We wanted to try out IEW’s Cursive Knowledge curriculum with our 6th grader to see if it would make a good handwriting review for older students. Many homeschoolers teach cursive in the early years, but unless your kids keep using it regularly, they may forget the basics. We’ve definitely noticed a slide in cursive ability in our 6th grader, so we decided to use this open & go resource as a quick refresher.
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The Institute for Excellence in Writing, or IEW, is a trusted resource for your language arts homeschool curriculum. We’ve been very happy with Fix It! Grammar, their themed writing books, and Introduction to Public Speaking. So I knew that their Cursive Knowledge handwriting book would likely be another great curriculum – and it was!
IEW Cursive Knowledge Review
Take a peek inside with our IEW Cursive Knowledge review!
Why Cursive Matters
You may wonder if it’s worth it to teach cursive in your homeschool. Here’s what we know.
Learning cursive isn’t just about beautiful handwriting—it’s a valuable skill that supports brain development, fine motor coordination, and writing fluency.
Cursive helps students connect letters smoothly, which can make writing faster and more efficient. It also strengthens memory and comprehension, as studies have shown that writing by hand—especially in cursive—engages the brain in ways typing does not.
Beyond academics, cursive empowers students to read historical documents, sign their names confidently, and develop a lifelong skill that bridges the past and present.
You wouldn’t believe how many teens in today’s schools don’t know how to write their signature – because they’ve never learned cursive! So, it really is a life skill that your kids need to know.
In short, here’s why cursive still matters:
- Improves fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination
- Boosts brain development and cognitive connections
- Increases writing speed and flow for note-taking
- Enhances spelling, memory, and retention through muscle memory
- Helps students read historical documents and family letters
- Teaches a personal signature for legal and real-world use
- Supports literacy and comprehension, especially in early learners
What is IEW’s Cursive Knowledge?
Cursive Knowledge is designed for elementary-aged students, typically 2nd–5th grade, but it’s also suitable for older students who are new to cursive or need review. It works well in homeschool settings, co-ops, or even tutoring environments.
So while we had learned cursive initially in about second grade, once my kids learned it, I didn’t keep up with the instruction. That’s why we wanted to use IEW’s Cursive Knowledge with our 6th grader as a bit of a refresher.
The Cursive Knowledge program includes a consumable student book with all the handwriting instruction your student will need. Inside, you’ll find plenty of space for tracing and writing letters, words, and short passages.
Copywork pages include classic quotes, which add some meaningful context to the practice.
The pages are clean and not overly busy, which is great for kids who get visually overwhelmed. There’s a natural rhythm to the lessons, and you can move at your own pace.
The curriculum includes 18 tasks, which the author says will take about one month to complete if you work on one task per day for about 15 minutes. That means that this course doesn’t need to stretch out all year! It really can be a quick refresher.
First, your students will learn individual letters according to stroke order. That means they’ll learn four different groups of lowercase letters so that they can see the similarities and retain that in their muscle memory.
So, for example, the c Starters include the lowercase letters: c, o, a, d, g, and q. And once your student understands how they have the same stroke order, they’ll be more likely to write them correctly.
Next, the curriculum will start to practice letters in pairs and then short words. By the end of Task 12, your student will know how to write all the lowercase letters.
Then, Tasks 13-23 teach your student all the capital letters and give your student plenty of practice using them in proper names.
Finally, Task 24 includes practice of all the letters learned so far. Then in Tasks 25-32, you’ll find plenty of Copy Work that will help your student master and remember the correct cursive letter formations.
It’s a gentle, step-by-step approach that builds confidence.
How We Used It In Our Homeschool
We received Cursive Knowledge toward the end of our daughter’s sixth grade year. We were able to try it out for a few lessons before breaking for the summer. So we will continue this into seventh grade and likely try to use it a few times a week until we’re finished.
If your children are younger and learning cursive for the first time, you should likely try to work on cursive for short lessons daily. Remember, consistency is key, especially when learning a new skill like cursive.
If you stick to short lessons no longer than about 15 minutes daily, your child can work through the lowercase letters in just a couple of weeks and move on to capitals soon after. With this consistency, you can comfortably finish the whole program in about a month.
I love that it’s a simple, no-pressure pace that fits easily into most homeschool routines.
Pros & Cons of Cursive Knowledge Curriculum
IEW’s Cursive Knowledge handwriting curriculum is a simple, no-fuss way to help students learn or improve their cursive writing. It’s truly open-and-go—no extra prep required—and the daily lessons are short and manageable, often taking just a few minutes a day. Many students can finish the entire book in about a month, which makes it feel really doable. Older kids can work through it pretty independently, though it’s a good idea for parents to check in now and then just to keep them on track. At only $19, it’s also an affordable option for families.
One of the things I really appreciate about this curriculum is that it works well for all ages. The design is clean and mature, so it doesn’t feel babyish for teens or even adults who want to brush up on their handwriting. The copywork includes quotes from famous historical figures, which adds a little inspiration to the practice.
While the pages are black and white and don’t include pictures, that can actually be a plus—there’s nothing flashy or distracting, which helps some learners stay focused.
The curriculum is faith-neutral and doesn’t include Scripture, so it works in a variety of settings. Overall, Cursive Knowledge is a gentle, effective, and budget-friendly way to build cursive skills—whether your student is just starting out, catching up, or simply looking to write more beautifully.
This Cursive Curriculum Is Best For You If…
Cursive Knowledge is a great fit for a wide range of students and homeschool styles. Because it’s so straightforward and efficient, it’s ideal for independent learners—especially older kids or teens who prefer working at their own pace.
It also works well for students who thrive on routine and short, focused tasks. The lack of visual clutter makes it a good option for children who are easily overstimulated or distracted by busy pages or colorful illustrations.
In terms of learning styles, it’s particularly well-suited for visual and kinesthetic learners. The practice of tracing and copying helps reinforce muscle memory, and the clean layout makes it easy for visual learners to follow along without confusion. While it’s not flashy or entertainment-driven, that simplicity can be an asset for students who benefit from a calm, no-nonsense approach to learning.
Homeschoolers who follow Charlotte Mason, Classical, or even eclectic styles will find Cursive Knowledge fits in nicely. Charlotte Mason families will appreciate the use of meaningful copywork from notable historical figures, while Classical homeschoolers will like its emphasis on mastery and neatness.
It also pairs easily with other curricula, since it doesn’t take much time and can be added in without disrupting your overall rhythm. It’s one of those rare resources that’s flexible, effective, and respectful of both the student’s time and the parent’s energy.
Recommended Handwriting Curriculum
Now that we’ve had a chance to start using Cursive Knowledge, and I’ve seen how simple and straightforward this resource is, I will definitely be recommending it! I hope this IEW Cursive Knowledge review has been helpful as you consider what you could use with your kids.
If you want your own inside peek into this handwriting curriculum, IEW offers free samples.
Check out our other reviews of IEW resources.
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