To ask how you write a 5

[NoCryingInEngineering]

DS is in reception and this week's parent torture homework is to practice writing numbers. He has a sheet with examples down the side and a little rhyme for each one. Everything's been fine except 5 which he can't (or wont) get right. DH thinks it may be because he's left handed. And I know I don't write 5s using the school method

So I'm interested. How do you write a 5?

I'm left handed and I write it like this:

I'm left handed and do it like an 'S' too.

I'm also work in a primary school and it is taught as the down the back, round the belly and then the hat - I thought I must have learnt it differently, but seems it is just easier for us lefties to do it as an S after all.

Straight back, fat tummy, top hat!!

Neck, tummy, hat!

DS starts at the bottom - one movement. Right handed, but still sometimes gets his letters backwards and he is Year 4

I was taught "a little neck, a big fat tummy and put the hat on top"

DD learnt "down and around and a flag on high, that's the way we make.a 5"

Perfectly normal to flip or mirror some.letters / numbers in reception, but keep practicing.

I alternate between 1 or 2 strokes depending on what I'm writing, how fast, the type of pen and paper etc. But then again my writing looks completely different on different pages of my notebook - some italic and flowing, some neat and clear, some scratchy... I also do completely different looking letters - so sometimes the a with the hat and sometimes without. I dread to think what one of those handwriting analysis psychologist people I've seen on crime shows would have to say about my writing.

When did the hat business start? I've taught hundreds of reception children to write 5 the simple way. Start at top right, horizontal, vertical, curve. Why do anything different?

Bean - Where does a hat go on an Aa?

I go from left to right with the straight line. Then add the vertical to the left end of the horizontal and round for the curve!
I write with my right hand -I was originally left handed but the nuns at my prep school didn't like it! I now use my right hand. (I shoot with my left hand though!)

I do what @MsSquiz and the other left handers do.

I had to think for a second 😂

Downwards stroke,
The curve,
Then back to top with a left to right stroke

Hope that makes sense

Flat topped s.

But I think I taught the kids to do it v, c, h (l>r). I think it’s a bit easier for them to see what they’re doing and to get a better shape.

However, I’d just go with whatever he finds the easiest.

I had no idea I was abnormal... I know children are learning the hat thing these days but didn't know it was something adults did. I start at the top left, go across to the right & back again to do the down & around in one fluid motion. Can't be doing with taking my pen off unnecessarily!

I had to write one to check! I do the horizontal from left to right, then downwards, into the curve.

Same as Shockers