Letter sound formation

As we progress, we shall be discussing letters; how to form them, easy and fun activities to do to help the children remember the letters. Allow me to give us some tips on how to form the letters

Letter Formation Tips

1) Shapes and patterns before letters and numbers! If your child has not yet mastered drawing shapes and patterns, then work on these first before attempting numbers and letters.

Tracing and drawing shapes and patterns will help your child master the diagonals and curves necessary for letter formations

2) The order of mastery is to first trace the letters, then to copy them, then to write them with a starting point cue, then to write them completely independently without cues.

If your child can not yet copy a letter with the correct formation, then write the letter and have your child trace it. You may even find it helpful to guide your child’s hand as they trace the letter as in the picture above).

3) Start with the letters of your child’s name. So often, preschoolers learn to write their name by copying it any old how – and poor letter formation habits become deeply entrenched. Help your preschooler master the letters of their name correctly, and you will have laid a good foundation for learning the other letters.

4) Teach letters in families. Similarly formed letters can be taught together – for example c, d, o. Make use of a good handwriting program such as Handwriting Heroes  or Handwriting Without Tears. 

5)  Make sure your child starts the letter or number in the correct place, and that he/she forms it correctly. Some kids are very good at getting their letter to LOOK correct, but their strokes were perhaps bottom to top, or right to left – so pay careful attention to HOW your child forms the letter, not just what it looks like at the end!

6) Use a multisensory approach. As well as the fun ideas, try stories about each letter, rhymes or songs that will help your child remember where to start and stop each letter.

7) Do letter formations as part of a gross motor activity. For example, have your child crawl, hop or jump to each letter and trace it, whether on a floor, a table or a wall.

Now that we have our tips, let’s learn simple ways to form our letters

N.B   we shall be starting with lower case letters

s……slither down the snake

a………..around the apple, down a leaf

t…………down the tower, across the tower

p………..down the pirates plate and around his face

i……….down the body and dot for the head

n………down Nobby and over his head

Here’s how far we shall be going for our first set of letters. Special valentines treat coming up on Thursday!!!!!