- Define and explain Forming Letters in your own words
- Use key terms such as baseline accurately
- Apply what you have learned to new examples and questions
- Avoid the common mistakes learners make with this topic
This lesson focuses on Forming Letters: learn where each letter starts and which way it travels.
Learn where each letter starts and which way it travels.
Key ideas
Start at the top
Almost every letter starts at the top and travels down or around. Starting letters in the right place keeps them neat and makes joining them later much easier.
Letters belong in families
Letters that share shapes are easier to learn together. Round letters like c, a, d and g all start the same way. Practising one family at a time means fewer shapes to remember.
Key term — baseline: The line that letters sit on. Round letters like a, c and o rest on the baseline.
Which of these letters have ascenders: b, a, h, g?
b and h.
Answer: b and h.
- Starting letters at the bottom Nearly all letters start at the top. Bottom-up letters are slow and hard to join later.
- Gripping the pencil too tightly A tight grip makes hands ache and letters shaky. Hold the pencil gently, as if holding a baby bird.
Practice
p and y.
Resting on the baseline.
At the start of a sentence and for names of people and places.
Holding the pencil with the thumb and first two fingers.
Quick check
Which of these best defines "baseline"?
How big should the space between words be?
- Forming Letters: learn where each letter starts and which way it travels.
- Start at the top: Almost every letter starts at the top and travels down or around.
- ascender: The tall part of a letter that rises above the rest, such as the top of b, d, h and k.
- Watch out for: starting letters at the bottom