LA 3.09Letter Size and Placement on Lined Paper

1. 1

   Show the paper and name each line: top line, middle line, baseline. Run a finger along each one.

2. 2

   Say, "Every letter sits on the baseline." Write "a" so it sits on the baseline and reaches the middle line: "a is a short letter."

3. 3

   Write "l" from the top line down to the baseline: "l is a tall letter."

4. 4

   Write "g" with its round part between the middle line and baseline and its tail below: "g is a tail letter."

5. 5

   Invite the child to write one short, one tall, and one tail letter.

6. 6

   Lay out six or eight sandpaper letters and sort them together into short, tall, and tail groups.

7. 7

   Invite the child to write a row of one letter, checking that each touches the right lines.

What catches the child’s eye

• The tail of g or y dipping below the baseline
• Sorting letters into three families by height

Extensions, easiest to hardest

1. Sorting all lowercase sandpaper letters into short, tall, and tail groups
2. Writing letters the adult dictates by sound, each in the right place on the lines
3. Moving to narrower lines as control grows