DLI 1st grade guide

Groupings for Lowercase Manuscript Letters for Handwriting Instruction The following suggestion for letter groupings in handwriting instruction represent one way to accomplish the goal of systematic instruction. Best practice for handwriting instruction integrates letter formation into letter-sound and/or letter name instruction. Group 1: Continuous movement h Hat line down, up to belt line, hump forward b hat line down, up to belt line, forward around m belt line down hump, hump n belt line down, hump r belt line down up and hook p belt line down, below foot line, up and around Group 2: Letters with continuous movement, beginning at 2 o’clock below belt line a curve up, back, around, then down c curve up, back, around, leave open d curve up, back, around, up, down g curve up, back, around, down below foot line, hook back o curve up, back, around, all the way q curve, back, around, down below foot line, hook forward s curve up, back, around, slat forward, curve back Group 3: Letters with straight down strokes i belt line down, dot l hat line down t hat line down, cross k hat line down, slant in, slant out f curve up to hat line, down, cross j belt line down below foot line, curve back, dot Group 4: Letters with slanted lines (diagonals) beginning at the belt line v slant down and forward, slant up and forward w slant down and up, down and up x slant down and forward; slant down and back y slant down and forward, slant back below the foot line Group 5: Letters with horizontal lines e straight across, back around leave open z straight across, slant down and back, straight across Group 6: Letter with a scoop u down, scoop up, down Adapted from: Louisa Moats, 2009; Teaching Beginning Spelling and Writing Numbers: Number Writing Cues 1 “Straight line down is fun. That’s the way we make a one.” 2 “Around and back and a straight line will do. That’s the way we make a two.” 3 “Hug a tree and hug a tree. That’s the way we make a three.” 4 “Down and over and down once more. That’s the way we make a four.” 5 “Straight back and down and a half-circle dive. That’s the way we make a five.” 6 “Circle down and around like you’re going to mix. That’s the way we make a six.” 7 “Across the sky, slant down from heaven, that’s the way we make a seven.” 8 “Make an s. Then slant back up and close the gate. That’s the way we make an eight.” 9 “Make a circle, then a line. That’s a way we make a nine.” 0 “Circle round like a hero. That’s the way we make a zero.”