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Teaching Tips

How to teach the alphabet.

May 26, 2020

by: Cheryl Lundy Swift

The Alphabet: Learning, Teaching & Practice

Toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergarteners are like sponges. As they interact with others in their environment, they “soak up” basic literacy skills.

Young children learn new literacy skills through play, exploration, observation, and by listening and speaking. Parents and teachers can leverage children’s background knowledge and experiences to foster a love for literacy and to build a strong foundation for later reading and writing skills.

One critical skill to build a solid literacy foundation is alphabet knowledge. Research tells us that children who are able to identify and name the letters of the alphabet, as well as the sounds they make, will have early reading success. Although alphabet knowledge is a vital early literacy skill, educators and parents alike often have questions about how to teach the ABCs.

Fortunately, Learning Without Tears has many solutions to make learning and teaching the alphabet easy and fun.

Teaching the Alphabet

The most common question we hear is, what order should I teach letters?

The Handwriting Without Tears developmental teaching order helps children master handwriting skills in the easiest, most efficient way. Instead of teaching 52 letter symbols with a mishmash of different sizes, positions, and confusing starting places, we divide and conquer. Developmentally, capitals are easier to write so we teach them first. The capital teaching order helps teach correct formation and orientation while eliminating reversals. Learning to write capitals first makes it easy to transition to lowercase letters.

We teach lowercase c , o , s , v , and w first because they are exactly the same as their capital partners, only smaller. By teaching capitals first, we have prepared children for nearly half of the lowercase letters that are similar in formation.

Alphabet Learning Activities

Strong school-to-home partnerships help children build self-esteem, curiosity, and motivation to learn new things. The alphabet is a great way to build a partnership with families and schools.

Older siblings, parents, grandparents, teaching assistants, aunts, uncles, and teachers can all help children learn letters. Children reap the benefits when families and schools share their unique perspectives about children in an open, regular, and meaningful way.

Children learn letters and their sounds best through hands-on, multisensory, developmentally appropriate activities. 

Here are a few of our favorite ways to teach the alphabet:

My First School Book

Children can dance and sing to the Alphabet Boogie —an upbeat, swing-like song—in their homes and in school. Parents and teachers can help children memorize the alphabet by singing and moving to the Alphabet Song or Inside, Outside . Both of these songs help children understand that L-M-N-O-P are five different letters. Encouraging children to point and identify capital and lowercase letters as they sing and move helps children recognize letters. Children enjoy identifying capital letters in My First School Book and lowercase letters in My First Lowercase Book . Learning Without Tears also has songs to help children learn to write letters correctly.

As adults point to words while reading, children learn to read from left to right and see that letters together make words. While children listen to printed words become stories, they learn new things. Learning Without Tears Mat Man book set features Mat Man, a beloved character who teaches children all about shapes, occupations, transportation, and opposite words. Electronic versions of Mat Man books are located on the Pre-K Interactive Teaching Tool and hardcover books are located here . Family members and teachers will also love using Line It Up to build literacy skills. They can read fiction and informational stories to reinforce comprehension skills and use Line It Up’s Coloring and Letter Cards to help children learn letter sounds and syllables, as well as to trace capital letters.  

handwriting without tears letter order

Teachers and families can help children learn how to trace the letters in their name by using customizable worksheets with the Learning Without Tears A+ Worksheet Maker. Children can learn to trace their name in all capital letters or in title case. Teachers and families can access a free version of A+ Worksheet Maker here . Learning Without Tears child-friendly language helps children to learn how to form capital and lowercase letters. When families and teachers use the same, consistent language, children are able to have skills reinforced at home and school. Download our capital and lowercase letter formation charts here .

Capital Letter Formation Chart

Children have fun learning to build letters right-side up and facing them correctly with Learning Without Tears  Capital Letter Cards , the  Mat , and Wood Pieces for Capital Letters . Children learn size, sequence, and position as they build letters out of wood using the letter cards as a guide. Letter cards also help children build vocabulary and learn letter sounds. Families and teachers can challenge children to build letters on the Mat for Wood Pieces, which requires children to build a capital from memory. It is important for family members and teachers to always model building the letter first, so children are set up for success. Watch videos on how to use the Wood Pieces for Capitals with the letter cards and blue mat . 

Teaching With Wood Pieces blog header

  • Build Fine Motor Skills Families and teachers can also help children build fine motor skills while they learn to build letters with Roll-A-Dough Letters . Children will pinch, squeeze, roll, and press dough to build letters. They will learn size, shape, and how to form letters in the correct sequence. Stamp and See Screen also helps children learn to recognize, sequence, and form letters using magnetic wood pieces and magnetic chalk. Children love to stamp the letters and write with magnetic chalk.    

Children also love to wet, dry, and try capital letters using the  Slate Chalkboard and lowercase letters with Magnetic Lowercase and Blackboard Set . First, a family member or teacher models a letter, then children trace over the letter with a wet sponge, dry towel, and then again with chalk. Children also enjoy learning their letters using the electronic version of Wet-Dry-Try on the Pre-K Interactive Teaching Tool or on the Wet-Dry-Try App . When children use the Wet-Dry-Try app, children will see and hear the letter written by the personal handwriting coach, and then will trace the letter with the virtual sponge, towel, and chalk. Children will receive immediate feedback on their letter formation in this game-like app. Read more about the advantages of Wet-Dry-Try .

Wet Dry Try

  • Puzzle Time Children enjoy putting together puzzles. Learning Without Tears A-B-C Touch and Flip’s animal puzzle is no exception. Children love to trace over the sandpaper letters on the other side of the animal puzzle and match capital and lowercase letters with the other set of cards. Family members and teachers must model how to trace letters correctly, making sure children start at the top and follow the correct sequence.

Practice the Alphabet with Help from Learning Without Tears!

Learning Without Tears  developmentally appropriate, hands-on materials help families and teachers make letter learning fun. Children will use their senses as they experience letters and learn to recognize, name, build, and trace letters and say letter sounds.  Enjoy watching videos of families and teachers using hands-on, multisensory activities and feel free to share how you use the tools on our social media pages: Facebook |  Instagram |  Pinterest |  Twitter |  LinkedIn . 

A—Z for Mat Man and Me

Seamlessly bring the ABCs to life while building foundational literacy skills with our new letter book series. Each of our illustrated letter books introduces a letter of the alphabet and emphasizes their associated sound through captivating, visual stories. The engaging stories in each book capture children's imaginations and expose them to social-emotional skills and diverse cultures. You can Learn More → . 

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Homeschooling 4 Him

Handwriting Without Tears Practice Sheets (Free PDF for Homeschool)

My family loves using the Handwriting Without Tears program in our homeschool. But, we have found that we need more practice than the books provide. I started writing out additional words for my son to practice on handwriting paper, but I was constantly wishing for something better. So, here are some free Handwriting Without Tears practice sheets in PDF format that you can download to use in your homeschool- and tips for how to use them!

Handwriting without tears practice sheets free pdf for homeschool

I only recommend products that I use and that we love. This post may contain affiliate links and I may earn a small commission for purchases made through those links.

handwriting without tears letter order

Get the Bugs Multi-Level Handwriting Pack!

Over 60 pages of handwriting, coloring, bug facts and more delivered right to your inbox! Have fun learning with your kids this spring!

Please check your email for your printable!

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Why Practicing Handwriting is Important

Handwriting is a crucial skill for all students to learn. However, practicing handwriting has gone out of favor in education recently. Here are some reasons why it is important for your child to learn to write with good handwriting, even in a tech-focused world.

Handwriting Practice Helps Kids Communicate

The reality is that no matter how much technology our world has, it is still helpful to be able to communicate in writing from time to time. Children need to know how to be able to write themselves a note. A handwritten thank-you note is still a great follow-up to a job interview, or a present from a relative.

By practicing handwriting with copywork , children are exposed to great works of literature. This can help to improve writing skills as well, as kids copy the style of famous authors.

Good Handwriting is Helpful for Spelling and Reading

Kids who can read what they have written will have an easier time knowing if they spelled the words correctly. This means that handwriting practice, when done correctly, can also help reinforce spelling for kids.

In addition, when children are using correct spelling they will begin to see connections between the letters that they are writing and the sounds that those letters make within the word. This can help with reading skills as well.

Practicing Handwriting Helps with Learning in Other Subjects

Research shows that having good handwriting is helpful for learning in almost every other subject area. Kids who can write quickly and easily will have a much easier time taking notes on what they are learning or completing written assignments.

Good handwriting can even be helpful in a subject like math that doesn’t use words. Kids who can write numbers neatly and organize them in rows and columns will have a much easier time completing complicated math problems.

Lack of Handwriting Skill can be Frustrating

One of the biggest reasons to use handwriting practice sheets in your homeschool is that struggles with handwriting are often contagious, leading to frustration in other subjects and with school in general.

Kids who struggle with handwriting often get frustrated when they know the answers but can’t communicate what they know through their writing. This can lead to resistance from kids and homeschool burnout for families.

Kids who struggle with handwriting will also have a hard time working independently in any subject area. They may need an adult to sit with them and write down the answers to questions they can solve on their own.

At What Age Should a Child Use Handwriting Practice Sheets?

Handwriting is an important skill for students, even at a young age, so it is ok for kids to begin practicing when they are young.

Most kids should be able to hold a pencil with the correct pencil grip sometime between age 4 and 6. This means that it is especially important for younger kids to develop their fine motor muscles with activities like playdough, cutting and gluing, stringing beads, or playing with blocks. This will help them develop the muscles necessary to hold a pencil correctly.

Fun and age-appropriate practice sheets will help kids develop handwriting skills that will help them in learning other subjects, too. No matter what age your child is, it is important to make handwriting practice fun and attainable for your child’s age and maturity level.

Handwriting without tears practice sheets free pdf for homeschool

Which Handwriting Skills Should My Child Practice?

Good handwriting is made up of several components. Kids should work through each of these components in order as they are learning handwriting.

1. Pencil Grip

The foundation of good handwriting is the correct pencil grip . By age 6, kids should be holding their pencil with a tripod, or three finger, pencil grasp. If your child is not using the correct pencil grip, this is the first thing to correct when practicing handwriting.

2. Letter Formation

It is critical that children learn to form their letters correctly. This means that they are writing with the correct strokes, in the right direction, and in the right order.

Many handwriting practice sheets will include arrows, numbers, or other hints to help kids remember how to form the letters. However, it is important to watch your child forming their letters and make sure that they are following the correct letter formation.

3. Writing Legibly: Pencil Control

Once kids learn how to form their letters, the next step is to give them a lot of practice. This will help them learn to control their pencil and make their letters consistent.

This step takes time and practice to develop. Extra handwriting practice sheets can help to reinforce what students are learning in their handwriting curriculum.

4. Letter Sizing

It is important that children pay attention to where their letters fall on the lines. Are the tall letters touching, but not crossing, the top line? Are the tails of the letters hanging down below the bottom line?

The Handwriting Without Tears program is unique in that is only uses 2 lines, instead of the usual 3. This can make it easier for kids who struggle with the number of lines on traditional handwriting paper. However, students who are used to using Handwriting Without Tears paper should use handwriting practice sheets that have 2-line paper as well.

handwriting without tears letter order

You can learn more about the Handwriting Without Tears program in my Handwriting Without Tears Preschool Curriculum Review .

5. Letter Spacing

Another important consideration for writing legibly is the spacing between letters and words. Kids need practice to learn how to space the letters in a word close together, but not touching.

Children also need to learn how to leave space between words. This is usually not intuitive for kids when they first learn to write. It can help to teach them to put a finger on their paper where they need to leave a space. This can help them judge how much space to leave between words.

6. Efficiency

Over time, as children continue to practice handwriting, they will learn to write more quickly and easily. This efficiency will help them be able to use their handwriting skills when learning a variety of different subjects.

If you are struggling to teach any of these skills in your homeschool, check out my post on how to improve handwriting for children for more advice and tips.

Handwriting without tears practice sheets free pdf for homeschool

What to Look for in Handwriting Practice Sheets

Choosing the right handwriting practice sheets is important to make handwriting practice helpful and fun. Here are some things to look for when choosing handwriting practice sheets for your child.

Capital or Lowercase, Printing or Cursive?

First, it is important to look for printables that focus on the kind of letters your child is learning. Most kids learn to print capital letters first, then lowercase letters, and finally to write in cursive. Kids usually spend a year or two working on each of these skills before moving on to the next one.

Make sure the handwriting practice sheets that you choose focus on the kinds of letters, and even the specific letters that your child is learning.

What Kind of Lines?

Handwriting practice sheets should include guide lines so children know where to put their letters. Traditional handwriting programs usually use a 3-line system to show where the top, middle, and bottom of each letter should be.

The Handwriting Without Tears program uses a 2-line system that eliminates the top line to make it easier for kids to see where letters should go.

Your handwriting practice sheets should use the same kind of lines that your child is used to seeing in their handwriting curriculum. Consistency will help kids practice without getting confused or frustrated.

Reinforcement for Forming Letters Correctly

It is important that when kids are practicing handwriting, they are forming their letters correctly each time they write them. Practice is only helpful if kids are practicing correctly.

The common saying is that “practice makes perfect,” but a better saying is that “perfect practice makes progress.” Practicing forming letters incorrectly won’t help your child. In fact, it will cement bad habits and make it harder for your child to learn to write correctly.

Look for handwriting practice sheets that reinforce how to form new letters with arrows, numbers, or other helpful hints.

It is also important to make sure that handwriting practice is fun for your child. Kids will be more likely to want to practice if they enjoy doing so. Look for themed practice sheets or worksheets with fun facts to copy. This will help kids enjoy their handwriting practice more.

Handwriting without tears practice sheets free pdf for homeschool

How to Use Handwriting Practice Sheets

Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your PDF Handwriting Practice Sheets!

Use a Laminator

The best way to get the most out of your printables is to laminate the pages. Pages that are laminated will hold up better to repeated use by multiple kids. In addition, your child can write on laminated pages with a dry erase marker.

If you don’t have one yet, a single sheet laminator is a fantastic investment for your homeschool. You will save the money that you spend on a laminator many times over as it will allow you to re-use consumable resources!

If you don’t want to invest in a laminator, you can also slip individual practice sheets into a plastic page protector sleeve to get the same result.

Focus on Quality over Quantity

When kids are using handwriting practice sheets, it is important to focus on quality over quantity. Make sure that your child is doing only as much handwriting as they can do carefully and well. If that’s only one page, or even part of a page, it is better to practice less with correct letter formation.

Sometimes, when kids have too much to do, they get overwhelmed and just try to “get it done” rather than doing their best work. Avoid this by asking your child to do less.

Free PDF Download: Handwriting Without Tears Practice Sheets for Your Homeschool!

This bug-themed multi-level handwriting practice sheet pack includes both 3-line and 2-line Handwriting Without Tears style practice pages for both capital and lowercase letters. Enjoy handwriting practice with your kids this spring with this fun resource!

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If there is one thing for sure, teaching letter formation to kids can be tricky. There’s a lot of reasons why writing letters is tricky for kids. We’ll cover all of the reasons why the letter formation aspect of handwriting can be so difficult below. Be sure to check out all of the letter formation activities here. You’ll find pediatric occupational therapy activities to use in OT interventions, as well as activities to teach letters that use a hands-on and sensory approach to learning letters. You’ll also find resources on letter order, and information on teaching letters based on child development.

Newly added to the site is a library of letter formation worksheets . These resources can be paired with the hands-on activities listed below.

Letter formation activities for occupational therapy activities and pediatric OT interventions.

Handwriting, as we know, is an incredibly complex process. There is a lot that goes into handwriting, and letter formation is just one piece of the puzzle.

  • Letter formation refers to several aspects of writing a letter of the alphabet: placement of the pencil when writing a letter (starting at the correct spot, as in top or bottom of the writing space).
  • Moving the pencil in the correct direction to make parts of the letter.
  • Placing the parts of the letter in the appropriate spots (intersecting lines or joined pencil strokes)
  • Utilizing visual discrimination skills in awareness of letter differences, including upper and lower case letters, and the lines needed for letter formation.

Why is letter formation important?

When letters are not formed correctly, handwriting suffers. You will see handwriting problems when letter formation isn’t a focus. Letter formation problems lead to poor handwriting that is sloppy and hard to read. Let’s break down common poor handwriting issues. We’ll go over how learning proper letter formation can impact legibility.

Writing Letters Incorrectly – A big piece of letter formation is learning correctly from the get-go. When a child learns an incorrect letter formation strategy, that can be hard to correct without practice. You might see kids pick up a pencil and trace letters, but they are segmentally forming the letters. They are marking lines in the incorrect order, pushing the pencil when they should be pulling the pencil, or starting at the bottom rather than the top.

Kids that are handed letter formation worksheets without prompts, cues, models, and correct formation practice, will many times, trace or copy letters using segmented lines that start at incorrect places, and that can be a hard habit to break.

Forming Letters from Bottom to Top – There’s not a letter in the alphabet that starts at the baseline and ends on the top line. When we write, we start at the top and move the pencil to the base line, or below the baseline.

When kids start the letters at the bottom, they will run into legibility and efficiency issues. It’s harder to move the pencil on to the next letter with the bottom-to-top formation. And, when kids then need to keep up in writing tasks, (beginning as soon as first grade as they copy words and sentences from a model), they will lose the legibility piece.

Segmental Letter Formation – Letters are formed with a specific order. Capital A starts at the top line and slants down and to the left. Then, you jump back to the top starting point and slant down and to the right. Then, you jump to the middle line and go across toward the right. Sometimes, children start forming letters segmentally, so that they draw part of the letter, like the first slant of the A and then mark the middle line before marking the second slant.

There is a reason for the specific order of the lines when forming letters. Kids that are handed handwriting worksheets without specific directions for proper letter formation will create their own motor plan for making letters that might not be correct. This can be hard to “break” without practice. Segmental letter formation can lead to sloppy handwriting further down the road and trouble with handwriting efficiency.

Trouble with Diagonal Lines – Many times, you see young students write letters with diagonal lines that are not quite diagonal. Letters like A, K, M, N, R, V, W, X, Y, Z and lowercase letters k, v, w, x, y, z all have diagonal lines. That slanted line is actually one of the later pre-writing strokes to form. So, when you see preschool, pre-K, and kindergarten writing letters, it’s simply too soon developmentally. Sure, some kids will be fine and learn to write letters at this age, but many others will struggle down the road with handwriting, reading, and learning. Here is some important information about pre-writing lines . Notice the age that kids typically develop the ability to form the lines of the pre-writing forms. It’s much later than preschool, pre-K, and even kindergarten!

The problem is that with the fast-paced classroom curriculum, sometimes this early educational periods are the only time that children are truly taught proper letter writing. In most cases, they are simply “reviewing” letter formation in first grade. Kids then have established a poor letter formation without the opportunity to practice when their fine motor skills, hands, and visual motor skills are ready.

Pediatric Occupational therapists work on handwriting and letter formation with kids

Letter formation and occupational therapy

Occupational therapists are often called into screen for or assess a student when they have letter formation issues, along with other aspects of handwriting: poor placement on the lines, an inefficient pencil grasp, visual perceptual skills problems reflected in learning or slow, awkward handwriting.

By working on letter formation, therapists can help kids with therapeutic practice and strategies in OT that address underlying issues like visual perceptual issues, visual motor concerns, fine motor needs, or gross motor, core stabilities issues.

Other common letter formation issues that occupational therapists address:

  • Forming the letter within the borders of the line or given writing space
  • Marking the pencil lines in the right direction (without reversal)
  • Speed of writing (student can’t keep up with age-appropriate writing demands
  • Poor legibility

How to work on letter formation

To work on letter formation, teaching the alphabet in a specific order is key! In fact, teaching kids to write in alphabetical order simply isn’t developmental. Here’s the thing: think about the letters of the alphabet. The specific pencil strokes go in so many different directions! You’ve got letters that start at the top followed by a letter that pulls the pencil in toward the hand, followed by letters that have diagonals and jump/hop moves, changes in direction. If you teach kids to write letters in alphabetical order, kids will use so many different movements.

Why NOT teach letters in an order that makes sense?

Occupational therapists focus on development. We focus on building skills in an order that makes sense according to a child’s typically developing progression. And when there are delays or non-typical development, we know what to work on next. We know where to focus efforts on accommodating for specific skills. We can then help kids achieve age-appropriate goals so that they can be more independent and accomplish tasks that are appropriate for their age.

Order to learn letters matters in writing! Teach uppercase letters first in handwriting, and here's why.

Order to Teach Letters

Let’s get specific about the best order to teach writing letters. Notice I mentioned “writing letters”. Here’s the thing: letter recognition should be taught in a specific order. Letter sounds should be taught in a specific order. Awareness of upper case and lower case can be taught in a different order.

Some preschools teach a letter of the week approach and teach sounds and awareness in alphabetical order.

Many schools follow a writing curriculum that teaches letters in a specific order determined by that curriculum.

Here is the occupational therapists’ take on the best order to teach letters:

Letter order matters – Teaching letter formation in a specific order based on development is essential for pencil control, motor planning, eye-hand coordination, efficiency (writing speed), and accuracy (placement of letters on the lines). Why does letter order matter? Let’s talk about that…

Teach uppercase letter writing first – This is important: Start with upper case letters when teaching kids to write letters. Now, this might go against what some teachers have been taught. This might be a conversation for debate among educators. But, hear me out; When kids are taught to write upper case letters first, they are learning letters in an order that makes sense developmentally. Here are reasons to teach uppercase letter formation before lowercase letter formation:

  • Uppercase letters all start at the top line and go to the bottom line. This makes it easier for kids to know where their pencil marks start. There is no middle line to worry about with most upper case letters. There are only a few uppercase letters that contain a middle line component, and it is never the starting point of the pencil when forming that letter. Upper case letters that contain a middle line portion include: A, B, E, F, G, H, K, P, R, S, Y.

2. Another reason to start with uppercase letters is that there is little opportunity to reverse upper case letters. With the lowercase letters, there are (and will be) reversals of letters b, d, g, q, and others. By starting with the uppercase letters, kids can learn the motor plan needed for formation without the error of reversals to contend with.

3. Still another reason to teach upper case letter formation before lower case letters is that many of the uppercase letters transfer to the same lowercase letter in a similar motor plan. The only difference being that the letters are smaller. Uppercase letters that transition to a same or similar motor plan for lowercase letters include: C, K, O, P, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z.

4. Still one MORE reason to start by teaching formation of uppercase letters before lowercase letters is the starting points. Kids can easily know where to start uppercase letters because there are only two places where the pencil starts for uppercase letters. The pencil mark starts at either the top left corner or the top middle space. Lowercase letters start in seven different starting points (a, b, e, f, i, l, m)

Top left corner starters: B, D, E, F, H, K, L, M, N, P, R, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z

Top middle starters: C, G, I, J, O, Q, S

Therapists recommend teaching kids to write the upper case letters before the lowercase letters for developmental reasons, but kids should be taught that there are corresponding upper/lowercase letters. This awareness is necessary, too! We are just talking about actually teaching the letter formation here.

Consider development – Letters have curves, back strokes, hopping lines, diagonals, curves…there is a lot to consider just with letter formation, and not considering letter size and spatial awareness. Asking kids to form diagonal lines before they are ready is simply too difficult. When we consider that children are developmentally able to form strait lines down and horizontal lines across before other diagonals, we set them up for success in handwriting. Here is a free PDF explaining developmental progression of pre-writing strokes . These pre-writing strokes are the very lines and pencil strokes that make up letters.

Teach letters in sets- Taking what we know about pre-writing lines, development of fine motor skills and visual motor skill development, we can use that knowledge to teach children letters in a way that make sense. Start by teaching letters that contain the same pencil strokes, such as all vertical and horizontal lines. Then, move on to letters that contain curved lines, finally, teach letters that contain diagonals. Then, teach formation of lowercase letters. Make the letter formation easy for kids by building off what they practice.

This is the best order to teach letters in handwriting based on child development.

Here is the order that I teach letters in handwriting

This letter order focuses on teaching handwriting based on development. The order is loosely based on Handwriting Without Tears (Learning without Tears) order for teaching letter formation, but I like to break down that list into smaller groups, and build letter formation concepts off previously learned motor planning. The Learning Without Tears program teaches students about frog jump letters, or letters that move the pencil and then jump to a different spot. That is a great visual and verbal cue for students to use. However, I like to focus on developmental strokes as a priority: those vertical and horizontal lines that transfer to different letters.

For example, teaching upper case F before E considers that the child has practiced a motor plan for the parts of a letter F (vertical line down, hop back to top, short line across the top, hop to middle line, short line across the middle. Then, to make the uppercase E, the child needs to replicate that same motor plan but add only a line at the baseline.

This is the order to teach uppercase letters.

This order to teach letters is one that I’ve used throughout my career as a pediatric occupational therapist:

  • Group together strait line uppercase letters first: L, F, E, H, T, I

With this order, I teach strait line letters that start in the upper left hand corner first, followed by strait line letters that start in the top-middle. This progression transfers nicely to other groups of letters that all start at the top-middle…)

2. Next, teach strait line/curved letters: D, B, P, U, J

These letters contain a curved portion that transitions nicely to the next group of letters. Including J in this group segues into the next group.

3. Third, teach the curved line uppercase letters: C, O, G, Q, S

These letters all start at the top-middle. This allows kids to think about moving their pencil in a push fashion, as they move the pencil in a different direction compared to previous letters. For right-handed writers, the pencil will now move away from the palm. For left-handed writers, the pencil will now move toward the palm. This group transitions nicely to the next set, the diagonals, which challenge pencil strokes by another different motor planning pattern.

4. Fourth, teach diagonal line letters: R, A, K, M, N, V, W, X, Y, Z

Teaching the diagonals last allows for more progression on those developmental strokes that we talked about previously.

This is the order to teach lowercase letters in handwriting.

Next, teach lowercase letters in this order:

  • Teach formation of strait line lowercase letters: l, t, i

2. Next, teach formation of letters that are the same as their uppercase letters: c, k, o, p, s, v, u, w, x, z

3. Next, teach formation of strait line/bump lowercase letters: h, n, m, r, b

This set uses strait lines and transitions well to the next group, which are curved line, magic c letters.

4. Fourth, teach formation of curved lowercase letters: a, d, g, q

Teaching this set of letters focuses on the “magic c” that forms the letters. Here, I review letter c and show how it is part of the other letters.

5. Teach formation of the tricky start letters: e, f, j

These letters are commonly used, but start in a tricky place and challenge the movement of the pencil.

6. Finally, teach formation of diagonal lowercase letters: k, y

Lowercase letters are broken down into smaller groups, so that focus can be done on placement on the lines, and spatial awareness. These variants are another reason why starting with uppercase letters first is easier for children to progress. How many different line combinations there are for lowercase letters compared to their uppercase companions!?

There are many different ways that letters could be grouped together effectively in teaching letter formation. The key is to use the terminology that works based on the individual child’s needs and skills and then use it consistently.

Current research on letter formation

Current research shows us the importance of proper letter formation and practicing handwriting skills for carryover and legibility.

This paper on interventions for letter formation covers strategies for those with intellectual challenges. The study looked at the use of direct instruction with visual and verbal modeling for how to write each letter, with feedback and correction during practice.

Important to the teaching and follow-through of letter formation instruction is the awareness of letters. This study addressed how to teach letter knowledge to impact writing skills, specifically the knowledge of the names, sounds, and symbols of the letters of the alphabet or alphabetic knowledge as an essential building block for learning to read and write.

The study used brief, explicit letter formation lessons included strategies such as multi-sensory writing strategies (see below in this article for more ideas).

• using a transparency and marker to trace over the letter as it is identified in enlarged print from children’s books • writing the letters on small white boards as the teacher dictates • producing the letter form with clay, pipe cleaners, wiki sticks

These appropriately brief lessons also allow time for students to participate in additional meaningful literacy and content area experiences.

These multisensory letter formation strategies can include letter formation practice, and alphabet knowledge instruction through the use of multiple distributed instructional cycles. The study describes one letter a week learning is not enough practice and that young children will not sufficiently learn and use the alphabet letters from 1 week-long exposure to each letter or from only one complete cycle through the alphabet.

Rather, children learn letter formation best through frequent exposure and repetition to the letters.

Finally, the paper describes the use of flexible instruction of letters with extra focus on letters that are problematic for students to learn often due to less frequent exposure or use in oral or written language. Rather than spending equal time on teaching each letter, more time and instruction is spent teaching certain letters or letter groups.

Determining the time and focus needed to teach letters, the following factors should be taken into consideration: Letters that require more time spent on teaching letter formation include:

(1) Letters located at the beginning and end of the alphabet are learned more easily than letters in the middle of the alphabet.

(2) If a letter’s shape or form is distinctive from other letter shapes or forms, then letter discrimination is easier for young students than when letter forms or shapes share similar distinctive features.

(4) Differential rates of exposure to the letters, such as the letters found in a student’s own name or alphabet letters that occur more frequently in children’s books and in printed materials in the child’s environment, can also render the acquisition of letter knowledge more or less difficult for young learners

H. (2015). Handwriting in early childhood education:  Current research  and future implications. Journal of Early Childhood Literacy, 15(1), 97-118. Engel, C., Lillie, K., Zurawski, S

Pediatric occupational therapists focus on teaching handwriting and letter formation based on child development.

Cursive letter Formation

When teaching children to write cursive letters, forming lines correctly is important for carryover and legibility. You’ll find many of our cursive handwriting resources in one place under How to teach cursive handwriting . Other important techniques for cursive letter formation include these strategies:

  • Left-handed cursive writing
  • Positioning for cursive handwriting
  • Pre-cursive activities

Cursive Letter order

Teaching cursive letter formation requires a different order to teach letters. Check out this resource for cursive letter order based on pencil control and establishing a motor plan for smooth cursive lines. You can print off a PDF of the cursive letter order, too.

Letter Formation Activities

Here, you’ll find creative ways to teach handwriting and how to write letters in creative ways. These are writing tips to teach letters as part of a handwriting curriculum based on an individualized approach to handwriting. We’ve shared a lot of fun handwriting activities here on the blog. Check out some of our favorites!

tips for letter formation

Here are more tips for teaching kids to write. This is a good read because we talk about why starting letters at the top is important as well as the developmental benefit of teaching upper case letters before teaching lowercase letters. So often, we see kids learn uppercase and lowercase letters at the same time. In actuality, kids are developmentally capable of learning upper case letters first due to the consistent starting point (upper case letters all start at the top!). Read more about this by clicking the link above.

pencil control in handwriting

Handwriting strategies that improve pencil control, specifically changes in direction improve legibility. This quick activity can help kids work on the pencil control needed for writing letters . Printed letters have many direction changes. Controlled pencil strokes can be a big help in legible handwriting.

These fun handwriting activities don’t involve a pencil . For some kids, writing is a hassle and they absolutely HATE to write. Those kiddos will love these writing activities.

Use a timer to work on letter formation , while focusing on specific details such as line accuracy.

Use the tips in our handwriting club to work on letter formation, placement, and accuracy along with the fun of a group.

ways to teach letter formation

Multi Sensory Letter Formation

Kids can practice letter formation by sliding a sheet of paper into a plastic gallon-sized bag and having kids write on top of letters with colored dry erase markers. Use a small bit of paper towel to erase the letters in the correct formation for another practice run.

Finger tracing in letter formation

Many of the handwriting activities below offer the opportunity for practicing letter formation using finger tracing. The techniques can be used in sensory bins, in sensory bags, on sandpaper, or on textured surfaces.

Finger tracing is a great strategy for early writers, for teaching pre-writing lines and shapes in preschool and toddler years, and for encouraging carryover of diagonal lines, jumping lines, and curves needed for form letters.

Try a few of these finger tracing techniques to incorporate the tactile system into letter formation:

  • Trace letters in a sensory bin using dry rice, sand, or shaving cream
  • Finger trace letters on sandpaper
  • Finger trace letters using a sensory bag (details to make this tool below)
  • Start with air writing letters
  • Draw a letter on the palm of the child’s hand. The student then needs to finger draw the same letter on the palm of their hand.
  • Finger trace letters on one another’s back
  • Draw letters with glue on paper. Students can finger trace the dry glue letters.

Multi-sensory handwriting strategies use the senses and kinesthetic feedback to help kids form a motor plan to form letters. Multi-sensory writing includes sensory writing trays, writing in shaving cream, forming letters with play dough. And that’s just the beginning.

Try these messy, sensory writing ideas:

Letter formation activity with markers

  • We talked above about teaching handwriting in letters groups because kids can build a motor plan for sets of letters. Using markers to work on these similar pencil strokes is a food way to establish this skill and carry over formation of those sets of letters.

2. Fill a low tray such as the lid of a food storage container with dish soap and ask students to write letters using their index finger . This is a great fine motor activity as well as a multi-sensory strategy for writing.

3. Offering a resistive surface provides kinesthetic feedback when learning letters. Use a sheet of sandpaper under paper to work on letter formation of the alphabet, especially when practicing high-frequency letters or letters that are commonly reversed.

Slime letters

4. Slime and Letter Beads- Work on letter formation using slime and letter beads ! Kids can find the beads and then practice writing that letter.

5. This fizzy sensory letter activity uses DIY baking soda play dough and a chemical reaction to work on letters that kids will love. Form the letters with dough and then paint them with vinegar in correct formation to practice while enjoying the sensory feedback.

6. Letter cookie cutters are a great way to practice letter formation.

letter formation writing tray

7. Here is an easy writing tray using only colored rice and a colorful background. Kids can work on finger isolation and separation of the sides of the hand by working letters with their index finger.

8. Be sure to check out all of these writing tray ideas, too.

9. Create a sensory memory game that also allows kids to trace letters on the bottom of the tray. It’s a fun way to practice letters with tactile feedback.

alphabet letters with sticks

10. Take letter learning outdoors with this nature letter formation activity . It’s a hands-on approach to forming letters.

11. Use these approaches to forming lowercase letters .

12. These easy tips to teach kids how to write use fun and easy sensory activities that teach alphabet letter formation.

Letter formation with push pins

13. Teach letters with resistive feedback using pushpins and a recycled container.

14. Another hands-on approach with fine motor work is this pegboard letter activity .

15. Cotton Swab Letters – Use cotton swabs with colorful sensory additions to work on letter formation.

handwriting in teletherapy with an interactice slide deck

16. Teach letters in teletherapy with this interactive occupational therapy slide deck that helps kids with letter formation through gross motor, fine motor, and sensory activities.

17. Use this occupational therapy slide deck to work on strait line letters with kids. Use the slides as an outline for occupational therapy interventions in therapy sessions, while working on letter formation.

18. Our alphabet exercise slide deck offers kids a chance to move with letter-themed gross motor exercises AND work on letter formation by moving the interactive portion of these free Google slide deck. This OT resource is perfect for virtual therapy sessions.

This occupational therapy virtual therapy slide deck helps OTs lead teletherpay sessions covering skills like letter formation, visual motor skills, fine motor skills, with a calm down, motor planning, activity and more.

19. This Scribble Day OT slide deck is perfect for a fun occupational therapy teletherapy session. Work through the slides and address letter formation as well as other areas including fine and gross motor activities, motor planning, and more.

20. These monster theme slides are great for occupational therapy sessions because they use a fun theme to work on letter formation as well as other underlying areas that impact handwriting.

21. Use this space theme OT slide deck to work on letter formation using interactive slides that help kids by adding movement in a digital format. Perfect for occupational therapy virtual sessions.

Teach letter formation with carpet squares

22. Another way to work on the motor planning needed for handwriting is to use various mediums for writing, such as carpet squares. We used small carpet fragments and chalk to write letters.

23. Slime Writing Tray- Kids that like playing with slime will love “writing” in it! Fill a low tray with watered-down slime. We used the eraser end of a pencil to form letters but you could use a fingertip too. It’s a sensory writing activity that kids can’t resist!

24. This handwriting trick uses a foam sheet to work on pencil pressure when writing letters, but it offers a great tactile feedback through the hands that allow kids to build a motor plan when working on letter formation. This is a great way to use sensory input to help kids with learning to write letters.

Letter formation trick

25. Kids often benefit from a visual cue when it comes to letter formation, especially with letters that are commonly reversed. This DIY letter strip is great because it sits right on the student’s desk and can be close to the writing task, requiring less visual shift, and less opportunities for the student to lose visual attention as a result of visual perceptual or visual motor concerns.

26. Visual spatial relations impact handwriting because letter formation depends on placement between lines, letter sizing, and accuracy of letter formation in a given space. This resource will give you tips and strategies to impact visual spatial skills in a way that makes a huge difference in legibility of written work.

27. These LEGO letter stamps are a fantastically sensory and motor activity that allows kids to focus on letter parts that make up each letter while working on fine motor work in a way that is fun and builds accuracy with letter accuracy and awareness. A GREAT warm-up activity to handwriting!

Alphabet exercises for indoor gross motor activities for kids

28. Adding gross motor, motor planning, coordination, bilateral coordination, and crossing midline activities to letter learning is priceless! These letter exercises combine movement with letter awareness and learning. Use these letter exercises as a warm-up or cooldown to therapy sessions. Or, use them as a classroom or home learning brain break activity!

29. This letter puzzle activity builds fine motor skills which is essential for pencil control, hand strength, and dexterity needed for manipulating a pencil so kids can accurately form letters. This activity is a powerful sensory and motor activity designed to help kids with letter formation and accuracy.

30. Another amazing fine motor activity for building pencil control and coordination, this in-hand manipulation bead and puzzle activity allows kids to partner letter formation with fine motor skills.

33. High-Contrast Letter Formation – Use used coffee grounds for a high-contrast writing tray that works on letter formation. This is a great activity for practicing commonly reversed letters.

34. Letter Formation Resistive Surface – Use a recycled material to work on letter formation with a resistive surface, so that kids gain a motor plan for letter formation.

35. Tracing Letters: Letter Formation Handwriting Practice with Chalk – Use sidewalk chalk and outdoor movement activity to work on letter formation with a rainbow writing activity.

36. Here are more sensory writing activities that cover a variety of sensory strategies.

37. Use this color-changing writing activity to work on letter formation.

38. Sensory Letter Formation Practice – Practice letter formation with a mess-free sensory activity that provides feedback while helping kids develop a motor plan for letter formation.

39. Tracing Lines with a DIY Light Box – Tracing letters has it’s time and place! Using a DIY light box and materials found in the home, kids can work on letter formation and accuracy of pencil control.

40. Letter formation manipulatives for the light table – Explore parts of letters with sensory manipulatives.

41. Nature letter formation activity – Get outdoors to work on letter formation and handwriting.

42. These 10 fun ways to teach letter formation are creative ways to work on writing letters, using various strategies including kinesthetic learning, multi-sensory strategies, and visual prompts.

43. Cursive writing doesn’t mean copying the same letter over and over again. Practice cursive writing strokes with this glitter glue multi-sensory writing strategy for teaching the bumps and re-trace needed for cursive letters.

Letter formation with practice

While sensory motor letter formation is a key component, research tells us that therapeutic practive is essential to learning letter formation. This is the way that therapists use skilled interventions to work on letter formation: by offering strategies, accommodations based on individual needs of the child, verbal and physical prompts based on skilled analysis, and a just right challenge to build skills while offerning an oppourtunity to practice writing letters.

Below, you will fine practice activities that can be used to practice letter formation.

letter formation practice with motivating writing activities

  • Use these motivating handwriting practice activities to work on letter formation using therapeutic practice, so kids get time to write and learn letter formation with trials that build accuracy in letter formation. These activities are designed to be meaningful and motivating.
  • These Roll and Write Play Dough Mat Writing Prompts combine fine motor work with handwriting. Kids will love these writing prompt sheets that allow them to work on letter formation with therapeutic practice time so that they can carryover the skills they’ve learned. The play dough mat portion offers a great warm up for the hands so they are ready to write and move that pencil.
  • Practice is essential if letter formation is going to “stick”! These tips for practicing handwriting are fun and list format so it’s easy for kids to write a quick list while practicing essential letter formation skills.

Letter formation practice with graph paper

4. Use graph paper to teach spacing and letter placement. Letter formation requires accurate placement within a given area on the page and graph paper helps kids to practice this placement so they can carry the skill over to paper of all types.

5. Practicing letters doesn’t need to be boring. Use a creative writing journal that combines creative letter drawing and formation using materials like yarn, play dough, wikki sticks , etc. Kids can practice writing on the lines. This journal was designed for cursive letter formation but could be used with printed letters as well.

6. Write on the window using regular notebook paper for a movement-based letter writing activity that practices formation and accuracy while focusing on the motor components of the shoulder, forearm, and wrist.

These are cursive letter formation activities for handwriting.

Cursive letter formation

You will find tons of creative writing activities designed around teaching cursive here on this website. Cursive letter formation ideas can use all of the handwriting strategies and tips listed above, but you can focus on the smooth writing strokes, retracing lines, and connecting lines that cursive requires with some out-of-the box activities.

Check out some of the cursive letter formation ideas below:

teach cursive letter formation

  • How to teach cursive handwriting – START HERE for a step-by-step guide to teaching cursive. You’ll find everything you need in one place, or check out the list below…

2. Positioning When Writing in Cursive – Positioning in handwriting is SO important. In fact, positioning is the place to start when it comes to teaching kids to write letters.

3. Cursive Writing Lesson Plan – Work on cursive writing with a planned, set of strategies.

cursive letters exercises

4. Gross Motor Cursive Exercises – Kids can work on bilateral coordination, crossing midline, and motor planning skills so they are able to hold their paper while writing, use smooth writing strokes, and form letters.

5. Pre-Cursive Activities – Handwriting doesn’t need to be boring! Use these fun cursive lines to work on smooth pencil strokes, while introducing loops, curves, and swoops.

6.  Cursive Letter Formation: Wave Letters – Cursive letters can be grouped into sets so kids can work on specific letters that contain similar pencil strokes. The “wave” letters are one cursive letter family to start with.

creative cursive writing ideas

7.  Creative Ways to Practice Cursive

8.   Cursive Writing Self-Assessment

9. Conquering Cursive Letter Connectors

cursive writing for left handers

10. Left-handed Cursive Writing Tips and Tricks

11. Cursive Writing Rhythm

12. Cursive Writing Slant

identify cursive letters

13. How to Teach Cursive Letter Identification

14. Pencil Grasp in Cursive Writing

15. MORE Creative Ways to Practice Cursive Writing

cursive writing speed

16. How to Teach Cursive Writing Speed

17.   Tips for Teaching Cursive in the Classroom

18. Cursive Pre-Writing Lines Watercolor Resist Activity

cursive letter formation starting lines

19. Cursive Writing Starting Lines

20. Cursive Letter Writing Activity

21.   Diagnosing Cursive Problems with a Cursive Handwriting Assessment Checklist

cursive letter writing certificate of completion

22.   Cursive Writing Tips and Cursive Certificate of Completion

23. Free Cursive Letter Flashcards

24. Cursive Letter Formation: Bump Letters

cursive letter formation tree letters

25.  Cursive Letter Formation: Tree Letters

26.  DIY Cursive Activity Beads

27.  Cursive Letter Slime

Teach kids how to write upper case cursive letters.

28.  Uppercase Cursive Letter Guide

29.  The Research on Cursive Writing

30.  Cursive Loop Letter

31.  How to Teach Cursive Tow Rope Letter

32. Some cursive letters require re-tracing back over the lines. If those lines are sloppy, the letter can look illegible, Try this strategy for teaching re-trace in forming cursive letters c, d, a, g, o, and q. Using a dry erase marker to work on letter formation can be used with any cursive letter or printed letters too.

Free Letter Formation Worksheets

Want to put the occupational therapy interventions and tips that you’ve read here into practice, so kids learn letters based on development, motor skills, and motivating activities?

Enter your email address below to grab the FREE handwriting resource for handwriting resources to use in working on letter formation with kids. You’ll find uppercase and lowercase letter writing worksheets, as well as a list of extension ideas so you can use these worksheets with sensory activities, and take letter formation from dull and boring rote practice, to meaningful, motivating, and fun!

Add your email below and these free handwriting worksheets will arrive in your inbox shortly!

Get FREE Letter Formation Worksheets

handwriting without tears letter order

Colleen Beck, OTR/L has been an occupational therapist since 2000, working in school-based, hand therapy, outpatient peds, EI, and SNF. Colleen created The OT Toolbox to inspire therapists, teachers, and parents with easy and fun tools to help children thrive. Read her story about going from an OT making $3/hour (after paying for kids’ childcare) to a full-time OT resource creator for millions of readers. Want to collaborate? Send an email to [email protected].

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  2. Unbelievable Handwriting Without Tears Letter Order Pdf Iron Man

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  3. how is handwriting

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COMMENTS

  1. Handwriting Without Tears Letter Order

    handwriting without tears lowercase letter order Just like their capital letters – c, o, s, v, w, t (just like uppercase only lower cross) Magic C – these high frequency letters (a, g, d) start with a magic “c”. This helps differentiate between b and d. While... The rest of the vowels – u, i, e ...

  2. Handwriting Without Tears®

    Explicit instruction combined with guided practice to promote handwriting automaticity. Multisensory learning engages visual, audio, and kinesthetic learners. Hands-on tools to build vocabulary, fine motor, and alphabet knowledge prior to writing letters.

  3. Teaching & Learning the Alphabet for Kids

    The Handwriting Without Tears developmental teaching order helps children master handwriting skills in the easiest, most efficient way. Instead of teaching 52 letter symbols with a mishmash of different sizes, positions, and confusing starting places, we divide and conquer.

  4. Order to Teach Cursive Letters (HWT)

    In this post, you’ll learn about cursive writing order to teach letters of the alphabet, including the Handwriting Without Tears letter order for teaching cursive. The order that kids should learn the cursive alphabet, including print letter patterns that are directly transferable to cursive alphabet letters.

  5. Handwriting Without Tears Practice Sheets (Free PDF for

    Handwriting Without Tears Practice Sheets (Free PDF for Homeschool) My family loves using the Handwriting Without Tears program in our homeschool. But, we have found that we need more practice than the books provide.

  6. 2015 2016 HANDWRITING WITHOUT TEARS (HWT) SEQUENCE

    2015 – 2016 HANDWRITING WITHOUT TEARS (HWT) SEQUENCE Letter Formation Chart - http://www.hwtears.com/files/GSS_Capital%20Formation%20Chart.pdf HWT Recommendations Regarding Numbers - “Treat numbers separately from your letter handwriting instruction. Integrate number formation with your math or other instruction.

  7. Letter Formation Activities and Tools That Work

    Kids that are handed letter formation worksheets without prompts, cues, models, and correct formation practice, will many times, trace or copy letters using segmented lines that start at incorrect places, and that can be a hard habit to break.