Handwriting issue - correct formation of letters

[Campaspe]

DD is 4.10 and is really enjoying Reception so far. Her school are just beginning to teach writing, phonics etc.

DD can write her name in the sense she knows what letters to use and in what order. However, she cannot form the letters correctly.

The school have sent home some letters for her to practice. However, she is not keen on doing this at home, and just doesn't seem to get that the letters have to be written in a certain way. She struggles particularly with "s", "e" and "a".

Should I persevere in trying to show her and getting her to practice (she is not overly keen on this), or should I simply leave it for the school?

My other question is: are there any practice books etc that I can use to get her to practice letter formation?

Any general tips?

Thank you.

Buy her (and you too ) a light up twinkly fairy wand and teacher her the correct movements in the air as large as possible.

Then write the letter using as many different colours as possible and challenge her to write on top of each letter (mixing the colours ) until it turns black

Put tomato ketchup on a plate, or bubble bath on the tiles, and let her draw the letters in that too.

Get a bucket of water and a bit paint brush and let her paint the letters on an outside wall.

You have already been given some very good ideas to make it fun to practise. However, if you really want books you could look at the Jolly Phonics books. They practise the right movements and also include colouring etc.

www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Jolly-Phonics-letter-formation-sassoon-6020026/

mrz are you advocating buying the teacher a light-up fairy wand too???

A class set are required with the option of light sabres

Great idea, mrz. My dd has just started reception and loves writing but usually uses capitals (she learnt letters from car number plates). She recognises lower case and if asked to copy she will just copy 'a' as 'A'. I've never corrected her, but have been aware that school will teach correct formation of letters.

A light up fairy wand is definitely the way forward!

I also teach my children letter formation jingles which they recite (over and over as they make the actions) to ensure they form letters correctly in a smooth single motion

Curly caterpillar family
Anticlockwise movements
c round

o round, round and join

a round, up, down and flick

d round, up, up, down, down and flick

g round, up, down, down and round

q round, up, down, down and tick

s round and round the other way

f round, down, down and round ? across

e across and round
one armed robot family
down, up and over movements

r down, up and over a bit

n down, up, over, down and flick

m down, up, over and down, up, over, down and flick

h down, down, up a bit, over, down and flick

b down, down, up a bit, over and round

p down, down, up, up, over and round

k down, down, up a bit, over, round, out and flick

long ladder family
mainly down and round movements

l down, down and flick

i down and flick ? dot

t down and flick ? across

j down, down and round ? dot

u down, round, up, down and flick

y down, round, up, down, down and round

zig zag monster
diagonal movements

v down, up

w down, up, down, up

x down, stop ? down, stop

z across, down, across

for joined writing we add a "whoosh" to the beginning

Brilliant. Cut and pasted for future use!

Thanks once again, mrz.

mrz thank you! My DD is the same age and I've probably not been as thorough as I might have been with correct formation before she started - the homework for this half term came home on Wednesday with about 8 sides of notes for parents on how to teach your children to do their letters and numbers - but yours way sounds much simpler and more fun. I was a bit surprised that parents are expected to teach the children to write and to have spellings the 3rd week in reception but sounds like others are doing the same.

has anyone heard of the resource where they teach formation with phrases and songs - g is the only one I recall a girl with a curl.... Some friends at a different school seem to be using this and I thought it sounded interesting.

DD school has started new term by saying on newsletter that they will be doing letter formation this term and please practise at home with your child.
I have a stubborn DD who is already forming some letters wrong. I have no idea what is actually correct. I expect my writing probably is correct, but of course couldn't swear to it.

Now where are the wands ?

mrz any idea how long it will take to re learn to write the letters? DD is in reception and at nursery they learnt the jolly phonics letters, she could write them all, now in reception they are learning to write in cursive and it is really messing with DDs writing. It has gone from almost legible to total mess, practicing today at home I noticed that she is now totally confused on where to start the letters and sizing of them (we usually use 3 line writing paper, 2 solid one dotted so she can get her sizing right) a small a is now the same size as a A and she can't even do it on the writing paper.

I'm not a fan of fully cursive in reception with older children half a term with reception it can take much longer.

MayDayChild my new thing is www.jmldirect.com/invt/g02gl10100000001?gclid=CMqx9qvvnawCFYEZ4QodPWUoAA hooked over the index finger of the writing hand to write the letter on a wall with the light. It clearly shows if the child is starting in the correct place and using the correct movements.

My DS's school uses Oxford University Press and it suits him better than Jolly Phonics. It teaches the sound and how to write the letter together.
A is a-a-a-a apple- round the apple and down the leaf. His letter formation and reading are much improved. s and e are difficult letters for him to write too.

It really is important to get letter formation right for joined up writing later on so do carry on. Think I'll try a few of these great suggestions too with my Dds. We also like glow stick writing too!