Year 2 - English
The first join: ag, ac, na and to with no lead in
The four joins and break letters, with no lead-ins
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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 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 first join.
Key Notes
- The letters are formed by following the right starting point and direction.
- Cursive letter joins refer to how the letters connect together.
- The pencil does not lift when forming the join.
- The first join goes from the baseline to the x-height line.
- The cross for the letter t gets added once the letter string is complete.
Vocabulary To Learn
- cursive: style of handwriting where the letters are joined together in a flowing and connected manner
- join: connecting together
- lead out: the stroke or line that guides us to smoothly finish a letter
- baseline: this is the line that most letters sit on
- x-height line: this is the line that x-height letters reach
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Children will often want to add the 'cross' for the t while forming the t which would break the flow of joining.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
The letters are formed by following the right starting point and direction. Cursive letter joins refer to how the letters connect together.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'cursive'
style of handwriting where the letters are joined together in a flowing and connected manner.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Children will often want to add the 'cross' for the t while forming the t which would break the flow of joining. Correction: Model and emphasise to the children that the pencil doesn't come off the page until the letter string is complete. Then, you can add the missing parts like the cross for the t.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Looped descenders and break letters Study Guide
- Review of the four joins with no lead ins 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
Browse all guides in the Year 2 English guide library.