DLI 3rd grade guide

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

“Straight line down is fun. That’s the way we make a one.”

1

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 fve.”

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 the way we make a nine.”

0

“Circle round like a hero. That’s the way we make a zero.”