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Year 2 - English

Looped descenders and break letters

The four joins and break letters, with no lead-ins

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils learn to form each of the four joins without 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 letters with looped descenders and know which letters are break letters.

Key Notes

  • In cursive handwriting, letters with descenders use a lead out loop to join with the next letter in the letter string.
  • The descenders for y, g, j and f have a loop to aid joining.
  • The letter f has a lead in and a lead out loop to aid joining.
  • Break letters are letters in the alphabet that do not join to the next letter in the letter string.
  • The letters x and z are break letters.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • descender: the part of a letter that descends below the level of the baseline
  • lead out: the stroke or line that guides us to smoothly finish a letter and join to the next
  • loop: a rounded shape made in certain letters
  • letter string: a group of letters that are written together in a word
  • break letter: a letter which doesn't join to the letter after it in a letter string

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Some children might think the break letters don't join to any letters at all.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.

In cursive handwriting, letters with descenders use a lead out loop to join with the next letter in the letter string. The descenders for y, g, j and f have a loop to aid joining.

2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'descender'

the part of a letter that descends below the level of the baseline.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: Some children might think the break letters don't join to any letters at all. Correction: Model and frequently re-visit the concept that break letters do join to the letters before them but don't join to the letters after them. Over exaggerate when modelling that you lift your pencil after the break letter.

More Lessons In This Unit

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