January in Cursive

Start with the capital J: a loop that starts at the baseline, rises to the top, drops below the baseline and hooks back to the line. Its tail runs straight into the a, so the pen stays down. The a is an oval closed at the top, then a downstroke on its right side that exits at the baseline; it runs from the baseline straight into the n. The n is two humps drawn from the baseline; it runs from the baseline straight into the u. The u is an upstroke to the midline, a trough down to the baseline and up again, then a downstroke; it runs from the baseline straight into the a. The a is written as before; it runs from the baseline straight into the r. The r is a short upstroke to the midline, a tiny shoulder to the right, then a downstroke to the baseline; it runs from the baseline straight into the y. The y is an upstroke to the midline, a trough, then a downstroke that loops below the baseline, and its exit stroke finishes the word.

When the word is finished, go back and dot the j. A common slip in January is skipping the shoulder of r, which turns it into a stray upstroke.