My wife and I had a meeting with the principal of our daughter's elementary school... all good stuff... they have decided to move her from first grade to second grade because she is well above the curve... but that is not what I am writing about...

After the meeting I asked the principal about the teaching of cursive in the school system... he said they do, obviously, but it is not something there is a lot of time for.
I made him an offer. I told him that if this school would conduct a penmanship contest for the 3, 4 and 5 grades starting next year, I would make a fountain pen for the winner of each grade. And would do so until my daughter started middle school. He thought it was a fantastic idea. HOWEVER, he wants me to come up with the guidelines for the contest...
I knew I opened my mouth too soon...
He is getting me the curriculum book they use to teach cursive.
I would love to have some feedback from the members here about how to set up the guidelines in a way that the teachers do not have to spend a bunch of extra time away from other important lessons. Also any decent teaching books you might recommend that the teachers can copy for the kids to use as lesson plans.
Thanks for any help or guidance you all can give me...

Hi,

We just make copies of pages of the Getty Dubay Italic series books and issue it to the students, let them practice at home, have them turn it in the next day and grade it.

Well, we have to make a short excerpt for them to copy on a piece of paper, then we grade it on basis of clarity, form, and preciseness.

Dillon

I'm sorry Dillon, but I am not familiar with that book or for that matter any other books on teaching cursive.... are you dealing with 8-12 yr olds...

Hi,

Yes, from 5 and up.

http://www.cep.pdx.edu/titles/italic_series/

Dillon