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Different ways to write the letter d


Letter Formation Activities and Tools That Work

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.

Letter Formation

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.

  1. 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).
  2. Moving the pencil in the correct direction to make parts of the letter.
  3. Placing the parts of the letter in the appropriate spots (intersecting lines or joined pencil strokes)
  4. 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.

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 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:

  1. 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.

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

  1. 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.

Next, teach lowercase letters in this order:

  1. 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

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!

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.

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.

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:

  1. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.

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.

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:

  1. 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.

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.

7.  Creative Ways to Practice Cursive

8.  Cursive Writing Self-Assessment

9. Conquering Cursive Letter Connectors

10. Left-handed Cursive Writing Tips and Tricks

11. Cursive Writing Rhythm

12. Cursive Writing Slant

13. How to Teach Cursive Letter Identification

14. Pencil Grasp in Cursive Writing

15. MORE Creative Ways to Practice Cursive Writing

16. How to Teach Cursive Writing Speed

17.  Tips for Teaching Cursive in the Classroom

18. Cursive Pre-Writing Lines Watercolor Resist Activity

19. Cursive Writing Starting Lines

20. Cursive Letter Writing Activity

21.  Diagnosing Cursive Problems with a Cursive Handwriting Assessment Checklist

22.  Cursive Writing Tips and Cursive Certificate of Completion

23. Free Cursive Letter Flashcards

24. Cursive Letter Formation: Bump Letters

25. Cursive Letter Formation: Tree Letters

26. DIY Cursive Activity Beads

27. Cursive Letter Slime

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!

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].

Letter Names in the English Alphabet and How to Spell Them

Each letter of the English alphabet can be spelled as itself (e.g., a DJ or T-shirt), or it can be spelled out using its name (e.g., a deejay or tee-shirt). Vowels still stand for themselves, and while very rare, the plural of vowels are made by adding -es. In the capitalized form, the plurals are made by either -s or -‘s (e.g., L’s or As).

Letters also have a specific sound associated with them, and not only can you spell them phonetically to sound the same as you pronounce them, but you should also be familiar with the different phonetic spellings of their sound. Take a look at how you can spell each letter sound out. 

You can skip ahead to our chart here.

How Do You Spell The Letter A Sound?

Many words use the long A /(ˈ/ˈiː/) sound using the letter a. For example: acorn, agent, data

It can also be spelled:

  • A-E: a in the middle of the word, with e at the end as in grade or snake
  • AI: aim, train
  • AY: delay, essay
  • EI: eight, vein
  • EA: great, steak

How Do You Spell The Letter B Sound?

B (/ˈbiː/) is used in one of two ways.

  • B: bank, baby, bassinet
  • BB: babbling, shrubbery, gibberish

How Do You Spell The Letter C Sound?

C (/ˈsiː/ ) is a tricky letter since it has more than one pronunciation and doesn’t sound as its letter unless you spell it as sea or see. 

  • Pronounce the letter “C” as an “S” sound if the letter “C” is followed by the letters “E”, “I”, or “Y”. For example: city or central
  • Pronounce the letter “C” as a “K” sound if the letter “C” is followed by the letters “A”, “O”, or “U”. For example: candy or cut

How Do You Spell The Letter D Sound?

D (/ˈdiː/) has three different spellings.

  • D: advertising, deed, disappear
  • ED: created, forced, freed
  • DD: odd, eddy, forbidding

How Do You Spell The Letter E Sound?

Many words use the long E /(ˈeɪ/) sound using the letter e. For example: he, she, we.

It can also be spelled:

  • EA: sea
  • EE: seen, see
  • EI: receive, either
  • IE: belief, piece
  • EO: people
  • EY: alley, journey
  • Y: yearly
  • I: mini

How Do You Spell The Letter F Sound?

F (/ˈɛf/) is usually spelled with the letter f, as in fire, first, and family, but it also has some strange phonetic usages as well.

  • FF: bluff, cuff, different
  • PH: dolphin, photography, trophy
  • GH: tough, rough, enough

How Do You Spell The Letter G Sound?

G (/ˈdʒiː/) is usually spelled with the letter g, as in game, go, and garden.  

It can also be spelled

  • GG: egg, hogg, jagged
  • GUE: guest, league, rogue

How Do You Spell The Letter H Sound?

H (/ˈeɪtʃ/) is usually spelled with the letter h, as in horror, human, and house. 

It also has some different spellings as well, such as:

  • WH: who
  • J: Jose (a formal name with Spanish origins)

How Do You Spell The Letter I Sound?

Many words use the long I /(ˈ/ˈaɪ/) sound using the letter i or y. For example: Friday, ice, idea, my, sky, or cry.

It can also be spelled:

  • I-E: i in the middle of the word, with e at the end as in kite or bite
  • AI: aisle
  • EI: heist, meiser
  • EIGH: height
  • EYE: eye, eyelash
  • EY: geyser
  • IE: lie, pie
  • UY: guy, buy
  • YE: bye, dye
  • IGH: mighty, high

How Do You Spell Letter The J Sound?

J (/ˈdʒeɪ/) is usually spelled with the letter j, as in jury, adjust, and Jason. 

It also has some different spellings as well, such as:

  • G: page, cage, gentle
  • DGE: pledge, judge
  • AGE: garage, mirage
  • GG: exaggeration
  • D: gradual, educator

How Do You Spell The Letter K Sound?

K (/ˈkeɪ/) is usually spelled with the letter K or C, as in make, take, kind, basic, and cat.  

It also has some different spellings as well, such as:

  • CC: impeccable
  • CK: back, pluck, check
  • QUE: plague, queue
  • QUI: mosquito, turquoise
  • QU: quick, quit
  • CH: chord, mechanic, chemical

How Do You Spell The Letter L Sound?

To spell the L (/ˈɛl/) sound, you simply use L or LL. For example: elephant, later, letter, well, sell.

How Do You Spell The Letter M Sound?

The M (/ˈɛm/) sound is almost always spelled using m or mm, such as in example, metal, meal, commercial, or bummer. 

It can also be spelled using:

  • MB: comb, limb, tomb
  • GM: phlegm, diaphragm
  • MN: column, autumn

How Do You Spell The Letter N Sound?

The N (/ˈɛn/) sound is almost always spelled using n or nn, such as in any, enemy, no, innocent, or annoying. 

It can also be spelled using: 

  • KN: knit, knife
  • GN: gnome, gnat
  • PN: pneumatic, pneumonia

How Do You Spell The Letter O Sound?

O (/ˈəʊ/) has many different spellings. Most obvious is with the long O or OO, as in no, go, most, floor, or brooch. 

It can also be spelled using:

  • O-E: o in the middle of the word, with e at the end as in robe or smoke
  • OE: toe 
  • OA: oat, boat, toast
  • OW: snow, slow
  • OU: out, sprout, shoulder
  • OT: depot
  • AU: chauffer
  • EW: sew
  • EAU: beau, bureau
  • AOH: pharaoh
  • OUGH: dough, although

How Do You Spell The Letter P Sound?

To spell the P (/ˈpiː/) sound, you simply use p or pp. For example: paper, peep, happy, pepper, or cheap.

How Do You Spell The Letter Q Sound?

Q (/ˈkjuː/) is another tricky letter in that the letter q is never used as a stand-alone and always is followed by the letter u. Together qu sounds like the letters KW together. To hear the letter use it in the word queue. 

How Do You Spell The Letter R Sound?

R (/ˈɑː/) is almost always spelled with the letter r or rr, as in rabbit, run, right, correct, or arrest.

It can also be spelled with:

  • WR: write, wrong, wrist
  • RH: rhyme, rhinoceros

How Do You Spell The Letter S Sound?

S (/ˈɛs/) is often spelled with the letter s or ss, as in series, see, loose, essay, or embarrassment.

It can also be spelled with:

  • SC: muscle, science, scene
  • C: face, census, cellar
  • PS: psalm, psychology

How Do You Spell The Letter T Sound?

T (/ˈtiː/) is another letter that is spelled multiple ways. T and tt are most common as in talk, time, battle, or cattle. 

It also can be spelled with:

  • ED: cooked, liked
  • BT: debt, doubt
  • TW: two
  • TH: thyme, Thailand

How Do You Spell The Letter U Sound?

U (/ˈjuː/) has a few different spellings. It can be spelled using:

  • U-E: U in the middle of the word, with e at the end as in mule or cube
  • U: music
  • UE: ensue, issue
  • EU: feudal, eulogy
  • EW: few, pew

How Do You Spell The Letter V Sound?

To spell the V (/ˈv/) sound, you simply use v. For example: valentine, visit, move

How Do You Spell The Letter W Sound?

W (/ˈdʌbəl.juː/) is almost always spelled with the letter w, as in warrant, win, or worry. 

It can also be spelled with:

  • O: one, once
  • Wh: white, whale

How Do You Spell The Letter X Sound?

To spell the X ( /ˈɛks/) sound, you need to first combine it with an e, as in exit or excellent. Otherwise, it is pronounced in the following way:

  •  If the /X/ is between a vowel and consonant sound it is pronounced as /KS/, as in excel. 
  •  If the /X/ is between two vowel sounds it is pronounced as /GZ/, as in exam. 
  • If the letter X is at the beginning of a word, then it is pronounced Z, as in xerox.

How Do You Spell The Letter Y Sound?

Y (/ˈwaɪ/), pronounced as wy or why, usually uses the letter y as in yellow, year, or kayak. 

It can also be spelled with:

  • I: onion
  • EU: eulogy

How Do You Spell The Letter Z Sound?

Z (/ˈziː/) has a few different spellings, but utilizes z or zz often as in zero, zip,  buzz, or buzzard. It also can be spelled using:

  • SS: dessert, scissors
  • S: desert, was
  • STH: asthma
  • X: xylophone, xerox

Chart

To see specific examples of how a letter can be spelled exactly how it sounds, take a closer look at our phonetic chart. 

LetterSingular SoundPhonetic UseExamples of the Letter Sound in a word…
A ay/ˈeɪ/day
B bee/ˈbiː/beat
Ccee/ˈsiː/ sea
D dee/ˈdiː/deal
E ee/ˈiː/easy
F eff/ˈɛf/effect
G gee/ˈdʒiː/gene
H aitch haitch/ˈeɪtʃ/ /ˈheɪtʃ/n/a n/a
I i/ˈaɪ/eye
J jay/ˈdʒeɪ/Jason
K kay/ˈkeɪ/okay
L el / ell/ˈɛl/,[ˈɛɫ]sell
M em/ˈɛm/them
N en/ˈɛn/then
O o/ˈəʊ/go
P pee/ˈpiː/peel
Q cue/ˈkjuː/queue
R ar/ˈɑː/art
S ess/ˈɛs/assess
T tee/ˈtiː/teeball
U u/ˈjuː/you
V vee/ˈv/veer
W double-u/ˈdʌbəl. juː/n/a
Xex/ˈɛks/excellent
Y wy/ˈwaɪ/Wyatt
Zzee/ˈziː/lazy

Let’s Review

Almost every letter can be spelled out exactly as they are pronounced, and most also have different ways to spell how they sound as well.  These are important rules to understand in order to properly spell out what you hear in a way that can be easily read and understood. 

Hopefully, this list explains the many different letter combinations that create various sounds, as well as how to reproduce the pronunciation of the letters themselves.

Writing the letter "d". Big book of secret knowledge. Numerology. Graphology. Palmistry. Astrology. Divination

Writing the letter "d"

Capital "D"

Oddly enough, but just as in fig. 2.45, people associated with art derive the letter; if art is not their area of ​​activity, then they are simply artistic in nature and gravitate towards everything beautiful and elegant.

Fig. 2.45. Typographic letter "D"

Some people write "d" as lowercase, directing the vertical line either down (fig. 2.46) or up (fig. 2.47). Most likely, the main quality of such people is simplicity. Do not confuse it with primitiveness - in this case, simplicity is interpreted as the absence of pretentiousness and complexes. Such people will not be pretentious or try to do what they do not know how. You will be surprised how free the minds of such people are, and if they manage to take a leading role in corporate or interpersonal relationships, then you can be amazed at how infectious their simplicity is. True, this concept is applicable only to people who carry a positive attitude towards everything around them, otherwise you can stumble upon rudeness and conflict.

Fig. 2.46. Written as lowercase, vertical line down

Fig. 2.47. Written as a lower case, the vertical line is directed upwards

Consider the classic spelling of the letter "D".

Inclined, arched, carefully drawn "D" (Fig. 2.48). Such writing is typical for people with high self-esteem, sometimes turning into conceit. Sometimes it can indicate a person who is used to relying on someone else's opinion, not independent in his judgments. His attempt to seem original sometimes resembles banal rudeness.

Fig. 2.48. Carefully drawn letter "D"

Thin, narrow, but voluminous, with a long stroke turned to the left (Fig. 2.49). Before you is a man suffering from megalomania and arrogance. Because of his stupidity and pride, he often loses, but if such people still reach professional heights, subordinates have a hard time, because such a boss will always try to blame them for his shortcomings.

Fig. 2.49. Thin "D" with wrapped stroke

Intricate, closed, illegible, but graceful, sometimes even beautiful letter "D" (Fig. 2.50). So they write even and friendly ... workaholics. This seems funny, because at first glance the look of the letter reminds of chaos and agitation. Appearances are deceiving, aren't they?

Fig. 2.50. Illegible "D"

Lowercase "d"

The letter "d" with a vertical line directed upwards and slightly rounded at the end (Fig. 2.51). Maybe such people do not succeed in everything in life and they do not always evoke positive emotions when they first meet. This, as a rule, is due to a strong desire to make a good impression, which is not always possible for them. If other letters do not indicate the presence of frankly negative traits, treat such a person with understanding and turn a blind eye to his awkwardness - later you are unlikely to regret it.

Fig. 2.51. Lower case "e" with a vertical line pointing up

Be careful here. Such a spelling of a letter, as in Fig. 2.52, characteristic of suspicious, petty, cunning, deceitful and selfish people.

The overline curves from right to left, forms a loop and connects with other letters - you have an idea generator in front of you. Positive or negative - other letters will indicate to you.

Fig. 2.52. The letter "d" with a vertical line pointing up, with a tail crossed out to the right

The letter "d" with a loop pointing down (classic spelling) (Fig. 2.53). This is the most common spelling of the letter, so in this case, you should pay attention to the length and size of the bottom loop. The smaller the loop, the more dependent the person is. This value acquires a particularly negative connotation for a man who is sometimes not capable of making simple decisions, not to mention vital ones. A woman with such a spelling of the letter “d” will be an ideal wife for a man who is used to deciding everything both for himself and for others, and does not tolerate objections.

Fig. 2.53. Classic lowercase "d"

An excessively long loop speaks of pathological independence (or the desire for it). Here it is necessary to take into account the meaning of writing other letters. If this person is firm and determined, with extraordinary abilities and the ability to get out of any situation, most likely, he can afford to be as independent as he wants.

The letter "d" with a loop pointing down, in the manner of writing reminiscent of the Latin g (Fig. 2.54). Such people have a quiet, but restless character. Before doing something, they carefully consider the future act, but if they don’t like something, they can explode. They are characterized by curiosity, and many have great abilities. Unfortunately, such people are also marked by poor health.

Fig. 2.54. The letter "d" is similar to the Latin g

So, as in fig. 2.55, the letter "d" is written by narrow-minded people with primitive ideas about life. If the spelling of the letter is the same, and at the end the line is slightly curved from right to left, then we can talk about a selfish nature.

Fig. 2.55. Letter "d" with a vertical line pointing down, but not forming a loop

This text is an introductory fragment.

Writing the letter "g"

Writing the letter "g" Graphologists rarely pay attention to this letter, so there are few interpretations of its spelling options. The main attention is paid to the writing of connecting lines and the size of the middle line. Thus, the long middle line (Fig. 2.73) points to

Writing the letter "z"

Writing the letter "z" This letter is also not always used in handwriting research. The focus is on the top loop (or lack of it) in the uppercase 'Z' and the bottom loop (or lack of it) in the lowercase 'z'.

Writing the letter "and"

Writing the letter "i" Capital "I" The beginning of the letter is rounded and resembles a semi-oval (Fig. 2.77, 2.78). People who write the letter “I” in this way are endowed with an excess of imagination, eccentricity of actions and thinking, perseverance, and often loftiness of the soul. Rice. 2.77. Beginning of letter

Writing the letter "y"

Writing the letter "y" In writing this letter, like the letter “ё”, it is not the letter itself that matters, but the dash above it. The letter "y" gives more information about the owner of the handwriting when it is in the middle of a word (lowercase) than at the beginning (uppercase). Dash with weak pressure (Fig. 2.85)

Writing the letter "k"

Writing the letter "k" Capital "K" The letter "K" with pressure and a long line down, closed at the top in the form of a loop or a hook wrapped inside (Fig. 2.90). This usually indicates such character traits as firmness, prudence, decisiveness, but isolation and

Writing the letter "l"

Writing the letter "l" The letter "l", like the letters "g" and "h", is rarely analyzed. It is generally accepted that it gives little information about the writing person. Nevertheless, let's pay some attention to it. Why is it written with more pressure (Fig. 2.94), the more sensual and tender the person is.

Writing the letter "m"

Writing the letter "m" The differences between uppercase and lowercase "m" are only in the size of the letters, so we will not consider them separately. For analysis, you can choose any letter "m" - at the beginning, middle or end of the word. Straight, without rounding, the second line

Writing the letter "n"

Writing the letter "n" Capital "H" Rather succinctly written; the transverse line is arched, slightly elongated when connected, at the beginning of the letter there is a small hook above and / or below (Fig. 2.110, 2.111). This indicates, first of all, such a quality as timidity. If it turns out

Writing the letter "o"

Writing the letter "o" The capital "O" The letter looks like an open oval with a line descending into the middle (Fig. 2.117). Such a careless spelling of the letter indicates active, fast people. Their excess of energy often means too much haste, but in general, writing the letter "O"

Writing the letter "p"

Writing the letter "p" Capital "P" The pressure is the most important when writing the letter "p". Thin lines drawn with weak pressure and a slight rounding (Fig. 2.128). Such a spelling speaks of weakness, susceptibility and suspiciousness. Rice. 2.128. Letter

Writing the letter "r"

Writing the letter "r" This is one of the most interesting letters for graphology. It is believed that this is one of the first sounds that a person learned to pronounce. It served as a warning of danger or a sign of danger. This letter has many functional purposes. No wonder

Writing the letter "c"

Writing the letter "s" The oblique letter "c" with pressure in the middle, without decorations (Fig. 2.139) is characteristic of the handwriting of sharp and stern people. Often skeptical people who are not prone to sentimentality and emotionality write this way. Rice. 2.139. Slanted, unadorned letter "c" with small

Writing the letter "t"

Writing the letter "t" Capital "T" The first two sticks merge together, and the top stroke is strongly separated and directed upwards (Fig. 2.143). Such a spelling indicates a sympathetic, religious, merciful person. Rice. 2.143. The first two sticks merge together, and the top

Writing the letter "y"

Writing the letter "y" Capital "U" Distinct, rounded, not closed at the bottom, the initial stroke is very thin, sometimes almost imperceptible (Fig. 2.150). Such people are speculative, inquisitive, they are distinguished by love for the elegant. Rice. 2.150. Distinct, with slight pressure With light

Writing the letter "c"

Writing the letter "c" In fact, the letter "c" in its writing resembles the letter "i" with a loop in the lower right part. Therefore, to some extent, its analysis coincides with the analysis of the letter "and". On the other hand, very often the drawing of the eyelet coincides with the lowercase letters "y" and

Writing the letter "sh"

Writing the letter "sh" When writing this letter, the tempo of writing and the roundness of its constituent elements are of primary importance. The letter "w" with a large initial hook, all elements are equally even, rounded below, without underlining (Fig. 2.164). This spelling indicates

Beautiful letter "D": venya — LiveJournal

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All my life I have used the following inscription of the letter D:

It seems to me - absolutely beautiful and the only possible one.
Of course, they tried to force me to write differently. And it is quite natural that I resisted, and thanks to my natural resistance

, one of the most beautiful letters of the Russian language is present in my handwriting.

And I am incredibly happy about it.

But, some people think that if you write the letter E as the letter D, then everything will be ok:


People, fucking here, no ok!

How can you shit a logo like that?

"Ekonika"?

"dkonika"?

I don’t even pay your attention to the fact that the logo behaves strangely when they look at it:

Because it doesn’t matter, the important thing is that with such letters E you kill all the beauty and uniqueness of the letter D, therefore, a question :

What the fuck?

Even in the old styles, the letter E is easier to read:

A letter D has always had two lowercase styles. Creepy and super-cool:

"Dkonika", stop fucking around and write normally.

Fast links:

Posts about design: Design

Posts about the jambs of the Artemy Lebedev studio: Lebedevsky Pershez

posts about urns in St. Petersburg

posts about the jambs VKontakte

posts about interfaces: Interfigs

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