Study Guides

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils learn to sit comfortably and hold a pencil correctly. They learn handwriting patterns to help with letter formation and how to form all 26 lowercase letters in print. Finally, pupils practise forming letters in different letter families, for example ascenders and descenders.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to form the letters u, y and j.

Key Notes

• The letter u is an x-height letter.
• The letter u is formed by going down, around, back up, down and finish with a flick.
• The letter y is like a u but goes under the baseline to the descender line and curls up.
• The letter j is formed by going down, curls up and finishes with a dot at the top.
• The letter j and y have descenders.

Vocabulary To Learn

• tripod grip: a special way of holding the pencil with three fingers (thumb, index, and middle fingers) that helps us write smoothly and with control
• x-height letter: letters that reach the middle height on the line
• ascenders: the part of a letter that extends above the level of the top of an "x"
• descenders: the part of a letter that descends below the level of the bottom of an "x"
• baseline: this is the line that most letters sit on

Common Mistakes To Avoid

• Confusion on the direction for the 'curl up' on the y and j.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

More Lessons In This Unit

• Formation of b and p Study Guide
• Formation of c, a and d Study Guide
• Formation of e, s and f Study Guide
• Formation of h and k Study Guide
• Formation of i, l and t Study Guide
• Formation of m, n and r Study Guide
• Formation of o, g and q Study Guide
• Formation of v,w, x and z Study Guide
• Introduction to skills and patterns Study Guide
• Practice of letters with ascenders Study Guide
• Practice of letters with descenders Study Guide
• Practice of x-height letters Study Guide