Year 1 - English
Introduction to skills and patterns
Writing lower case letters in print
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Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
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 sit comfortably and hold a pencil ready for handwriting.
Key Notes
- Sitting position is important for handwriting.
- A comfortable pencil grip can make handwriting easier.
- It takes practice to be able to form a letter correctly.
- Handwriting patterns can help prepare to form letters.
- There are some letter formations that require you to lift the pencil to add a dot or a cross.
Vocabulary To Learn
- sitting position: the way we sit when writing, with our feet on the ground, back straight, and our body balanced and comfortable in a chair
- letter formation: the way we make each letter, starting at the top and following the correct path to create the shape of the letter.
- pencil grip: how we hold the pencil with our fingers, making sure it feels comfortable and steady in our hand.
- 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.
- tramlines: straight, parallel lines that we can use as a guide to help us write neatly and keep our letters the same size.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Many children will not securely use the correct pencil grip.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
Sitting position is important for handwriting. A comfortable pencil grip can make handwriting easier.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'sitting position'
the way we sit when writing, with our feet on the ground, back straight, and our body balanced and comfortable in a chair.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Many children will not securely use the correct pencil grip. Correction: Ensure to spend sufficient time checking children's pencil grip and intervening where they need extra support.
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 u, y and j Study Guide
- Formation of v,w, x and z Study Guide
- Practice of letters with ascenders Study Guide
- Practice of letters with descenders Study Guide
- Practice of x-height letters Study Guide
Browse all guides in the Year 1 English guide library.