Oh, brother--I'd have said, yes, make a space, until I found this lesson:
http://www.handwritingforkids.com/handwrite/cursive/sentences/mybrotherc.htm.
I don't remember what I was taught on this specific question, but I'd still plump for clarity, esp. on things like your "shell". I also think I'd probably ask his teacher.
I found this:
http://www.crayola.com/activitybook/subact.cfm?id=124&maincat=4, but this is even better, I think:
http://www.aquariancharterschool.com/technologypdfs/ABC Cursive.pdf, though neither specifies about apostrophes.