teaching joined up writing

[yetmorerain]

My DS started last years summer holidays at the end of year one consistently reversing almost every letter and ended the holidays forming them all correctly due to 15 minutes of handwriting exercises every day.

This success has inspired me to do something similar this summer holidays. His handwriting is still the area that causes him most frustration and effort.

He is now ending year 2 and has not tried joined up to my knowledge. Should I get him to practice this for 15 minutes each day to help the flow of his writing? Would this be achievable or am I best to leave this to school in year 3 and just focus on size/spacing/neatness of printed letters?

all views welcome

Is there a scheme which teaches joined up ie which letters to learn first?

Thanks

I think there are 2 'styles'- marian richardson and I think nelson that are common; could you find out which one school uses so that you're using the correct method?

DD did Nelson (sorry- just checked now)
They learned first all the small letters (miniscules) with 'flicks'
then 'un'
'ig'
'ic'
'ed'
'ch'
'sl'
'st'
'nk'
're'
'oo'
'wl'
'of'

does that help a little?

I personally would leave it to the school.

You could teach him one way and they could teach him another. Its only going to make him confused and he will find it harder in the long run!

Sorry, so disjointed, am eating

Do you have one of those handwriting style exercise books? The type ruled in sets of 4 lines? They have them in WHSmith, probably other places too.

I think they have to be reasonably legiblnon-joined first though, so practicing keeping all the letters even/regular sized would be valuable.

Is his motor control good? mrz could suggest some exercises for his fingers or hand/eye co-ordination I'm sure if not...

Thanks for this.

Last summer holidays I got school senco to provide all their handwriting sheets to ensure that I taught all letter formation correctly. If I did the same with joined up I would get the same from school to ensure no confusion.

I wondered if going to joined up would help even regular letter size if practiced daily. We had such great success by doing daily practice every single day of last years holidays and have seen far less improvement ever since without any help at home.

yes have the exercise books.
Fine motor control seems OK when not writing.