One of you fantastic reception/literacy experts - advice please!

[swedishmum]

A couple of questions please after reception intake evening for parents.
Do you start your "o" at the top or at about 5 past (if you see what I mean)? Ditto 0 (zero)?
Do you start your 5s with a down stroke or start at the top left and do it all in one?
In a "perfect" tripod grip, is the top joint of the index finger bent the wrong way ie outwards?
Given the Rose report, would you explain to parents or kids that in JP "the sound for suh is sssss and this is the movement" for eg. Or just teach them as they are supposed to sound, and perhaps explain it to parents as well....
Just want clarification before I pile in - I know what I think and have very strong views about early phonological skills as one of my older 3 is dyslexic.
Many thanks

LOL, if a 5yo was accurate enough to know the difference between starting at o'clock and 5 past, they don't need help with their handwriting!

tripod grip - put the pencil on the table pointing towards the child. Ask them to pick it up with thumb and middle finger near nib, and let it flop back onto skin between thumb and forefinger. There are triangular pens / pencils available (google) if it is a real issue.

when you say a sound, you should say just the sound, not add an "uh" so sssssss or p (not puh) - some sound very short and quiet which is why the "uh" is added (wrongly!) so as to make them louder, but this is confusing, especially for dyslexics.

HTH!

Start o/0 at the top. 5 is started with the downstroke, with the top horizontal being added afterwards. Tripod as bTM has described.

Not that I am an expert!

Formation of letter o depends on school handwriting policy. We do joined writing from reception so all letters start on the bottom of the line with a joining line IYKWIM.
I stress Pure Phonics sounds (we use Jolly Phonics too) vigorously and passionately to parents as well as children. If they are going to support learning at home, it is essential that they pronounce the letter sounds properly without the 'shcwaa' - not sure how you spell that, but it means the extra sound you get when the uh sound is added.
Pencil grip already explained well.
number 5 - different schools of thought. i think that the official line would be start at left on down stroke and then go round his tummy putting his hat on at the end!! BUT this often gets overlooked at there are number formation issues thta cause so many more problems. Hope that helps.

I'm an infant teacher and literacy co-ordinator BTW (don't criticise spelling though, crap at spelling when typing!).

Thank you - I have a major issue about putting the schwah on the end of sounds. My dd has learnt them the way I learnt on a Dyslexia Action postgrad course so expect school to be just as good. I'm worried about being the parent from hell! It's a great school - moved nos 2 and 3 there in ys 5 and 4 and they both thrived. I volunteer one afternoon a week (literacy support for whoever they've picked up as well as my ds). Adding the schwah quite pronouncedly is an issue I've noticed with all the kids sent my way and I've mentioned it before (also heard teachers saying it incorrectly). Also the same letter formation issues appear over and over in Y3 children I see. Guess I need to say something...
Professionally I have no qualms. As a parent I need the reassurance of other people out there so thank you.
Last q - pic of "perfect" tripod grip - girl had joint nearest end of finger pressed outwards as though applying too much pressure. As in white knuckle! Please tell me this is wrong.

we start our o on the line as it has s joinign looop goign UP

re: the tripod grip - I have been taught froggy legs sitting on a log - try it - you'll see what I mean.

U would go through all the sounds and the actions with parents.

5 is the downstroke.

I hate handwriting - so no idea about the o - I think I would start it at the top.

and no to white finger tips =- grip os too hard and person will get tired when writing lots later on in school career.

I was going to say that an 'o' is started at the same place as 'c' 'a' 'd' and 'g' becase they are all taught at the same time. Now I'm not sure, you've got me wondering if that is correct...

wheresmyhamster - that is what I teach as well!

yes the o should be formed as you would begin c,a,d.... because eventually you are going to learn to join it and the joining string - like a washing line, that comes from the top need to come from the right hand side of the top, not the middle of the o.

i cant find an example of the pre-cursive formation, but have a flick forward through this book here

here actually

The "o" to join makes perfect sense - thank you. Not sure why you'd do a zero (0) in the same way though. Concensus for downward stroke on the 5 then.

I use letter/number formation jingles

c ? start at the top? come round? and stop.

a- start as if it was c for cat.. come back up like an acrobat? down to the ground ? and flick.

o ? start as if it was c for cat? but make an orange just like that.

d - start as if it was c for cat? come back up like an acrobat? now climb back up the dinosaur?s neck? slide back down to his foot and flick.

g- start as if it was c for cat? come back up like an acrobat?slide underground.. and curl back round.

q- start as if it was c for cat? come back up like an acrobat? slide quickly quietly underground?. And flick (and never do a q without a u)

s start as if for a cat all curly? but halfway down you come back early ? and curl back round for a snake on the ground.

e take the elephant to the exit....back over the top... round and stop!

f a backwards flip...fall underground... curl back round...and cross.

l start at the top for l? straight down? flick and all is well.

i straight down like a stick? and flick?.don?t forget the dot.

t take it from the top slide to the ground and flick?and cross it quick.

u start like i.. like a stick? under up..down and flick.

y do a u?slide underground? and curl back round.

j start like i like a stick.. slip underground..curl back round?and dot it!

r- down to the ground.. back up and round??rrrrrr.

n- down ? up? round ? down to the ground.. and flick.

m- start like an n?. up and round again?. and flick.

p ? go down underground? back up.. and round ? and curl back.

h ? start high up and hurry down? go halfway back and hurry round? hot the ground and flick.

k ? start high up and hurry down? go halfway back, then halfway round? curl back to the stick? and kick.

b- start at the top of the bat? come down to the ground like that? go halfway up.. over and round? to make a ball lying on the ground.

v slant down to the ground and slant up in the air

w ? down up down up

x slant down to the ground...lift your pen... up in the air...cross back again.

z zoom forward...zigzagging back...zoom again

0 - Around to my left to find my hero, back to the top, I've made a zero
1 - A downward stroke, My that's fun. Now I've made the number one.
2 - Half a heart says, "I love you." A line. Now I've made the number two.
3 - Around the tree, Around the tree, Now I've made the number three
4 - Down and across and down once more. Now I've made the number four
5 - Go down and around, then you stop,
Finish the 5 with a line on top.
6 - Bend down low to pick up sticks. Now I've made the number six.
7 - Across the sky and down from heaven. Now I've made the number seven
8 - Make an "S" and close the gate. Now I've made the number eight.
9 - Make an oval and a line. Now I've made the number nine.
www.jollylearning.co.uk/ click on information

Thanks mrz - very helpful!