Pre-Writing Patterns
Preparing children for letter formation.
A Learning Resource for Skill Set 2: Perceptual Motor
Practical and easy to use.
This manual provides early childhood
workers and parents with information
on posture, grasps, pencil control
and pre-writing patterns.
The manual targets the six basic
patterns that form the basis of all
alphabet letters.
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The manual outlines big body
movements, art activities and
pre-writing pattern worksheets.
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COPYRIGHT INFORMATION
2011 PLD Organisation Pty. Ltd. (Publisher) - www.pld-literacy.org
Contributions by Camilla Holt, Diana Rigg, Bridget Scott and Deborah Walter.
Edited by Diana Rigg
First Edition 2011 - Pre-Writing Patterns. Preparing children for letter formation.
ISBN 978-1-921560-70-5
This resource is copyright under the Copyright Act, 1968 (Cth). All rights reserved.
Copyright Guidelines: The purchasing Educational Institution is granted permission to copy or communicate only a
reasonable proportion – being no more than 10% or one chapter, at any given time, for educational purposes only.
Artistic Works include illustrations, photographs, drawings, pictures and design components within teaching manuals and on flash cards, charts and posters. They should not be adapted or removed and are recognised by the
Copyright Act 1968.
Digital reproduction of this publication/resource or any proportion of it is strictly prohibited without written consent
from PLD Organisation Pty. Ltd..
This blackline master is published and sold with a limited copyright. It may only be reproduced by the original
purchaser for use with their class(es). The publisher (PLD Organisation Pty. Ltd.) prohibits the loaning or onselling of
this master for the purposes of reproduction.
Please visit www.pld-literacy.org for our extended Copyright Guidelines.
Overview Of Contents
Introduction: Getting Ready For Writing
Simple Strategies: Posture, Hand Warm Ups, Pencil Grip, Position Of Paper and Hand Position
Supporting Children For The Task Of Making Pre-Writing Patterns
4-5
6 - 17
18 - 19
Pre-Writing Pattern 1 - “Sideways, sideways, left to right.”
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Pre-Writing Pattern 1 Quick Reference Card For Following Steps
Art Activity Worksheets
Pre-Writing Pattern Worksheets
21 -22
23 - 33
34 - 34
Pre-Writing Pattern 2 - “ Tall Lines - Down, down, top to bottom.”
“Short Lines - Down, top to bottom.”
45
Pre-Writing Pattern 2 Quick Reference Card For Following Steps
Art Activity Worksheets
Pre-Writing Pattern Worksheets
46 - 47
48 - 57
58 - 74
Pre-Writing Pattern 3 - Zig zag line going up and down.”
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Pre-Writing Pattern 3 Quick Reference Card For Following Steps
Art Activity Worksheets
Pre-Writing Pattern Worksheets
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78 - 87
88 - 98
Pre-Writing Pattern 4 - “ Circle going around and forward.”
“Circle going around and back.”
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Pre-Writing Pattern 4 Quick Reference Card For Following Steps
Art Activity Worksheets
Pre-Writing Pattern Worksheets
Pre-Writing Pattern 5 - “Up and overs.”
Pre-Writing Pattern 5 Quick Reference Card For Following Steps
Art Activity Worksheets
Pre-Writing Pattern Worksheets
Pre-Writing Pattern 6 - “ Down and unders.”
“Down, back and unders.”
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Pre-Writing Pattern 6 Quick Reference Card For Following Steps
Art Activity Worksheets
Pre-Writing Pattern Worksheets
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102 - 121
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171 - 180
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Combining the six basic patterns
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Combine Pre-Writing Pattern 1 with Pre-Writing 2 - Worksheets
Combine diagonal lines from Pre-Writing Pattern 3 - Worksheets
Combine Pre-Writing Pattern 2 with Pre-Writing 3 - Worksheets
Combine Pre-Writing Pattern 1 with Pre-Writing 3 - Worksheets
Combine Pre-Writing Pattern 2 with Pre-Writing 6 - Worksheets
Combine Pre-Writing Pattern 2 with Pre-Writing 4 - Worksheets
Making a smooth join when combining tall lines or short lines with circles. - Worksheets
Combine elements of Pre-Writing Pattern 4 - Worksheets
198 - 204
205 - 213
214 - 223
224 - 227
228 - 232
233 - 247
248 - 261
262 - 265
Kicks - Worksheets
266 - 269
Checklist For Letter Formation Readiness
Recommended Resources
270 - 271
272
Contents
Pre-Writing Patterns
PLD Organisation Pty. Ltd.
3
Getting Ready For Writing
Throughout the early years, children are encouraged to participate in a range of
fine motor activities that develop:
• their manipulative skills
• a dominant hand
• the ability to use both hands together
Introducing pre-writing patterns aids the smooth transition to writing alphabet letters.
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Pre-Writing Patterns presents a simple, systematic and fun approach for teaching
the foundation skills that are necessary for fluent handwriting. It outlines six basic
movements that are essential for children to learn the pre-writing patterns used to
make pictures and then combined to make letters and numbers.
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Six
basic
O patterns form the
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basis of all alphabet letters.
The patterns below combine to make letters.
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Sideways, sideways,
left to right.
Tall lines and
short lines.
Zig Zags.
Circles, drawn
forwards and backwards.
Up and overs.
Down and unders.
Down, back and unders.
Pre-Writing Patterns
PLD Organisation Pty. Ltd.
Introduction
Pencil Grip (continued)
What Is NOT A Good Pencil Grip? (Pencil Grip continued)
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Thumb Wrap
Transpalmar
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Pencil Grip
Thumb Tuck
Interdigital Brace
Supinate
Index Grip
Pre-Writing Patterns
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Quick reference card for following steps.
Pre-Writing Pattern
1
Sideways, sideways, left to right.
Outcome or desired Pre-Writing Pattern
Horizontal straight line, drawn from left to right.
When starting out, the movement going left to right
is most important. Encourage the children to make
their line as straight and horizontal as possible. While
short, horizontal lines are also used in letter formation
in the early stages of learning this movement it is recommended for children to extend their lines.
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Oral Prompting Cue
“Sideways, sideways, left to right.”
Getting It Right!
Getting the movement and pattern right will benefit
the formation of:
Lowercase letters: e, f, t, z
Uppercase letters: A, E, F, H, L, T, Z
Note: Different fonts may require different combinations of the basic patterns to make up the letters.
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Step 1 Learn the pattern as a big body movement.
At this initial stage it is essential that the oral prompting cues are also established.
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Oral Prompting Cues
Language To Use
Adult says... “Make a pointing finger
and reach across your body into
the air. Make a straight line going
sideways, sideways, left to right.”
Sideways,
sideways,
left to right.
Face class and
observe students
doing movement.
Instructions
Instruct the students to make several
movements with their eyes open and
then try them with their eyes closed.
(For left handed children say “Make
a pointing finger and reach out to the
left in the air. Make.....”) While doing
the movement, have children say
“Sideways, sideways, left to right.”
“Now we are going to use our
sideways, sideways, left to right to .....”
P.T.O.
Pre-Writing Pattern 1
Pre-Writing Patterns
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“Sideways, sideways, left to right.” Decorate then cut out.
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Sideways, sideways, left to right (Pre-Writing Pattern 1). Art Activity Worksheet 10 Task Instructions. (Remember to observe skill performance.)
Start with big body movements. Language to use: Adult says “Make a pointing finger and reach across your body into the air. Make a straight
line going sideways, sideways, left to right.” Instructions: Instruct the students to make several movements with thier eyes open and then try
them with their eyes closed.” (For left handed children say “Make a pointing finger and reach out to the left in the air. Make.....”) While doing
the movement, have children say “Sideways, sideways, left to right.”
Art Activity: Adult says “Now we are going to use our sideways, sideways, left to right to make whiskers and stripes on the cat.”
Photocopy the worksheet to A3 size. Adult chooses what sort of medium they would like the child to use:
Cut strips of wool, paper.
Play dough - rolled or cut into strips.
Thick chuncky crayons, textas or chalks. Child should run their fingers over the texture of the
finished art work to experience the movement that makes the pre-writing pattern.
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Correct
Posture
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Left To Right
Direction
Yes
Yes
No
No
Pre-Writing Patterns
PLD Organisation Pty. Ltd.
Correct Grip
Yes
No
Thumbs Up
Thumb in top
ring of scissors.
Yes
No
Pre-Writing Pattern 1
“Sideways, sideways, left to right.”
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Sideways, sideways, left to right (Pre-Writing Pattern 1). Pre-Writing Pattern Worksheet 4 Task Instructions.
Start with big body movements. Language to use: Adult says “Make a pointing finger and reach across your body into the air. Make a straight line
going sideways, sideways, left to right.” Instructions: Instruct the students to make several movements with their eyes open and then try them with their
eyes closed.” (For left handed children say “Make a pointing finger and reach out to the left in the air. Make.....”) While doing the movement, have
children say “Sideways, sideways, left to right.”
Pre-Writing Pattern: Adult says “Now we are going to use our sideways, sideways, left to right to join the gorilla to the banana (etc). Try to keep your
line within the black lines.” Adult observes skill performance. (Optional: Repeat the process with a range of different colours.)
Correct
Pencil Grip
Pre-Writing Pattern 1
Left To Right
Direction
Yes
Yes
No
No
Heel Slide
Yes
No
Just Right
Pressure
Yes
No
Pre-Writing Patterns
PLD Organisation Pty. Ltd.
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“Sideways, sideways, left to right.” Start at the
and finish at the
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Sideways, sideways, left to right (Pre-Writing Pattern 1). Pre-Writing Pattern Worksheet 5 Task Instructions.
Start with big body movements. Language to use: Adult says “Make a pointing finger and reach across your body into the air. Make a straight line
going sideways, sideways, left to right.” Instructions: Instruct the students to make several movements with their eyes open and then try them with their
eyes closed.” (For left handed children say “Make a pointing finger and reach out to the left in the air. Make.....”) While doing the movement, have
children say “Sideways, sideways, left to right.”
Pre-Writing Pattern: Adult says “Now we are going to use our sideways, sideways, left to right to start at the triangles, join the squares and finish at the
dots.” Adult observes skill performance.
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Correct
Pencil Grip
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Left To Right
Direction
Yes
Yes
No
No
Pre-Writing Patterns
PLD Organisation Pty. Ltd.
Heel Slide
Yes
No
Just Right
Pressure
Yes
No
Pre-Writing Pattern 1
“Sideways, sideways, left to right.” Draw rungs for the ladder.
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Sideways, sideways, left to right (Pre-Writing Pattern 1). Pre-Writing Pattern Worksheet 7 Task Instructions.
Start with big body movements. Language to use: Adult says “Make a pointing finger and reach across your body into the air. Make a straight line
going sideways, sideways, left to right.” Instructions: Instruct the students to make several movements with their eyes open and then try them with their
eyes closed.” (For left handed children say “Make a pointing finger and reach out to the left in the air. Make.....”) While doing the movement, have
children say “Sideways, sideways, left to right.”
Pre-Writing Pattern: Adult says “Now we are going to use our sideways, sideways, left to right to draw rungs for the ladder. Try to keep your lines
straight.” Adult observes skill performance. (Optional: Repeat the process with a range of different colours.)
Correct
Pencil Grip
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Left To Right
Direction
Yes
Yes
No
No
Pre-Writing Patterns
PLD Organisation Pty. Ltd.
Heel Slide
Yes
No
Just Right
Pressure
Yes
No
Pre-Writing Pattern 1
“Tall line then sideways, sideways, left to right.” Cross the birds’ perches.
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Combine Pre-Writing Pattern 1 with Pre-Writing Pattern 2 - Worksheet 6 Task Instructions.
Adult says “Let’s use a tall line then a sideways, sideways, left to right line to cross the birds’ perches.”
If needed, enlarge the worksheet to an A3 size. Adult observes skill performance.
Correct
Posture
Combining Patterns
Correct
Pencil Grip
1st
Top To Bottom
Direction
2nd
Left To Right
Direction
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
Pre-Writing Patterns
PLD Organisation Pty. Ltd.
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Checklist For Letter Formation Readiness (1 of 2 Pages)
Writing/Drawing
Name: ___________________________________________ Age: __________ Date: _____________
Posture whilst writing/colouring/drawing
Side View
Yes
No
Slumped Backwards
Yes
No
Slumped Forwards
Yes
No
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Pencil Grip
Right
Left
Both
Swapping
Describe:
Dagger
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Pronate
Quadropod
Static Tripod
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Tightness Of Grasp
Loose
Tight
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Other
Just Right
Pressure On Page
Heavy
Light
Just Right
Copying (Completes consistently in correct direction.)
Pre-Writing
Pattern 1
Pre-Writing
Pattern 2
Pre-Writing
Pattern 3
Sideways,
sideways,
left to right.
Tall Lines
and
Short Lines.
Zig zag.
Yes
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No
Pre-Writing Patterns
Yes
No
Yes
PLD Organisation Pty. Ltd.
No
Pre-Writing
Pattern 4
Circle going around
and forward.
Circle going
around and back.
Yes
No
Pre-Writing
Pattern 5
Pre-Writing
Pattern 6
Up and
overs.
Down and unders.
Down, back
and unders.
Yes
No
Yes
No
Checklist For Letter Formation Readiness