Zaner Bloser: A top choice for learning and improving handwriting

Updated on July 10, 2023

This review was written by Manisha Snoyer, the founder and CEO of Modulo, a company that provides resources and support families who are homeschooling their children. With over 20 years of experience as a teacher, Manisha has instructed over 2,000 children of all ages and abilities in three countries and 18 subjects. She has tutored at some of the best private schools in the world and throughout the NYC public school system. Manisha graduated summa cum laude from Brandeis University.

This book is for young students who want to improve on their handwriting and fine-motor skills. Zaner Bloser is a k-5 literacy company that provides the essential services for younger students. They wanted to create an education company that provides solutions to general literacy problems that young students have. . Zaner-Bloser Handwriting is a booklet that lets younger students practive their cursive and manuscript handwriting. It is an easy tool that can supplement any writing lessons or tutoring. . Zaner-Bloser has hands on workbooks that help children improve upon their writing skills. They keep the exercises short and succinct to ensure that the student is paying attention the whole way through. , Parents love that it has tangible results and they have said it is one of the best tools to improve handwriting. It is definitely a good choice for younger children struggling to grasp general writing skills. , Parents sometimes think the book is not detailed enough and does not have the necessary repetition. Although this opinion is not common it is worth considering when buying the workbook. , . 

Grades: PK-4th grade

Cost: Prices range from $20-$40 for full practice and workbook sets.

Key Features of Zaner-Bloser

Zaner-Bloser is a methodology for teaching handwriting, and it's a company that provides educational resources, including handwriting curriculums, to schools. It's particularly noted for its systematic approach to teaching manuscript (print) and cursive handwriting. Here are some key features of the Zaner-Bloser handwriting program:

1. **Structured and Sequential Approach**: The program teaches handwriting in a systematic, step-by-step way. This ensures students understand and master each letter, making the learning process more manageable.

2. **Letter Formation**: The Zaner-Bloser method emphasizes the correct formation of each letter. There are specific instructions on where to start each letter and how to form it.

3. **Consistency**: The program encourages consistency in letter size, shape, spacing, and slant, which are all crucial for legible handwriting.

4. **Motor Skills Development**: The method also focuses on developing fine motor skills. It does this through tracing, copying, and free-writing activities.

5. **Integration with other subjects**: Zaner-Bloser provides resources that integrate handwriting practice with other subjects, such as language arts, to give students practical application of their handwriting skills.

6. **Manuscript and Cursive Writing**: Both manuscript (print) and cursive handwriting are covered in the program. They are introduced at different grade levels, in accordance with developmental readiness.

7. **Self-Evaluation**: Students are encouraged to evaluate their own handwriting. This helps them become more aware of their handwriting skills and what they need to improve.

8. **Digital Tools**: Zaner-Bloser also provides digital resources, like interactive whiteboard activities, online letter formation practice, and more to supplement traditional teaching methods.

9. **Teacher Resources**: The Zaner-Bloser program comes with comprehensive teacher resources, including lesson plans, tips, assessments, and more, to help teachers effectively instruct their students.

Remember, the efficacy of any teaching method depends on the individual student and the manner in which it is implemented. It's also essential to remember that while handwriting is an important skill, it's just one aspect of a student's overall literacy development.

Pros and cons of the Zaner-Bloser program

Pros:

1. Structured: The program is highlighted for its structured approach to word work, focusing on specific sound patterns.

2. Independent Work: Some users mentioned that the simplicity of Zaner-Bloser enables their kids to work independently.

3. Accessible Resources: One parent mentioned that Zaner-Bloser has a link on their website to printout copy work.

4. Transition to Cursive: The movement from print to cursive seems to be more straightforward with this method.

5. Improved Handwriting: A few users suggested that they noticed improved handwriting in their children after using Zaner-Bloser.

Cons:

1. Childish Appearance: Some users feel that the handwriting style produced by Zaner-Bloser is childish or not 'pretty.'

2. Memorization Focus: One user highlighted that the spelling program seemed more focused on memorizing sight words rather than on effective phonics-based instruction.

3. Confusion with Similar Words: The same user also mentioned that comparing similar-sounding or similarly spelled words all at once led to confusion.

4. Lack of Teacher's Manuals: A couple of users noted that they never used teacher's manuals for Zaner-Bloser, implying that they might not be as accessible or useful.

5. Repetitive: One user felt that the repetitiveness of the words was a downside, although this might also be a factor in why the program works for improving spelling.

FAQ about Zaner-Bloser

**Q: What is the Zaner-Bloser method?**

A: The Zaner-Bloser method is a handwriting instruction approach that emphasizes motor skill development through regular, consistent practice. This method instructs students on the foundational skills of letter formation, such as proper pen grip, arm and hand positioning, and stroke sequence. It is known for its structured style, which involves teaching print and cursive as two separate styles. In the Zaner-Bloser method, manuscript printing is written straight up and down, while cursive is written at a slant.

**Q: What is the difference between D'Nealian and Zaner-Bloser?**

A: D'Nealian and Zaner-Bloser are two different handwriting instruction methods. The D'Nealian method uses a continuous stroke style for both manuscript printing and cursive, with a slight slant in both. In this method, letters are learned with tails in manuscript printing, so the transition to cursive is more straightforward as students primarily need to connect the tails. On the other hand, Zaner-Bloser teaches manuscript printing with letters straight up and down, while cursive is slanted. This method instructs students to learn the two styles as separate entities.

**Q: Why was cursive invented?**

A: Cursive writing was developed to increase writing efficiency. The flowing, connected style allows writers to maintain their pen or quill on the paper without lifting it frequently, increasing writing speed. Cursive writing also helped to prevent ink smudges during the era of inkwells and quills.

**Q: Why did we stop writing in cursive?**

A: The decline of handwriting, including cursive, was influenced by new technologies, beginning with the invention of the ballpoint pen in 1888, which was later refined by László and György Bíró to prevent ink smudging and requiring less careful penmanship. Post World War II, the mass-produced and cheaply sold ballpoint pen changed the way people wrote. Later, the usage of cursive was further impacted by the advent of technologies such as the telephone, computer, and keyboard, which offered alternative methods of communication and recording information.

**Q: Is there a Zaner-Bloser app?**

A: Yes, Zaner-Bloser does have an associated app, the Superkids Online Fun app. This app allows teachers and students who use the Superkids K-2 Reading Program to play phonics-based games and read interactive books and magazines on an iPad. To log in to the app, a Zaner-Bloser MyZBPortal.com account with active Superkids licenses is required. Note that a wireless internet connection is necessary to use this app.

OTHER DETAILS

Key features

Type of Tool: Textbook, Kit

Time required: Only 20 to 30 minutes a day can improve handwriting greatly.

Special Needs:

Literacy Requirement (does a child need to know how to read):

Screens

Screens:  No, no screens are required

Online requirement:

Time

Parent/Caregiver Involvement: Kids can use it with no help from a parent, teacher or caregiver

Prep Time:  No prep time required

Other characteristics

Modality: Visual, Hands-on/kinesthetic

Adaptive: No, it is the same for every student

Educational Philosophy: Not really, doesn't seem to be influenced by a particular educational philosophy

Other characteristics:   Hands-on, Fun and entertaining

Accountability

Assessment: No, there is no assessment component

State Standards: unsure

Teacher Accounts:

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