Watch: Long ladder letters
Some letters are called long ladder letters because they have a long straight line in them.
For example:
l, i, t, u, j and y
Watch the following clip to learn more about these letters.
Learn about long ladder letters.
Long ladder letters are known for their straight lines.
Some are simple, with just a single line straight down like ‘l’.
Whereas others follow more complicated patterns, such as ‘t’. They still start the same, straight down before the pencil leaves the page, then comes back over to cross the ‘t’.
There are those that even head back up for a second line, joined by a curve underneath like ‘u’ and ‘y’.
The exceptions are ‘i' and ‘j’, which always leaves an extra dot behind.
When joining long ladder letters to other letters, you have to think about where you will finish writing one letter and how you will link it to the next.
Top tip!
- l is joined by drawing the long line down and then curling the end to join to the next letter.
- t is the same but you go back at the end of the word to add the cross.
Watch: Curly caterpillar letters
Curly caterpillar letters always start with the curl being drawn first.
For example:c, o, a and s
Some curly caterpillar letters have long ladders in them too. You always start with the curve before drawing the long ladder.
For example:d, g, q and f
Learn about curly caterpillar letters.
The wonders of the wild alphabet, come in many shapes and sizes.
Such as the curly caterpillar letters.
They start by looping from the top, before curling out the bottom.
They really are that simple.
But sometimes a curly letter has a straight line too.
Always start with the curl first.
Whether it's ‘a’, ‘q’ or ‘o’.
Despite having curls in common, there's nothing common about the curly caterpillar letters.
Top tip!
With the letter f, you draw the curve and long line first.
Then take your pen off the paper to cross the f.
When you are joining up your writing, the cross joins onto the next letter.
Top tips for practicing your handwriting
- Sit comfortably on a chair with both feet on the floor.
- Turn your paper slightly so it is on an angle.
- Keep your back up straight and look down with your head.
- Write using a pen or pencil.
- Copy over the example letters first to see and feel how the join is.
- It is ok to take a break if your hand is hurting. Do lots of stretching of your fingers to help make it feel better.
Activity 1
Take this quick quiz and see what you can remember.
Activity 2
Practise your long ladder letter joins by writing the words on the list on the right on lined paper.
Write each word in the list to the right on lined paper four times.
- letter
- lettuce
- yellow
- lolly
- lullaby
Now try combining what you have learnt about long ladder letters and curly caterpillar letters.
Make your handwriting as neat as you can and see if you can join up some of your letters.
- coal
- dog
- fantastic
- lovely
- silly
Challenge
Choose two words from the list. Write a sentence that uses both of them. Can you keep your handwriting neat?
Activity 3
Copy this short tongue twister out on lined paper.
Use what you have learnt about long ladder letters and curly caterpillar letters.
Try to make your handwriting as neat as you can and join each letter carefully.
Lilly the lemon loving lemur loved licking lemons
All day she would lick lovely lemons from dawn until dusk
One day Lilly lost all her lovely yellow lemons
So now she licks limes instead.
You’ve worked really hard practising your handwriting today, now have some fun!
How many times can you say the tongue twister above without making a mistake?
Maybe you could challenge your friends and family to a tongue twister competition?
Play our fun English game Crystal Explorers! game
Use grammar, punctuation and spelling skills to explore jungles, caves and tombs on your mission.
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