B2. Alphabetic Knowledge and Printing
Alphabetic knowledge refers to knowing the letters by name and understanding alphabetic order.
NOTE: If students were provided with effective instruction in Kindergarten and Grade 1, most would have already mastered Alphabetic Knowledge. In some cases, it may be necessary to re-teach some skills in the Kindergarten/1 or Grade 1 column to the whole class. If this is the case, it is important to work through these skills at an accelerated pace to ensure you can also meet the Grade 2 expectations by the end of the year.
During Grade 1, the focus was on:
- 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
New for Grade 2:
- Building fluency with printing
Note: this expectation is found in the D strand “D2.2 print legibly and fluently, with appropriate formation patterns, size, placement, and spacing” However, as this is a continuation of the Grade letter formation expectations found in B2, we have included it here.
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)
