Zaner Bloser

Zaner Bloser

Recommended Ages

PreK–6

Zaner-Bloser is a structured K–6 handwriting curriculum designed to build clear, fluent writing through simple, repeatable daily lessons. Students learn letter formation using a stroke-based system and a model-practice-evaluate routine. The program emphasizes spacing, size, shape, and slant to improve legibility and writing confidence over time.

Great for kids who like predictable workbook pages, families who want school-style letter formation with a strong reputation, and parents who prefer a clean, traditional handwriting look.

Pros

Secular homeschoolers like Zaner-Bloser’s clear letter models, traditional manuscript and cursive forms, and straightforward daily practice that reliably produces neat, legible handwriting without requiring a specialist to teach it. 

Cons

Cons are that it’s worksheet-heavy, can feel repetitive or dry for creative kids, and doesn’t include the multi-sensory elements (air-writing, sand trays, big-motor play) some emerging or struggling writers really need. 

Workbooks and teacher guides are usually eligible when ESAs or charters reimburse standard secular curriculum from mainstream publishers, but vendor lists differ. Families typically order through approved curriculum vendors or local stores and should confirm eligibility with their specific program.

Downloadable PDF packets start at $5.95, and a full kindergarten Classroom package is available for $351.25.

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Zaner Bloser
$6.00 USD

Skills

What kids will learn
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Handwriting
Handwriting
ELA
ELA

Zaner Bloser Mission

Zaner-Bloser’s mission is to help children become confident, legible writers and skilled readers by pairing explicit handwriting instruction with strong literacy support. Their materials are designed to make penmanship a tool for clear thinking and communication, not just pretty letters, giving students a smooth transition from print to cursive and supporting written expression across the curriculum.

Zaner Bloser Story

The story of Zaner-Bloser begins in 1888, when master penman Charles Paxton Zaner opened the Zanerian College of Penmanship in Columbus, Ohio to train teachers and professional penmen. A few years later he partnered with fellow penman Elmer Ward Bloser, and together they developed the Zaner-Bloser handwriting method—an easier-to-learn Latin script that teaches manuscript first, then cursive. Over time, their work evolved from a penmanship college into a full educational publisher whose handwriting and language arts programs are still used in classrooms and homeschools more than a century later.

About Modular Learning

FAQ: Additional Details about Zaner Bloser

A typical session is your child sitting at a clear table with a sharp pencil and their Zaner-Bloser book open, tracing and then independently writing letters, words, and sentences while following arrows and models. You’ll hear pencil scratching, see neat rows of letters slowly becoming more consistent, and may add in a quick “show and tell” of their favorite line at the end.

Zaner-Bloser handwriting and language arts workbooks are typically used as a short, daily practice block. Students complete one or two pages a day focused on letter formation, spacing, and increasingly fluent handwriting, often paired with short spelling or composition tasks. Parents can slot it into a “mastery hour” as a 10–15 minute handwriting routine.

For younger or struggling writers, parents model letter formation, correct pencil grip, and sit nearby to encourage good posture and pacing. As kids gain confidence, many can complete pages independently while parents check legibility and provide gentle feedback.

Prerequisites vary by level. Early books assume basic fine motor readiness and the ability to follow simple visual directions; upper levels work best once children can read short instructions independently.

Zaner Bloser handwriting uses traditional letter forms and clear strokes, which some children (especially those transitioning back to school) prefer. It’s less overtly sensory‑focused than Handwriting Without Tears, so kids with dysgraphia or motor planning issues may need additional OT input or modifications to stay comfortable.

Zaner-Bloser handwriting materials include explicit stroke models and multisensory practice with gross- and fine-motor activities, which can support kids who need clear visual cues and repeated motor practice to feel comfortable writing.

Zaner‑Bloser’s handwriting program is paired with a national contest that includes a dedicated Nicholas Maxim special‑needs category for students with cognitive, intellectual, physical, or developmental disabilities, indicating that its handwriting materials are designed to support learners whose motor or cognitive challenges make writing more difficult.

Traditional but clear handwriting program; some 2e families prefer it when they want a more conventional script than Handwriting Without Tears but still need structure. As with any handwriting work, keep sessions brief and pair with typing for kids with dysgraphia.

Refunds depend on where you purchase. Zaner-Bloser and most curriculum vendors accept returns of unused, resalable books within a limited window; opened consumable workbooks are usually non-refundable, so it’s wise to double-check level and quantity before ordering.

It’s not ideal for highly kinesthetic learners, kids with dysgraphia or fine-motor challenges who need bigger lines and more sensory support, or unschooling families who dislike formal penmanship practice.

Handwriting Without Tears, Logic of English handwriting, or free copywork-based approaches (using literature passages) are common alternatives for more multi-sensory or gentle handwriting practice.

Zaner-Bloser periodically releases new editions and digital components to align with current classroom practice and research about handwriting and literacy. Homeschool families can choose between classic print-only use or pairing print with digital practice, depending on their child’s needs.

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Meet Charles and Elmer

Charles Paxton Zaner and Elmer Ward Bloser were master penmen and educators who co-created the Zaner-Bloser method, a handwriting system originating at the Zanerian College of Penmanship in the early 1900s. Zaner brought artistic skill and a belief that handwriting should be both beautiful and practical, while Bloser, originally a Spencerian instructor, focused on simplifying strokes so children could move quickly from print to cursive. A fun fact: their original penmanship school became so respected that its alumni went on to shape handwriting instruction across North America, and their names now live on in the Zaner-Bloser company, a subsidiary of Highlights for Children.