Playwrite is a typeface engine designed to create cursive fonts specifically for primary school education. It draws inspiration from MacLean's Method of Writing, a traditional handwriting instruction method developed in Canada by Henry Boyver MacLean during the mid-20th century. MacLean's Method, building upon Austin Norman Palmer's letter shapes, introduced teaching modifications and motor preparation exercises tailored for school instruction. Although MacLean's textbooks are no longer in use in Canada, his letter shapes continue to influence schoolbooks published by regional governments and private publishing houses, making them prevalent in most Canadian primary schools. This slanted continuous cursive style, influenced by Zaner-Bloser and D'Nealian models, features cursive uppercase letters, including intricate forms like 'I', 'J', and 'G'. Lowercase letters are characterized by medium-length extenders with loops, consistently applied even in letters like 'p' and 'q', and are formed using medium-speed strokes. Distinctively, lowercase letters such as 'm', 'n', 'v', 'w', 'y', and 'z' begin with curved entry strokes at the x-height.
Copyright 2023 The Playwrite Project Authors (https://github.com/TypeTogether/Playwrite)
This Font Software is licensed under the SIL Open Font License, Version 1.1.
This license is copied below, and is also available with a FAQ at:
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SIL OPEN FONT LICENSE Version 1.1 - 26 February 2007
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Playwrite CA
Playwrite Canada
https://primarium.info/countries/canada/
The traditional method of handwriting instruction in Canada is called MacLean’s Method of Writing, and was developed by educator Henry Boyver MacLean in the mid-20th century. Building upon letter shapes devised by Austin Norman Palmer in the United States, MacLean introduced several changes to suit the needs of school instruction, such as modifications to teaching methods and the addition of motor preparation exercises. Even though MacLean’s books have not been used in Canada for several years, his letter shapes survive in schoolbooks published by regional governments and private publishing houses. They are widely used in the majority of Canadian primary schools.
Playwrite Canada Characteristics
This slanted continuous cursive style is influenced by the Zaner-Bloser and D'Nealian models. It includes cursive uppercase letters, with some particularly intricate ones like 'I', 'J', and 'G'. The lowercase letters feature medium-length extenders with loops, which are consistent even in letters like 'p' and 'q', and are constructed using medium-speed strokes. Additionally, several lowercase letters such as 'm', 'n', 'v', 'w', 'y', and 'z' start with curved entry strokes at the x-height.
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