This evening your students are coming home with a homework sheet working on the alphabet. While I realize writing the alphabet can be done very quickly, and that Spalding handwriting should be review for most students, I ask that you focus on proper posture, pencil grip and letter formation. Arrows are on the letter to indicate where they should start and end. Students have been taught that "clock letters" start at 2 on the clock. If they are returning students they will be familiar with this information. If they are new to Archway, todays instruction might have been their first exposure. That is a-ok! We will be doing a LOT more instruction on this!
Please work with your child on their handwriting and their handwriting habits. Later in the year we introduce cursive, and knowing the proper manuscript formation proves very fruitful for learning proper cursive formation. We will continue working on manuscript letter formation in class, with it being taught exclusively this week, and it being monitored thereafter. However, a one-on-one environment is a great place to closely monitor and correct handwriting habits.
Students posture while writing should look like they are sitting up straight, heads held high, and feet flat on the floor. In class we chant: Feet flat! Hips back! Back straight! Head high!
Here is a visual to help you aid your student in proper pencil grip.
As always, please feel free to email me with any questions or concerns you may have!
Yours in handwriting,
Mrs. Cook
