handwriting_rules_vic_4_sb_look_inside

Can others easily read my writing?

STUDENT WORKBOOK

Remember the seven s’s for fluency and legibility!

What is drawn by everyone without pen or pencil?

Shape

Letters are formed correctly.

Size

Letters are a consistent size.

Sitting on line

Letters sit on the base line correctly.

Slope

Letters all lean in the same direction.

Space

Space between letters is regular.

Space between words is regular.

Smooth joins

Letters join smoothly

Speed

The writing flows.

Breath.

Pause a moment When writing for a long time or with more speed, there will be times when you need to pause. At these times, try one of these.

Relax your hold on the pen or pencil.

Tap your index finger lightly on the pen or pencil.

g n i t i r w

d n H s! e l Ru

Victorian

Modern Cursive Austr a lia n Curriculum

Rotate your wrist.

www.matildaeducation.com.au

Katy Collis and Alexandra Kennedy VIC_Y4_HR_50337_cvr_prs.indd 1

6/21/20 8:37 AM

Page Features

Contents Review

Letter families....................................................................... 2 Touch joins........................................................................... 3 Diagonal joins....................................................................... 5 Diagonal joins to f................................................................. 7 Diagonal joins to x................................................................ 8 Diagonal join from q to u...................................................... 9 Diagonal joins to and from s............................................... 10 Horizontal joins from b, o, r, v, w......................................... 12 Horizontal joins to e............................................................ 13 Joins to head and body letters........................................... 16 Horizontal joins to and from f.............................................. 17 Horizontal joins to s............................................................ 18 Letters that don’t join yet.................................................... 20 Double letters..................................................................... 21

Clear instructions to teach or review each join.

o�

o�

o�

retrace

o�

then retrace back around.

�race then write.

o�

o�

o�

o�

o�

o�

w�

w�

w�

f�

f�

f�

f�

f�

f�

v�

v�

v�

r�

r�

r�

r�

r�

r�

b�

b�

b�

From descenders g, j, y and z............................................ 54 To ascenders b, h, k and l.................................................. 56

Personal style

All joins and speed loops.................................................... 58 Signatures.......................................................................... 60

Assessment

Progressive speed and fluency trials.................................. 62 Progressive self-assessment............................................. 64

Notes for teachers and parents......... inside back cover Can others easily read my writing?............. back cover Pause a moment............................................ back cover

w�

v�

v�

v�

b�

b�

b�

Self-assessment feature to encourage students to take responsibility for their own progress.

I’m positiv� i� ma� possibl� rai�.

Th� oaf� wor� scarf� an� brief� .

Self-assessment

�ick any joins to s that are excellent.

Underline any joins that you could improve.

Handwriting: horizontal joins to s. Grammar: modality (positive, possibly).

Humorous illustrations to reinforce concepts.

Fluency and legibility.......................................................... 24 Using capital letters to complete forms.............................. 48

Introducing speed loops

w�

�race then write the sentences.

Consolidation

Print script for labelling....................................................... 49

Link to animation showing correct join formation.

(Download a QR code reader from the App Store.)

To make a horizontal join from s, retrace the top of the s.

18

Introducing print script for labelling

Helpful tips.

Review: Horizontal joins to s

Extend the exit over the top of the s . . .

A variety of practice activities. These provide an English curriculum context for handwriting, to give it meaning and make it fun and motivating for Year 4 students.

Consolidation: Fluency and legibility Remember to keep your letter shape, size, slope and spacing consistent.

�race then write.

Thoma� sa� i� th� docto�’s waitin� roo�, tryin� no� t� pani� abou� hi� ar�.

It was�’t lookin� goo�. A re� stai� wa� seepin� through th� bandage.

Oop� , though� Thoma� . I thin� I use�

For the teacher, links to grammar, punctuation, spelling and vocabulary, and literary elements.

to� muc� ja�.

Self-assessment

Cross out the words that don’t apply.

I need to work on my letter shapes, slope, spacing, size, tails.

30

Handwriting: fluency and legibility; all joins. Grammar: thinking verbs (thought, think); apostrophe for possession (doctor’s); proper noun (Thomas). Spelling and vocabulary: apostrophe for contraction (wasn’t); homophone (too/to/two). Literary elements: third person narrative; point of view; quote from Doubting Thomas, by Morris Gleitzman (2006).

This edition published in 2021 by

Matilda Education Australia, an imprint of Meanwhile Education Pty Ltd Level 1/274 Brunswick St Fitzroy, Victoria Australia 3065 T: 1300 277 235 E: customersupport@matildaed.com.au www.matildaeducation.com.au First edition published in 2015 by Macmillan Science and Education Australia Pty Ltd Copyright © Katy Collis, Alexandra Kennedy/Macmillan Education Australia 2015 Handwriting Rules! Victorian Modern Cursive Year 4 Student Workbook ISBN 978 1 4586 5033 7 Editor: Laura Jordan Production controller: Janine Biderman Publisher: Sharon Dalgleish Design: Trish Hayes Illustrations: Stephen Michael King Printed in Malaysia by Vivar Printing Pdt Ltd 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 25 24 23 22 21 20

VIC_Y4_HR_50337_ifc_prs.indd 1

Notes for Teachers and Parents The Handwriting Rules! series is designed to support students’ development of legible, fluent handwriting in Victorian Modern Cursive. It combines a multi-sensory and a cognitive approach to embed handwriting in the motor memory, with carefully structured layout and humorous illustrations to engage students’ interest. It is the only series to fully integrate handwriting skills with other aspects of the English curriculum: spelling and vocabulary, grammar, punctuation and aspects of literature (literary elements).

Handwriting is linked to the ability to spell. Neat and legible handwriting assists students to develop kinaesthetic and visual memory for letter sequences in spelling. There is a great deal of research that equates children’s fine motor control success with legible handwriting and in turn legible handwriting with spelling ability.

Structure of the Year 4 workbook It is highly recommended that you work through the Year 4 workbook in the order it is presented. The book begins with a review of letter families, touch joins, diagonal joins and horizontal joins in a carefully structured sequence to revise and reinforce previous learning. The consolidation section then allows for plenty of further practice to build fluency in joined handwriting and to support students as they increase speed whilst maintaining legibility. These consolidation pages could be used in any sequence that supports your English program.

Page 49 introduces print script for labelling. Once students have established handwriting movements, they can be introduced to this script to use in projects, mapping and so on.

Page 54 introduces speed loops for those students who are ready for this next challenge. Speed loops can help fluency and legibility by reducing retracing and connecting letters by the quickest means.

Each page in the book varies, depending on what is being taught or revised. The activities cover tracing and writing, with clear models for support. There are also opportunities for students to write their own texts, in connection with the English curriculum, consolidating their understanding of handwriting as a tool for making meaning. These activities encourage student engagement, interest and motivation.

A handwriting lesson Use the poster on the back cover to remind students about the seven s’s for fluency and legibility, and that they might need to pause and stretch a moment when they are writing longer texts. Encourage them to use hand and finger movements as warm-up activities. Warm ups help students avoid hand and wrist strain, and develop the physical coordination needed for legible and fluent handwriting. Other activities for developing fine motor control and hand and finger strength are included on the Handwriting Rules! Victoria CD 3–4.

Introduce each page by discussing the humorous illustrations and establishing the English language context (for example, adjectives, similes, poetry).

Demonstrate and model the join being taught or revised. If you have a tablet or smart phone available, download a QR code reader from the App Store and scan the QR code in the join explanation box to view an animation showing the way the join is formed. Or, display the animations supplied on the Handwriting Rules! Victoria CD 3–4 on an interactive whiteboard.

Have students practise on their appropriate workbook pages. As you focus on each join, reinforce correct letter shape and size, consistency of letter slope and consistency of spacing between letters and between words.

Assessment Have students keep track of their own handwriting progress by completing the self-assessment activities throughout the book. Encourage students to reflect critically on their own handwriting and make judgements about their progress and improvement. Pages 62 to 63 are progressive speed and fluency trials. Students can complete these at different times throughout the year.

Page 64 is a progressive self-assessment page to be used throughout the year. Students can check off and date each criterion when they think it is achieved.

Teacher assessment of student progress can take place at any time through observation and interaction with students as they engage in writing tasks. Assess students’ hand control and watch that words are formed correctly with consistent size, shape, slope and spacing. Observe students’ competency in forming each join to ensure writing is becoming faster, more automatic and more fluent. Analyse work samples for evidence of progress. Continued practice will develop students’ skills and automaticity in joined writing.

More information and checklists can be found on the Handwriting Rules! Victoria CD 3–4.

6/22/20 9:25 PM

Enter here!

ring the amazing te en be l il w u yo This year and LEGIBILITY. Y C EN U FL of s ld or w ster using all fa g n ti ri w se ti ac pr You will e special new ones. m so g in ud cl in s in the jo ng style that is

writi You will develop a . easily read by others

JOB APPLICATION: HANDWRITING EXPLORER Name: Date of birth: Previous handwriting experience:

Why I would make a good handwriting explorer:

Vic Year 4.indd 1

28/10/14 3:01 PM

Review: Letter families Trace then write the anticlockwise letters.

a o

c e

d f

g s

q

x

z

Trace then write the clockwise letters.

m h

n k

r p

Trace then write the i family letters.

l

t

i

j

Trace then write the u family letters.

u

y

v

w

b

Practise capital letters.

Trace.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 2

Handwriting: review letter families; review lower case and capital letters.

Vic Year 4.indd 2

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To link to a, c, d, g and q , lift your pencil and drop them on to the exit of the letter in front.

Review: Touch joins

u

Make an

uc

keep going up . . .

uc

lift pencil here

exit . . .

ua

then lift your pencil and drop-in the letter.

Trace the letter pairs.

ma ma na na uc ic ud id ca da ma na uq iq ug ig ng nd nc ta ca da ng nd sq la la ta ha ha ka ka ld ad ac ta la sa Trace then write.

mad sad dad madly

gladly

squiggle giggle

ring

sing

later alligator

elder

adder

sting

Handwriting: touch joins. Grammar: adverbs (madly, gladly). Spelling and vocabulary: common letter pairs; rhyme.

Vic Year 4.indd 3

3 28/10/14 3:01 PM

Review: Touch joins

Lift your pencil when you make a horizontal touch join.

lift pencil here

wa

Trace then write.

wa

ba fa od

rg

va

oc

rc

ra

rd

Trace then write.

awake fake large

sergeant

archway

apology technology

archaeology

A pen lift means your hand can take a little break before you drop in the next letter.

Trace then write.

The ugly duckling turned into a swan.

That’s a cygnet!

Self-assessment

4

Circle your five best joins on the page.

Handwriting: touch joins. Punctuation: sentence punctuation. Spelling and vocabulary: common letter pairs; animal young (ducklings, cygnet). Literary elements: references to fairy tale (‘The Ugly Duckling’, Hans Christian Andersen).

Vic Year 4.indd 4

28/10/14 3:01 PM

Review: Diagonal joins

A diagonal join links to the next letter at the top of that letter’s body.

u

up up up

Make an

then keep going up . . .

A

until you get to the

exit . . .

start of the next letter.

Trace then write. Remember to make smooth diagonal joins.

ar

ai

aj

am

an

ap

cr

ce

cu

dr

du

di

ei

ey

ep

eu

em

en

er

ew

ee

hi

he

hu

hy

in

im

er

ki

ke

kn

ky

kr

mn

mi

mu

mm

my

mp

ni

ny

nu

nn

ui

ur

um

un

Self-assessment

au

uy

av

up

aw

ay

Circle your smoothest join.

Underline a join that needs more practice.

Handwriting: diagonal joins to body and to body and tail letters (descenders). Spelling: common letter pairs.

Vic Year 4.indd 5

5 28/10/14 3:01 PM

Review: Diagonal joins

u ul ul ul ul ul Make an

To connect a diagonal join to a tall head and body letter, continue the exit all the way up to the top, then retrace to make the next letter.

keep going up . . . to the very top . . . then retrace to make

exit . . .

the next letter.

Trace then write. Be careful when you retrace the join.

ab

ah al

ak

ct

dt dl dh

hl

ik il

lt

mb

th

tt tl uk

at

cl

ch

ck

el

et

eb

ht

it ib

kl

kh

ll

lk

kl

ml nb

nh

nt

nk

nl

nb

at

it

th

ub

ut

ul

pick of the litter Self-assessment

My retracing to make joins is: improving

6

good

fantastic

.

Handwriting: diagonal joins to head and body letters (ascenders). Spelling: common letter pairs. Literary elements: idiom.

Vic Year 4.indd 6

28/10/14 3:01 PM

Review: Diagonal joins to f

uf uf

Go up . . .

uf

uf

to the

then make

Lift your pencil

top body line . . .

a loop.

and add the crossbar.

Trace then write.

uf uf ef ef af af

lf lf if if df df

Trace then write.

loafing swift drift dreadful unsafe boxfish wolf oaf elf waif chief shelf The three pigs fled from the oafish wolf.

Self-assessment

My loops to join f are smooth and fluent: sometimes

often

always

.

Handwriting: diagonal joins to f. Grammar: adjectives; nouns; verbs. Spelling and vocabulary: common letter pairs. Literary elements: reference to folk tale (‘The Three Pigs’).

Vic Year 4.indd 7

7

28/10/14 3:01 PM

Review: Diagonal joins to x

a

ax

ax

2

Make a

and swing around

Lift your pencil and form

diagonal exit . . .

smoothly to x.

the second stroke of x.

Trace then write.

ax ax ax ax ax ax ax ax ax ax ux ux ux ux ux ux ux ux ux ux ix ix ix ix ix ix ix ix ix ix ix ix ix ex ex ex ex ex ex ex ex ex ex ex ex ex mix fix fax flux flex six saxophone pixie pixels flax exit tuxedo exhale Self-assessment Put a cross next to any joins to x that you could improve.

8

Handwriting: diagonal joins to x. Spelling and vocabulary: x says ‘ks’ in each word on this page.

Vic Year 4.indd 8

28/10/14 3:01 PM

Use a diagonal join to join from q to u.

Review: Diagonal join from q to u

q

qu qu

qu

Continue the exit all the way up to the top body line.

Trace then write.

qu

qu

qu

qu

qu

qu

qu

qu

qu

qu

qu

qu

qu

qu

qu

qu

The quick queen queued for quoits.

The quirky quokkas quested for quiche.

Write your own words that have a qu.

Handwriting: diagonal join from q to u. Spelling: common letter pairs. Literary elements: alliteration.

Vic Year 4.indd 9

9 28/10/14 3:01 PM

Review: Diagonal joins to and from s To make a faster diagonal join to s, change the shape of the s.

as

as

as

top of s is much shorter

Make a diagonal

keep going to make a

exit kick . . .

short top on the s . . .

then quickly retrace around.

Trace then write.

as

as

as as as

as

as

as

as

is

is

is is is

is

is

is

is

is

is

is is

ns

ns ns ns

ns

ns

ns

ns

ns

ns ns

ls

ls

ls ls ls

ls

ls

ls

ls

ls

ls

ls ls

ts

ts ts ts ts

ts

ts

ts

retrace

sk

To make a diagonal join from s, you need to retrace.

ts

as

ts

ts

as

ts ts

ask retrace

Retrace the bottom

Then go up to make

of the s.

a diagonal join.

Trace then write.

si 10

su

sp

sl

so

st

Handwriting: diagonal joins to and from s.

Vic Year 4.indd 10

28/10/14 3:01 PM

Review: Diagonal joins to and from s Practise diagonal joins with these plurals. Trace then write.

snakes lizards walruses kisses prizes batteries apologies activities dragonflies loaves thieves knives hooves elves calves

Remember to pause if you need to and relax your hold on the pen or pencil.

Trace then write.

“The time has come,” the Walrus said, “To talk of many things: Of shoes -- and ships -- and sealing-wax Of cabbages -- and kings.”

Handwriting: diagonal joins to and from s. Punctuation: sentence punctuation, speech marks. Spelling and vocabulary: plurals adding -s, -es, -ies. Literary elements: quote from Through the Looking Glass, by Lewis Carroll (1872).

Vic Year 4.indd 11

11

28/10/14 3:01 PM

Review: Horizontal joins from b, o, r, v w

by or ry

A horizontal join is a line with a little wave.

Trace then write.

To join from a letter that finishes near the top body line, you need a horizontal join.

oy op on om oz oi ow op on ry rn ru rm ru ri rr rp ru vy vu vi vr vu vi by bi bu ba bo br wi wr wu wy wi wr wu wy wn wo Trace then write the similes.

burps like a yowie wriggles like a viper Self-assessment Circle your five best horizontal joins.

12

Handwriting: horizontal joins from letters that finish near the top body line (b, o, r, v, w). Spelling: digraph ‘ur’ (burp); digraph ‘ow’ (yowie).

Literary elements: similes.

Vic Year 4.indd 12

28/10/14 3:01 PM

Review: Horizontal joins to e To make a horizontal join to e, you need to dip down.

b e be

dip

To join e, dip down.

Trace then write.

oe

re ve we

be

oe

re

ve

we be

oe

re ve we

be

oe

re

ve

we be

leave

heave

believe deceive we’re were does

receive

doesn’t have haven’t

“The werewolf doesn’t exist,” remarked the man.

Handwriting: Horizontal joins to e from o, r, v, w, b. Punctuation: sentence punctuation; speech marks. Grammar: verbs. Spelling and vocabulary: apostrophes for contractions (we’re, doesn’t, haven’t). Literary elements: reference to The Bunyip of Berkeley’s Creek;

by Jenny Wagner and illustrated by Ron Brooks (1973).

Vic Year 4.indd 13

13

28/10/14 3:01 PM