Study Guides

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 the four joins.

Key Notes

• Cursive handwriting involves joining letters together without lifting your pencil.
• The first join connects from the baseline to the x-height line.
• The second join connects from the baseline to the ascender line.
• The third join connects from the x-height line to the x-height line.
• The fourth join connects from the x-height line to the ascender line.

Vocabulary To Learn

• join: how things connect
• baseline: this is the line that most letters sit on
• ascender line: this is the top line of the tramlines
• x-height line: this is the line that x-height letters reach
• dips below: dropping under something

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

• Looped descenders and break letters Study Guide
• The first join: ag, ac, na and to with no lead in Study Guide
• The first join: en, ud and ir with no lead in Study Guide
• The first join: id, ig, ed, eg with no lead in Study Guide
• The fourth join: ol, ok and of with no lead in Study Guide
• The fourth join: rl, rk and rt with no lead in Study Guide
• The fourth join: wl, oh and ot with no lead in Study Guide
• The second join: ck, ch, nk, lk with no lead in Study Guide
• The second join: el, mb, at and tt with no lead in Study Guide
• The second join: il, it, ik, ul with no lead in Study Guide
• The third join: on, om, ow, oi with no lead in Study Guide
• The third join: oo, og, wa and wo with no lead in Study Guide
• The third join: os, rm, wi with no lead in Study Guide