Continuum Unpacked
Alphabetic Knowledge
Letter Formation
Category: Alphabetic Knowledge
 Alphabetic knowledge refers to knowing the letters by name and understanding alphabetic order
Knowledge and Skills: Letter Formation
Kindergarten/Grade 1
| Naming and forming upper- and lowercase letters both in and out of order |
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Grade 1
| Naming and forming upper- and lowercase letters both in and out of order, and demonstrating knowledge of alphabetic order |
Grade 2
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n/a
Grade 3
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n/a
Grade 4
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n/a
Looks like: Kindergarten / Grade 1
Beginning to print upper- and lowercase letters with appropriate formation patterns |
Looks like: Grade 1
Printing upper- and lowercase letters with appropriate formation patterns, size, orientation, placement, and spacing |
Why is this important?
| Writing is translating oral language into written text. Writing begins with letter formation; teaching students handwriting not only improves their handwriting, but also their composition; research suggests that teaching handwriting can improve the length, quality, and fluency of written composition (Graham & Santangelo, 2014). |
Instruction
Letter formation should be taught explicitly and systematically, with opportunities for guided and independent practice to build accuracy and automaticity.
When teaching letter formation, consider:
1. Pencil grip – teaching an effective pencil grip gives students a strong start to handwriting.
2. Posture and paper position – students should sit tall and angle their paper depending on their hand dominance, stabilizing it with their non-dominant hand.
3. Letter strokes – teach students the different strokes used to make letters: lines (vertical, horizontal, and diagonal) and curves.
4. Letter formation patterns – explicitly teach the formation patterns of letters. This is a critical step to ensure students develop fluent and legible handwriting.
5. Letter placement – consider using sky/grass/ground or hat/belt/shoes to support students in placing letters correctly, and understand ascending and descending letters.
