Handwriting

Pencil Grip

Here are some youtube clips that show some ways you can encourage your child to hold a pencil correctly.

Casey Caterpillar Handwriting Programme Sayings

Forming letters – letters are formed by combining shapes that children learn and practice as part of the Magic Caterpillar programme.  Below are the letters and the way in which we describe the formation to the children

Letter	Formation	Letter	Formation
a	Open hungry mouth, short stick up, Casey crawls down	b	Tall stick down, up half way, make a gate and close it
c	Open hungry mouth	d	Open hungry mouth, tall stick up, Casey crawls down
e	Twig, open hungry mouth	f	Feeler, twig
g	Open hungry mouth, short stick, possum tail	h	Tall stick down, up half way, make a tunnel
i	Short stick, ladybird spot	j	Short stick, possum tail, ladybird spot
k	Tall stick down, up half way, make a gate and close it, short stick out	l	Tall stick down
m	Short stick down, make a tunnel, make a tunnel	n	Short stick down, make a tunnel
o	Open hungry mouth join it up	p	Short stick, hanging down stick, Casey crawls up, make a gate and close it
q	Open hungry mouth, short stick, hanging down stick	r	Short stick down, start to make a tunnel and stop
s	Open hungry mouth, make Sammy the Snake	t	Tall stick down, twig
u	Open cup, short stick	v	Sloping stick down, sloping stick up
w	Sloping stick down, sloping stick up, sloping stick down, sloping stick up	x	Sloping stick, cross over sloping stick
y	Open cup, possum tail	z	Twig, sloping stick, twig

Forming Numerals numbers have the same formations as letters, with the addition of a snail shape

1	Tall stick	2	Ear, tall stick, twig
3	Ear, ear	4	Tall stick, twig, short stick
5	Short stick, ear, twig	6	Tall stick, make a snail
7	Twig, tall stick	8	Make Sammy the Snake, put his tail in his mouth
9	Open  hungry mouth, tall stick down

You may like to use this language when working with your child(ren) at home.