I need to teach DS to form his letters correctly. How to do it without telling him he's wrong...

[Kyrptonite]

DS started reception this year. He's been writing all the letters of the alphabet for 6 months or so. All recognisable and perfectly readable.

His teacher is now saying that they need to learn to form them correctly. Which seems bloody stupid if he's found a way he's comfortable with and its readable.

How do I tell him he needs to do it a different way? I don't want him to feel like he's been doing something in the wrong way as he gets quite focused on doing things right and I've been praising him all this time for his attempts.

Perhaps explain that he needs to learn the 'school way' which is a bit different? Then make some sparkly flour/rice/shaving foam/sand in a tray and let him practise. The school will be doing lots of this too.
The teacher wants him to form correctly now as it's really, really hard to 'un-learn' incorrect formation later and will make joining letters really difficult for him.

My DSs teacher recommended an app called hairy letters. It shows how to form each letter and rewards correct writing with dancing hairy monsters. Worked a treat for my left handed awkward writing DS.

Does he have a home organizer? Can you ask his teacher to include the letter formation chart so he can practice at home?

If you practice 10 minutes every day, he will be up to speed very quickly. It is very important that he forms the letters correctly as he otherwise will find joined-up writing almost impossible.

You could explain to your son that you can see that he is really doing his best and that you can read his letters really well. However, it is important to write them the correct way as he will learn to join the letters next year. And you can practice together every day for a few minutes and he will know how to do it in no time (to take away any anxiety he may have).

Your son is not the first, not the only, and not the last one, to form letters incorrectly. But if this is addressed now, the problem will be resolved quickly.

Try not to worry too much.

Hi, my DS is like this- school helpfully sent home a handout of how to form the letters correctly (they use 'Nelson' style) anf they also send sheets hoe he can practise on.

I;ve found the best thing for him is one of those magnetic erasable boards (or a whiteboard) as he's worried about doing it wrong on paper, but of course can erase it easily on the board.

I may sound crazy, but unless you're home schooling, I wouldn't bother.

They pick it up later, and you'll be wasting your time with him better spent collecting stick wands, making mud pies and inventing stories.

Leave the teaching to the professionals.

Being 4 is wonderful, so wellies on, and enjoy!

What is the 'right way'? Can anyone link?

Dd1 taught herself to write at 3yo. Things like an "a" being a circle with a line out of it, just as she saw the letter she wrote it.

When she was 4yo the preschool started encouraging her to do it the "proper" way and she was thrilled to be shown the "big girl" way. Nothing was said about her way being wrong, just this was the way big people did it and was easier when she did joined up writing. She thought this was very exciting.

Dc's school sent the alphabet home in the way they wanted it to be written. I looked up little videos on the internet on each letter which showed how it should be done. And the played them to dc who watched and practiced each letter. It worked rather well. And they loved the sense of achievement. They used to just write the letters like I would, but were happy to change to the school way with lots of praise. Ask the school to give you a handout of the letters.

I'm not overly worried. I just don't really get why joined up handwriting is such a big deal in schools. Does it play a role in SATs?

I'll try the sand/silica idea with him and perhaps the whiteboard. He loves playing schools so I can always role play with him that we need to teach DD how to write her letters!

I was a bit older than reception admitted but my father taught me calligraphy. Great skill.

Agree with others that you should leave it to the school. My son is in reception too - I have no idea if he can form letters yet.

your op suggests that you don't think he should be made to change?

The reason he needs to do it 'properly' is that it can be hard to learn to do join up writing later if they form them 'backwards'

Many children form their letters wrong before and during reception, the earlier you can get them to do it the right way the better.

You can do them by drawing in the sand, using white board, finger paint, anything really.

Hairy Letters app is good and so is Sesame Street.

I wouldn't worry about it as he will learn the 'right' way. It will come. I am still working with my seven year old on some of his letters as he writes them his own way but it very much slows down the flow of his witting and now he has started learning joined up writing he needs to follow the 'rules'.

The longer it's left the more entrenched any incorrect letter formation will become and the more difficult it will be to change it.

Yes, joined up writing plays a role in SATs. Correct formation is important because it is the most efficient way of writing, so that one letter can flow smoothly onto the next without unnecessarily lifting the pencil off the page. Unnecessary lifts slow the writer down and can cause fatigue.

most of my Y1 class are forming letters incorrectly ...it's driving me mad most letters start at the top (e starts in the middle) none start at the bottom

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

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

Forming letters incorrectly inhibits flow, which will be detrimental to their speed of output in public exams later. Likewise, holding the pen incorrectly can mean they wrist/hand aches after writing at length, with the same adverse effect during exams. I'm mainly thinking of GCSEs and A' levels, although it will also affect SATs earlier.

As a KS2 teacher, I can assure that that correct letter formation is really important. It's not just about handwriting looking pretty, it's about flow, speed and stamina. If children don't have the fluency that comes with correct formation, it really does slow them down.

Definitely look for fun apps, there's quite a few out there. Also whiteboards, and letting them practise using whatever sparkly/multicoloured etc pens they like.

*assure you

Obviously didn't proof read!