B2.2. Alphabetic Knowledge
Alphabetic knowledge refers to knowing the letters by name and understanding alphabetic order.
During Kindergarten, the focus was on:
- Name upper and lowercase letters both in and out of order, with increasing automaticity
- Beginning to print upper- and lowercase letters with appropriate formation patterns
New for Grade 1:
- Name upper and lowercase letters both in and out of order, with automaticity
- Recognize and name upper and lowercase letters in various fonts
- Print upper and lowercase letters with appropriate formation patterns, size, orientation, placement, and spacing
Note: This is not an exhaustive list of all expectations in this strand. For a more detailed view, please see the official Ontario curriculum.
Printing Instruction and Practice
Daily practice of printing is vital for developing fluency, which plays a crucial role in written composition. When students practice printing regularly, they become more proficient in forming letters and words, reducing the cognitive load associated with writing. This fluency allows them to focus more on the content of their writing rather than the mechanics, leading to clearer, more coherent compositions.
While some may consider printing instruction to be old-fashioned in today’s digital world, research highlights that handwriting instruction doesn’t just improve students’ printing. Handwriting instruction improves the quality, length, and fluency of students’ composition (Santangelo and Graham, 2016). By dedicating time each day to this foundational skill, we set the stage for our students to become confident and capable writers.
Further Reading
- Is handwriting actually important for writing? (Joan Sedita)
- The importance of teaching handwriting (Dr. Spear-Swerling)
Suggested Resources
- Daily Pen Review
- How to teach letter formation
- An Overview of handwriting and letter formation
- Letter formation desk cards
- Alphabetic Knowledge: An Overview
- ONlit Embedded Picture Mnemonics – Video Files
- ONlit Embedded Picture Mnemonics – Print Files
- Search ‘Alphabetic Knowledge’ or ‘Handwriting’ in the Resource Library for more!
