c + words

LINE CONFUSION: DOUBLE LINES ENABLE SUCCESS

For children to become well-rounded in handwriting, they must be able to write efficiently on all types of lined paper. When it comes to choosing a style of paper to stock up on, there are certainly many options: single lines, double lines, triple lines, dotted or straight. But which type is best for students who are new to writing?

Have you seen this in your classroom?

Many children have trouble understanding multiple lines. Giving children a blue line, a dotted line, a red line, and another blue line and then asking them to start at “2 o’clock between the dotted line and the red line” is too confusing.

Become a Line Leader in Double Lines

Our double lines quickly teach children how to place letters: small letters fit in the middle space, tall letters go in the top space, descending letters go in the bottom space. Without having to spend extra time deciding how to orient their letters on the paper, children can launch right into printing their ABCs or putting the poem in their heads onto the paper.

Double lines help children place letters correctly, eliminating line confusion. The base line guides placement, and the mid line controls the size of letters. Students who struggle with start and placement on other styles of paper succeed on double lines.

top space

middle space

bottom space dog tall small mid line

base line

descending

Start on the dot. Trace Ss. eala S s swim.

Start on the dot. Trace Cc. a Cats climb.

Start on the dot. Trace Oo. a O is for owl.

© 2022 Learning Without Tears

KSK_Text-2022.indd 43 Kick Start Kindergarten 43

2/1/21 12:13 PM

LETTER GROUPS

Our lowercase teaching order promotes good habits for letter formation and writing success. This is done by grouping letters to facilitate:

1. Easy start: All lowercase letters (except d and e) begin at the top. 2. Correct placement: The tall, small, and descending letters are in proportion and placed correctly. 3. Correct orientation: No b and d confusion, no  and  confusion, no reversed letters!

LOWERCASE LETTERS ARE TAUGHT IN FIVE GROUPS

Same as Capitals and t c o s v w t

The first five letters are exactly like their capitals, just smaller. What an easy start—just bring your good habits from capitals! Lowercase t is made like T. It’s just crossed lower.

These high frequency letters begin with the familiar Magic c. Starting with c placed correctly helps children make and place the d tall and  descending.

Here are the rest of the vowels: , i, e. Letters , k, y, j are familiar from capitals. The focus will be on careful placement and size.

These letters all start with the same pattern: they dive down, swim up, swim over! We avoid b and d confusion by separating the letters and teaching them in different groups based on formation habits.

Magic c a d g

Transition Group u i e l k y j

Diver Letters p r n m h b

Final Group f q x z

Lowercase f has a tricky start. Letter  is taught here to avoid  and  confusion. Letters x and z are familiar, but infrequently used.