Standard 2: Reading Foundations

Students will develop foundational skills for future reading success by working with sounds, letters, and text.

PRINT CONCEPTS: Students will demonstrate their understanding of the organization and basic features of print, including book handling skills and the understanding that printed materials provide information and tell stories. 

Student Actions 

Teacher Actions 

• Students will correctly print the letters contained in their first and last name.
• Students will correctly print most uppercase and lowercase letters.

• Teachers model correct letter formation.

• Teachers provide opportunities for students to practice writing their first and last names by tracing, copying, and practicing independently.

• Teachers monitor name writing skills and provide feedback as needed for correct letter formation and spelling.

• Teachers model correct letter formation.

• Teachers provide opportunities for students to practice printing uppercase and lowercase letters by tracing, copying, and practicing independently.

• Teachers provide practice writing uppercase and lowercase letters using tracing on sensory bags, race track mats, dry erase mats, etc. 

• Teachers monitor letter formation and provide feedback as needed to help students form letters correctly. 

Supporting Resources 

Teacher Insights 

Reading Rockets:  The Importance of Teaching 

Pre-Writing Skills (webpage)

Handwriting Development - Sizing, Spacing, Alignment & More(webpage)

Letter Formation Charts (PDF)

Proper pencil grip(webpage) 

Spaghetti & Meatball Spacing (webpage)

• Students will often learn letters that are important to them first, such as letters in their name.

• The ability to write letters is a skill highly correlated with literacy learning.

• Writing a letter from memory, not copying, requires retrieval of representation and coordination of fine motor movements to produce the letter.

• Students need opportunities to write daily.

• Manipulatives, craft sticks, paper, magnetic, or wooden letter forms, modeling compound, songs, and rhymes can be used to teach letter formation.

Due to recursive nature of the standards, it is essential that teachers are aware of how all objectives within and between strands work together for optimal instruction.