Joining Letters
Begin to join letters using diagonal and horizontal strokes, understanding which letter pairs are best left unjoined, forming letters of correct size relative to one another
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Teaching Table
Set out your lesson
Practise diagonal and horizontal joins and proportion, distinguishing copying, dictation and composition.
Form i, n, u and t separately comfortably. If grip or joining causes discomfort, stop and use separate letters; joining is not required for access to composition.
Directed source edges are preserved, not assumed completed. If the readiness probe is difficult, model with support and record supported practice instead of independent evidence.
Use the supplied stage-specific structured materials. Pencil and plain paper. Draw three horizontal guides labelled top, middle, baseline, plus a lower descender guide; approximate spacing is adequate. Use joining-guides.svg as an optional blank guide. Agree the learner's handwriting style before choosing joins.
Show, guided, put teaching sheet aside, then task sheets in order; adult keys remain private.
No printing or cutting is required unless explicitly choosing a physical construction. Exact paper alternatives are in each material; adaptations change the evidence mode as stated.
Materials are ready in each step. Use them on screen or print just the current step. Put teaching examples aside before the learner tries.
What this lesson covers and its limits
These are bounded opportunities, not learner attainment. Partial and blocked source requirements remain so.
- partial: Begin to join letters using diagonal and horizontal strokes, understanding which letter pairs are best left unjoined, forming letters of correct size relative to one another
The blank handwriting guides do not demonstrate joins. An adult needs to model the joins in the handwriting style being taught; notice the learner’s actual pencil movements. Dictated or copied words do not show independent composition. This is a bounded task opportunity, not established attainment or automatic use across contexts.
- partial: Join 'in', 'un', 'it' with a diagonal stroke connecting the letters
Mapped task(s) offer this clause only within the supplied examples. The blank handwriting guides do not demonstrate joins. An adult needs to model the joins in the handwriting style being taught; notice the learner’s actual pencil movements. Dictated or copied words do not show independent composition. No attainment or automatic/general performance is claimed.
- partial: Leave letters like 'b' unjoined when followed by certain letters, explaining why
Mapped task(s) offer this clause only within the supplied examples. The blank handwriting guides do not demonstrate joins. An adult needs to model the joins in the handwriting style being taught; notice the learner’s actual pencil movements. Dictated or copied words do not show independent composition. No attainment or automatic/general performance is claimed.
- partial: Write with consistent letter sizing on lined paper, ascenders and descenders in proportion
Mapped task(s) offer this clause only within the supplied examples. The blank handwriting guides do not demonstrate joins. An adult needs to model the joins in the handwriting style being taught; notice the learner’s actual pencil movements. Dictated or copied words do not show independent composition. No attainment or automatic/general performance is claimed.
- partial: Is {{name}} starting to join up their letters when writing, so that their handwriting flows more smoothly rather than each letter standing completely separate?
The blank handwriting guides do not demonstrate joins. An adult needs to model the joins in the handwriting style being taught; notice the learner’s actual pencil movements. Dictated or copied words do not show independent composition. This is a bounded task opportunity, not established attainment or automatic use across contexts.
The blank handwriting guides do not demonstrate joins. An adult needs to model the joins in the handwriting style being taught; notice the learner’s actual pencil movements. Dictated or copied words do not show independent composition.
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Teaching approaches
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1 approach
Practise diagonal and horizontal joins and proportion, distinguishing copying, dictation and composition.
Practise diagonal and horizontal joins and proportion, distinguishing copying, dictation and composition.
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Check understanding
- Join 'in', 'un', 'it' with a diagonal stroke connecting the letters
- Leave letters like 'b' unjoined when followed by certain letters, explaining why
- Write with consistent letter sizing on lined paper, ascenders and descenders in proportion
“Is your child starting to join up their letters when writing, so that their handwriting flows more smoothly rather than each letter standing completely separate?”
Curriculum record
- Type
- Procedural
- Subject
- English
- Domain
- Handwriting & Transcription
- Age range
- Ages 6–10
Standards