The Order to Teach Letter Formation
Why alphabetical order is the worst way to teach writing, and what to do instead.
Almost every parent starts with A, then B, then C. It feels obvious. It is also the hardest possible order, and it is not what schools do.
Why alphabetical order makes it harder
Letters are not equally difficult. A requires two diagonal strokes meeting at a precise point plus a horizontal crossbar — it is genuinely one of the harder capitals. B requires two curves stacked against a vertical line. Meanwhile L, T and I are made entirely of straight lines a three year old can already draw.
Starting with A means the first experience of letter writing is a failure. Starting with L means it is a success.
Group letters by the strokes they share
The approach most handwriting programmes use is to teach letters in families that share a movement.
1. Straight lines only — L, T, I, F, E, H
These need only vertical and horizontal strokes. If your child can trace a straight line, they can write these.
2. Straight lines with diagonals — V, A, N, M, W, X, K, Y, Z
Diagonals demand more planning, because the child has to judge an angle rather than follow an edge.
3. Simple curves — C, O, Q, G, S
A single continuous curved movement. Worth practising the curve on its own first.
4. Curves joined to lines — D, P, B, R, J, U
The hardest group, because the hand has to change from a straight movement to a curved one without lifting.
Capitals before lowercase
Capitals use bigger, simpler movements and every one sits between the same two lines. Lowercase letters need three zones — some sit on the line, some have tails that drop below it, some have ascenders that reach up — and several involve tight curves that need finer control.
Most children are ready for capitals somewhere around three and a half to four, and lowercase closer to five.
Start with their own name
Whatever order you choose, the exception is a child's own name. It is the most motivating word there is, and children will happily practise it long past the point where they would tolerate a worksheet. Write it with a capital first letter and lowercase for the rest, even before they know lowercase properly — otherwise you spend a year unteaching ALL CAPITALS later.
Letter reversals are normal
Writing b for d, or a backwards N, is completely typical up to about age seven. It is not an early sign of dyslexia and it does not need correcting with drills. Model the correct direction next to their attempt and move on.
Where to start on this site
Work through Straight Line Tracing and the other pre-writing sheets before any letters at all. When those feel easy, the capital letter tracing sheets will be far less frustrating.