Handwriting Tips to help improve handwriting

Why improve Handwriting? Legibility important for proof reading/marking purposes Legibility important for proof reading/marking purposes Speed and legibility are vital for better grades Speed and legibility are vital for better grades Builds self esteem and pride in work Builds self esteem and pride in work Saves us needing scribes for exams Saves us needing scribes for exams

Rules Letters are two distinct sizes- short letters such as Letters are two distinct sizes- short letters such asa,e,w,sand tall letters such as t,h,k,l and all CAPITALS All short letters and tall letters should be the same height

Rules All letters should sit correctly on the line with appropriately sized ascenders and descenders sit correctly on the line with appropriately sized ascenders and descenders___hkmb___ gypj

Rules Leave clear spaces between words Leave clear spaces between words The cat sat on the mat. If writing is printed ask students to try joining high frequency words- this clearly joins letters together in word form and makes spaces clearer to see If writing is printed ask students to try joining high frequency words- this clearly joins letters together in word form and makes spaces clearer to see The cat sat on the mat.

Tips for teachers Be consistent in your expectations Be consistent in your expectations Set presentation targets Set presentation targets Point out how difficult it is to mark illegible work- and how this relates to exam work and grades Point out how difficult it is to mark illegible work- and how this relates to exam work and grades Handwriting books can be provided for especially weak students in subject areas Handwriting books can be provided for especially weak students in subject areas