Formation of c, a, d, o, g and q

I can form the letters c, a, d, o, g and q.

New

Year 2

I can form the letters c, a, d, o, g and q.

Slide deck

The letters c, a, d, o, g and q all start just below the x-height line and go round in an anti-clockwise direction.
The letters c, a and o are x-height letters.
The letters g and q have descenders and d has an ascender.
The letter g finishes with a curl up at the descender line.
The letter q finishes with a diagonal line out to the side at the descender line.

Children can get confused about the direction to take when forming the letters c, a, d, o, g and q.

Be very explicit about going anti-clockwise, use a clock to emphasise this to the children.

X-height letter - a letter which sits between the baseline and the x-height line
Ascender - the part of a letter that extends above the x-height line
Anti-clockwise direction - moving or going in the opposite direction of a clock's hands
Descender - the part of a letter that descends below the baseline
Diagonal line - a line that slants or leans

To support students with the anti-clockwise direction you can add an arrow on their whiteboard/paper.

Teacher tip

Adult supervision recommended.

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