Letter formation – movements There is a letter formation movement in Happy Handwriting for each letter. The dot is the starting point and each arrow represents a directional stroke. These are set out on pages 13 and 14 of this guide. There is a memory phrase to reinforce this movement, set out on page 15. After this the relative heights of letters are the next priority. We recommend plain paper to start with, then use of four writing guidelines.
Letter formation for left-handers The formation of some letters is slightly different for some left-handed children, who ‘pull’ the lines right to left, where right handers will ‘push’ lines left to right: the lower-case letters t and f and the capital letters A, E, F, H, J and T.
Joining letters in Key Stage 1 In Key Stage 1, Happy Handwriting teaches five main joins between letters: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
diagonal joins to letters without ascenders (for example: ai) diagonal joins to letters with ascenders (for example: ch) horizontal joins to letters without ascenders (for example: wa) horizontal joins to letters with ascenders (for example: wh) joins to round (anti-clockwise) letters (for example: ad).
The basis of all these joins is correct letter movements, but the focus of Year 2 is joining the letters using these joins and establishing good spacing and proportions. Year 2 Term 1 focus:
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diagonal joins to letters without ascenders (ai)
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diagonal joins to letters with ascenders (ch or al)
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horizontal joins to letters without ascenders (wa or oa)
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horizontal joins to letters with ascenders (wh or oh)
Year 2 Term 2 focus:
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joins to round (anti-clockwise) letters (ad)
Year 2 Term 3 focus:
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revision of the joins and checking letter proportions and spacing.
Break letters Happy Handwriting uses a lower-case script where most letters have an exit stroke or ‘flick’ to prepare children to join letters as soon as they feel able. In Happy Handwriting, the following letters do not join to letters following them: b, g, j, p, q, x, y, z, s. Most adults use an efficient semi-joined script when they write, and Happy Handwriting prepares children to learn this as early as possible.
Learning the alphabet Knowing the names of the letters allows us to talk about them and helps with phonics and spelling. Call a letter by its name, rather than the sound associated with it. If children learn the letter name when they learn the movement for the lower-case letter, they can then learn the capital letter which has the same name. Alphabetical order of letter names is an easily learned sequence which lasts a lifetime. It enables children to use dictionaries and alphabetical order – and it is one system that is not changing in this digital age! Happy Handwriting encourages you to sing the classic alphabet song, follow the letters across the page of the Practice Book and do the additional alphabet activities on pages 77 and 78 of this guide. There are additional alphabet activities in the printable resources.
Happy Handwriting
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