Let's Make a Capital A!

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SWBAT use correct letter formation to make the capital letter A.

Big Idea

We use the letter A to read and write.

Prepare the Learner

15 minutes



I say(name of picture)

Students  say(name of picture)

We all say letter sound three times. 





Interact with concept

45 minutes

Leo A

Here is a great video that is a short introduction to letter formation for the letter A:

Our printing books are called Leo books.  I do the capital letter as directed teaching on Tuesdays and the lower case letter as directed teaching on Thursdays.  When we do letter formation practice it is very systematic and teacher directed.  I do the pages one line at a time. Directed teaching of letter formation is crucial for beginning writers to ensure they have legible writing.  Letter formation is not something they pick up intuitively and without it their writing can be unclear and/or not understandable.

Say: Boys and girls, pencils down, eyes on me.  Where to I start for the capital A? (at the top) That’s right we put our pencils on the top line. I then make a slanted line down to the left and touch the bottom line. (students are watching me and I write very slowly and precisely) I  pick up my pencil and put it back on the top line and make another slanted line down to the right.  I then go middle, across. (there is now an ‘A’ on the line)  Does everyone see how my A is sitting on the bottom line?  (yes)  Ok.  Watch me again. (I make another A very slowly)  Say: Start on the top line. Down. Down.  Middle.  Across.  I try to give simple word sequence clues for students to say to themselves as they make the letters.  I only do this after I have modeled it several times, so the kids know what the word clues mean. 

I believe in the power of non example as well as example, so I do a few non examples as well.  Say: Boys and girls, is this a good capital A?  I make a capital A that is not sitting on the line or one where I start on the bottom line and go up.  The students will tell me ‘no’ and then I ask them to tell me why. 

Say: Now I want you to try your As on line #s 1-2.  Only line #s 1-2 then you put your pencil down and wait for me.  Begin.    As kids are making their As on the first two lines, I assist and monitor where necessary.  If students are making mistakes, I use hand over hand to help them, or I show them with my marker on their paper while they watch.  I then have them make an A while I watch and offer further correction, if it is necessary.  As I see that kids are finishing, I go back to the document camera and do the same routine with the rest of the page.

Extend Understanding

20 minutes




