opportunities to integrate geography, history, and cultural studies into daily handwriting practice. Students practice copying Bible verses in the King James Version, reinforcing both penmanship skills and biblical truth. This integration aligns perfectly with Christian homeschooling values while providing meaningful context for handwriting exercises.
The teacher’s edition includes reduced student pages with clear instructional notes, making it simple for parents to guide their children through proper stroke formation and technique refinement. Lesson overviews help busy homeschooling parents prepare effectively, while suggested activities and optional extensions allow for customization based on individual student needs and interests. The spiral-bound format ensures durability for daily classroom use and allows pages to lay flat for easy reference during instruction.
Building upon BJU Press’s systematic handwriting progression, this fifth-grade course assumes students have mastered basic cursive formation from earlier grades and focuses on refinement and consistency. The curriculum includes an alternate uppercase style, providing flexibility for families who prefer different letter formations. Cross-curricular connections link handwriting practice to heritage studies, literature, and other academic subjects, maximizing learning efficiency for homeschooling families managing multiple children and subjects.
The program’s biblical foundation encourages character development alongside penmanship skills, as students copy Scripture passages and reflect on godly principles. This dual focus makes the curriculum particularly appealing to Christian homeschooling families seeking to integrate faith and learning seamlessly throughout their educational day.
Aop.com
The Homeschool Shopper –
The BJU Press Handwriting 5 Teacher’s Edition is a solid, well-designed handwriting curriculum that effectively bridges the gap between early cursive learning and refined penmanship skills. This 144-page spiral-bound resource centers around the engaging “Writing Around the World” theme, introducing students to various cultures and languages while reinforcing proper handwriting techniques through meaningful practice with Bible verses, cultural content, and cross-curricular connections.
What We Liked
Strong Pedagogical Foundation: BJU Press uses a proven slant print to simplified cursive transition that’s similar to D’Nealian but more refined. The systematic approach helps students develop natural, legible handwriting through consistent practice and proper technique instruction.
Excellent Cultural Integration: The “Writing Around the World” theme genuinely enriches the learning experience. Students explore French, Greek, Irish, Japanese, and Chinese cultures while practicing handwriting, making lessons educational beyond just penmanship practice.
High Production Quality: The materials feature full-color printing, durable construction, and clear layouts that make the curriculum pleasant to use. The shaded, slanted gray sections on writing lines are particularly helpful for maintaining proper slant consistency.
Comprehensive Teacher Support: The Teacher’s Edition provides detailed lesson ideas, proper handwriting instruction methods, and helpful notes for explaining techniques to students. The structured approach makes it accessible even for parents who didn’t learn cursive this way.
Biblical Worldview Integration: Scripture verses and Christian character principles are woven naturally throughout the lessons, supporting families who want faith-based education without being heavy-handed.
Assessment Tools: Built-in pretests, self-evaluations, and post-tests help track student progress and identify areas needing additional attention.
Areas for Improvement
High Teacher Investment Required: This isn’t a “hand-to-your-child” curriculum. Parents need to actively teach lessons, understand the methodology, and provide ongoing guidance. Families with multiple children may find this time-intensive.
Essential Teacher’s Edition Adds Cost: While the Teacher’s Edition provides crucial instruction, it significantly increases the total curriculum cost compared to student-only options from other publishers.
Limited Independent Use: Unlike some handwriting programs, students cannot work through this independently. The systematic instruction requires consistent parent involvement throughout the program.
Narrow Stylistic Approach: Students must adapt to BJU’s specific slant print and cursive style, which may not suit all learners or family preferences for handwriting appearance.
Moderate Practice Volume: While quality is high, students who need extensive repetition for motor skill development might require supplemental practice pages.
Bottom Line
BJU Press Handwriting 5 Teacher’s Edition delivers excellent results for families willing to invest the necessary teaching time and who appreciate the structured, faith-based approach. The cultural themes and high-quality materials make handwriting practice more engaging than typical workbook approaches, while the systematic methodology produces clear, legible results. The Teacher’s Edition is genuinely essential for success, providing the instructional foundation that makes this curriculum effective.
Best suited for dedicated homeschooling families who value thorough instruction, cultural enrichment, and biblical integration. The investment in time and the Teacher’s Edition pays off in students who develop confident, consistent handwriting skills alongside broader cultural awareness.
Recommended for: Families using BJU Press curriculum, parents who prioritize systematic instruction, families wanting cultural integration, those comfortable with teacher-intensive programs
Consider alternatives if: You prefer independent-use curricula, need minimal-prep options, want extensive built-in practice, or prefer secular content