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Skill Explainer

Handwriting and Letter Formation Skill Explainer

Marion McBride, M.Ed.

2. How to Teach Letter Formation

a template to for students to use when learning to write letters of the alphabet

To write a lower case letter ‘a’, begin on the belt line, go around to the shoe line, back up the belt line and then down to the shoe line.

A capital letter A and a lower case letter a with up down directional arrows for handwriting the letter.

a – around, up, down
b – down, up, around | Say: It's a straight back with a big belly.
c – around, stop
d – around, up, down | Say: See (as in 'c') the 'd'.
e – across, around, stop
f – curve, down, cross
g – around, down, hook
h – down, hump
i – down, dot
j – down, hook, dot
k – down, slant in, slant out
l – down
m – down, hump, hump
n – down, hump
o – around, close
p – down, up, around
q – around, down, backwards hook
r – down, up, over
s – curve, slant, curve
t – down, cross
u – down, curve up, down
v – slant down, up
w – slant down, up, slant down, up
x – slant right, slant down
y – slant right, slant left
z – across, slant, across

Recognizing and Forming Letters Chart

Letter Formation Cards (A to Z)

Letter Formation Student Desk Charts

Reading Universe is made possible by generous support from Jim & Donna Barksdale, the AFT, the Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation, and three anonymous donors.

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