ALEX Classroom Resource

  

Letter Formation

  Classroom Resource Information  

Title:

Letter Formation

URL:

https://teacher.desmos.com/activitybuilder/custom/6232070f6f1f453e764b9543

Content Source:

Other
Steve Phelps: Desmos Classroom
Type: Audio/Video

Overview:

This resource provides looping videos that demonstrate the writing strokes of each of the lowercase letters, including the proper approach strokes, letter formation, and line placement. The videos can be played during whole or small group instruction to demonstrate the proper approach strokes, letter formation, and line placement, while the teacher observes and provides feedback. These videos could also be used at a center rotation while students independently practice their printed handwriting strokes. 

Content Standard(s):
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: K
34. Print legibly, using proper pencil grip.

a. Print upper and lower case letters using proper approach strokes, letter formation, and line placement.

b. With prompting and support, print first and last names using proper letter formation, capitalizing only the first letter of each name.

Note: In Kindergarten, students are learning the most basic forms of capitalization. While the standard only requires that the first letter of each name be capitalized, some students' names may include additional capital letters, hyphens, or apostrophes. In such cases, students should learn to write their own names using proper capitalization and punctuation.

Examples: De'Andre McGill, Kim Mi-Sun, Juan de Jesus

c. With prompting and support, use lower case letters in majority of written work, using capitals only when appropriate.
Unpacked Content
Teacher Vocabulary:
34.
  • Print
  • Legibly
  • Proper pencil grip
34a.
  • Print
  • Upper case letters
  • Lowercase letters
  • Approach strokes
  • Letter formation
  • Line placement
34b.
  • Print
  • First name
  • Last name
  • Letter formation
  • Capitalizing
  • Prompting
  • Support
34c.
  • Lowercase letters
  • Written work
  • Capitals
  • Appropriate
Knowledge:
34. Students know:
  • Proper pencil grip.
  • Proper letter formation.
34a.
  • Proper upper- and lowercase letter formation and line placement.
34b.
  • The capitalization and letter formation of first and last names.
34c.
  • Capitalization rules.
Skills:
34. Students are able to:
  • Print legibly.
  • Use proper pencil grip.
34a.
  • Print upper- and lowercase letters.
  • Use correct approach strokes to form letters.
  • Place letters correctly on a line.
34b. With prompting and support,
  • Print first and last names using proper letter formation, capitalizing only the first letter of each name.
34c. With prompting and support,
  • Use capital and lowercase letters correctly when writing.
Understanding:
34. Students understand that:
  • A proper pencil grip creates better letter formation.
34a.
  • Handwriting of upper- and lowercase letters is produced by a series of strokes with accurate line placement.
34b.
  • Each person has a first and last name.
  • First and last names start with a capital letter and legible writing includes proper letter formation.
34c.
  • There are rules to follow to appropriately use lowercase and capital letters.
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 1
30. Write legibly, using proper pencil grip.

a. Print upper and lowercase letters fluently, using proper approach strokes, letter formation, and line placement.

b. Print first and last names using proper letter formation, capitalization, and punctuation.

Examples: De'Andre McGill, Kim Mi-Sun, Juan de Jesus, Janie Parker

c. Use lower case letters in the majority of written work, using capitals only when appropriate.

d. Write letters of the English alphabet in alphabetical order from memory.
Unpacked Content
Teacher Vocabulary:
30.
  • Legibly
  • Proper pencil grip
30a.
  • Uppercase letters
  • Lowercase letters
  • Fluently
  • Proper approach strokes
  • Proper letter formation
  • Proper line placement
30b.
  • Print
  • First names
  • Last names
  • Proper letter formation
  • Capitalization
  • Punctuation
30c.
  • Lowercase letters
  • Majority
  • Written work
  • Capitals
  • Appropriate
30d.
  • Letters
  • English alphabet
  • Alphabetical order
  • Memory
Knowledge:
30. Students know:
  • Proper pencil grip.
  • Legible letter formation.
30a.
  • Approach strokes for upper- and lowercase letters.
  • Proper upper- and lowercase letter formation.
  • Line placement for upper- and lowercase letters.
30b.
  • First and last names are capitalized.
  • Some first and last names have punctuation marks.
30c.
  • Capitalization rules.
30d.
    Letters of the Alphabet.
  • How to write each letter of the English alphabet.
  • Alphabetical order.
Skills:
30. Students are able to:
  • Write legibly.
  • Use proper pencil grip.
30a.
  • Print upper- and lowercase letters fluently.
  • Use correct approach strokes to form upper- and lowercase letters.
  • Place upper- and lowercase letters correctly on a line.
30b.
  • Identify first and last names.
  • Write first and last names using proper letter formation.
  • Capitalize appropriate letters in first and last names, such as Juan de Jesus or Janie Parker.
  • Punctuate first and last names when appropriate, such as De'Andre McGill or Kim Mi-Sun.
30c.
  • Use capital and lowercase letters correctly when writing.
30d.
  • Write letters of the alphabet in alphabetical order from memory.
Understanding:
30. Students understand that:
  • Proper pencil grip aids in writing legibly.
  • Writing legibly is required for clear written communication.
30a.
  • Legible handwriting requires an approach stroke on the correct line and proper letter formation.
30b.
  • Each person has a first and last name.
  • All names are proper nouns and should begin with a capital letter.
  • Some names use punctuation marks.
30c.
  • Lowercase letters are used the majority of the time in written work, and there are specific capitalization rules to follow.
30d.
  • The English alphabet has a particular order.
Tags: approach strokes, handwriting, letter, letter formation, line placement, lowercase letters, print, write, writing
License Type: Custom Permission Type
See Terms: https://www.desmos.com/terms#use
For full descriptions of license types and a guide to usage, visit :
https://creativecommons.org/licenses
Accessibility
Comments

The videos can be played without signing in by clicking the blue "Student Preview" button. However, teachers can create a free account to assign the activity to students through the Desmos Classroom online platform. 

  This resource provided by:  
Author: Hannah Bradley
Alabama State Department of Education