Study Guides

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils learn to form each of the four joins with lead ins. They practise using diagonal and horizontal strokes to connect letters and identify 'break letters' that do not join. Pupils also learn how to form looped descenders and how to end a join with a lead out.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to correctly form the fourth join with a lead in and lead out.

Key Notes

• The letters all have a lead in and a lead out.
• The pencil does not lift when forming the join.
• The fourth join goes from the x-height line up towards the ascender line.
• When joining the letter string o to b, the direction of formation changes.
• When forming the letter f, it has two loops: at the top of the lead in and at the bottom ready for the lead out.

Vocabulary To Learn

• cursive: style of handwriting where the letters are joined together in a flowing and connected manner
• lead in: the stroke or line that guides us into starting a letter
• lead out: the stroke or line that guides us to smoothly finish a letter
• x-height line: this is the line that x-height letters reach
• ascender line: this is the top line of the tramlines

Common Mistakes To Avoid

• Children will often want to take their pencil off to form the join.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

More Lessons In This Unit

• The first join: aw, ap, an, ar with lead in Study Guide
• The first join: in, ig, ed, eg with lead in Study Guide
• The fourth join: wl, ok, rt and rl with lead in Study Guide
• The second join: ck, ch with lead in Study Guide
• The second join: if, il, it with lead in Study Guide
• The third join: oe, we, ve and re with lead in Study Guide
• The third join: on, om, ow with lead in Study Guide
• The third join: oo, wa, wo with lead in Study Guide
• The third join: us, rs and ws with lead in Study Guide