Handwriting Policy - St Ambrose
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Handwriting Policy
Rationale:
All students are to develop a fluent legible handwriting style, beginning with unjoined letters and moving to
joined handwriting.
St Ambrose Parish Primary School is committed to students developing an automatic, fluent and legible
handwriting style that enables them to communicate effectively when writing for different purposes.
Victorian Modern Cursive is a foundation handwriting style based upon ‘natural writing patterns’ identified
among young children. The Victorian Modern Cursive handwriting style was adopted as the required style to
provide consistency and direction for the teaching of handwriting.
Victorian Modern Cursive removes the distinction between printing (manuscript) and running writing (cursive).
Students learn a foundation style and then learn how to join letters to form a cursive script. This does away with
the need to learn a completely new style when moving from printing to cursive writing.
All students will be expected to handwrite in all written activities with Victorian Modern Cursive. A good
standard is expected and will be required for uniform presentation across the whole school. It is expected that
students leaving this school in Year 6 will have developed a fluent, automatic and legible style which will enable
them to write for increasing periods of time.
We believe a legible and fluent handwriting style is a relevant skill within our society and continues to be a
fundamental skill of a literate person despite the impact of new technologies.
Aims:
● To use the conventions of written language to enable the writer to record ideas and messages in a text
that can be read by others.
● To teach handwriting skills in the context of authentic writing tasks – that is, students learn handwriting
best as they compose texts that are meaningful to them.
● To introduce and foster the development of handwriting skills in the context of authentic literacy
activities.
Implementation:
● To teach handwriting within Literacy as this is where focused teaching of handwriting is most effective.
But to also take advantage of the many opportunities throughout the school day for reinforcing
St Ambrose Parish School System Update: March 2019
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Version 1. Date of Next Review: March 2021handwriting skills.
● To consistently use and display Victorian Modern Cursive.
● Victorian Modern Cursive is available as a font at
http://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/teachingresources/discipline/english/pages/handwr
iting.aspx which teachers can use to generate a range of resources for classroom use.
● Teachers will assess students’ handwriting in terms of the following qualities: legibility, aesthetic appeal,
speed and fluency. These will be assessed both formally – approximately every eight to ten weeks
depending on the needs of the students – and informally, on an ongoing basis.
WRITING IMPLEMENTS
● Students learning to write like to produce dark and contrasting lines so 2B and B standardised pencils
and felt or nylon tipped pens are recommended. Some thin-barred crayons may also be appropriate.
● When students have developed the precision grip and are forming letters correctly and fluently, HB
pencils can be used, as can B and 2B pencils and felt or nylon tipped pens.
● Fluent writers can be introduced to the use of ballpoint, fine-line and roller-ball pens.
● Moulded plastic devices designed to hold pens and pencils may assist students having trouble developing
the precision grip, as may triangular-shaped pencils. However, as their purpose is to assist in developing
pen grip they are best viewed as a short-term measure. While many students will find these implements
appropriate, implements should be selected to meet students’ individual needs.
PAPER
● Students in Year Prep will find appropriate: blank A4 paper and dotted thirds with line depth of 24 mm
(letter size 8 mm).
● Students in Year 1 and Year 2 will find appropriate A4 sheets and exercise books divided into dotted
thirds with line depth of 18 mm (letter size 6 mm).
● Students in Year 3 and Year 4 will find appropriate and introduction to 14 mm exercise books (letter
size: about 5 mm). Dotted thirds with a line depth of 18 mm (letter size 6 mm) may still be appropriate
for some students.
● Students entering Middle years – Years 5 and 6 will find appropriate an introduction to 8 or 9 mm
exercise books (letter size: 2 or 3 mm). Most of these students will no longer require dotted thirds. Refer
to Chapter 6 – Resources for writing - The Teaching of Handwriting – Revised Edition.
EXPECTATIONS
Prep:
● Understanding of appropriate use of capital and lower case letters
● Correct pencil grip taught, ‘grips’ used if necessary
● Plain paper used, no lines (lines introduced as appropriate, usually term 4, 24mm)
● All tall letters and capitals to take up 2 spaces on dotted thirds except ‘t’
● All tail letters to use the top third below
● All letters to sit appropriately on the line
● Writing to travel from left to right across page
● Writing to begin at the top left hand corner of the page
● Letters to be correctly formed and of appropriate size
● Starting points of letters to be correct
● Words spaced correctly, i.e.: two finger spaces between words, no big gaps in work
St Ambrose Parish School System Update: March 2019
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Version 1. Date of Next Review: March 2021● Progressing through work books in sequence
● Work books are to be kept neat and presentable. (No scribbling or graffiti in or on the outside of work
books)
● Errors to have brackets around them or a single line through them
● Erasers are not to be used
● Write in grey lead pencil only
● One hand on page.
● Correct posture to be used and reinforced when writing : back straight, both feet flat on the floor, page
turned to appropriate angle
● Write in Victorian Modern Script
● Handwriting to be taught in letter families
● Teachers at the beginning of the year, then students, to write the date on their work
● Writing to be legible and neatly presented
● All published work is to be handwritten
Grade 1 / 2:
● All students write upper and lower case letters legibly and with consistent size, slope and spacing
● All students to use dotted thirds. Grade 1 = 24mm, Grade 2 18mm
● All tall letters and capitals to take up 2 spaces on dotted thirds except ‘t’
● All tail letters to use the top third below
● All letters to sit appropriately on the line
● Writing to begin at the top left hand corner of the page
● One hand on page.
● All letters to be formed and sized correctly
● Starting points of letters to be correct
● Students to be shown the suitable size gap between words and are discouraged from having blank pages
in work books
● Work books are to be kept neat and presentable. (No scribbling or graffiti in or on the outside of work
books)
● Errors to have a single line through them.
● Eraser introduced for the use of corrections in published work only.
● Write in Victorian Modern Script
● All work to be correctly dated
● Ruling up in grey lead. Ruler width down left hand side. Line across top of page (End of Grade2)
● Rule off after work completed (end of Grade 2 only)
● Writing is legible and neatly presented
● All published work is to be handwritten
Grade 3 / 4:
● All students write upper and lower case letters legibly and with consistent size, slope and spacing
● Work books are to be kept neat and presentable. (No scribbling or graffiti in or on the outside of work
books)
● Errors to have brackets around them or a single line through them
● Eraser introduced for the use of corrections in published work only.
● Progress from grey lead to pen ‘Pen License’?
● Write in Victorian Modern Script and begin to use Cursive
● All work to be correctly dated
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Version 1. Date of Next Review: March 2021● Pages ruled up in red across the top and ruler width margin. (no ruling in maths grid book).
● Published work is to be a balance between handwritten and typed presentations
Grade 5 / 6:
● Appropriate use of capitals and lower case letters
● Appropriate pen/pencil grip
● Be able to demonstrate joining of all letters on dotted third lines and write using cursive links
● Be aware of entry and exit points for each letter
● No scribbling out. Lines are to be placed through errors. Promote use of jotters for making notes.
● No liquid paper to be used but erasers are fine when completing final published work.
● Work books are to be kept neat and presentable. (No scribbling or graffiti in or on the outside of work
books)
● May write in blue or black pen, or grey lead pencil. Red pen only for ruling up. Letters to be formed
accurately by this stage in accordance with Victorian Modern Cursive Script, based on oval and wedge
shape
● All lower case letters to be written in one movement except f, I, k, t and x
● All work to be correctly dated and titled
● Rule off when work completed
● Workbooks and pages to be neatly presented at all times. Students who do not maintain a reasonable
standard of presentation may be asked to re-do or complete at home. A student may be asked to replace
work books if vandalised
● Numerals to be recorded accurately
● Published work is to be a balance between handwritten and typed presentations
Evaluation:
This policy will be reviewed as part of the school’s review cycle.
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Version 1. Date of Next Review: March 2021Yr Victorian Paper Line Size Writing Correction Ruling Time Other
Curriculum Tool s Up Allocation
F Correctly form Plain paper 24 mm Thick Cross out X Combined
all upper and Lines as a when used triangular with
lower case scaffold to lead pencil fine motor
letters. support rotations,
writing mat
sessions and
demonstrate
d
activities.
1 They correctly Dotted 18mm Thick Cross out X 3x20 minutes
form all upper- thirds triangular
and lower-case lead pencil Eraser for
letters. final
Understand publishing
how to use only.
learned
formation
patterns to
represent
sounds and
write words
using
combinations of
unjoined upper-
and lower-case
letters
(VCELY196)
2 They legibly Dotted 18mm Standard Cross out Red 3x20 minutes Introduction
write unjoined thirds sized lead pencil of Victorian
upper- and pencil and Eraser for margin Modern
lower-case red pencil final with one Cursive with
letters. Write publishing line at closed p and
words and only. the b
sentences top.
legibly using
upper- and
lower-case
letters that are
applied with
growing fluency
using an
appropriate
pen/pencil grip
and body
position
(VCELY232)
3 They legibly Dotted 14mm Standard Cross out Red 1x20 minutes Victorian
write using thirds sized lead pencil Modern
consistently pencil Eraser for One line Cursive with
sized joined final on top closed p and
St Ambrose Parish School System Update: March 2019
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Version 1. Date of Next Review: March 2021letters. publishing and one b
Understand the only. on Joining of
conventions for bottom letters
writing words for continue.
and sentences margin.
using joined
letters that are
clearly formed
and consistent
in size
(VCELY268)
4 Handwrite using Dotted 14mm Lead pencil. Ruled lead Red pen 1x20 minutes Victorian
clearly-formed thirds pencil line One line Modern
joined letters, Red pen for through on top Cursive with
and develop ruling error and closed p and
increased up and one on b
fluency and marking Eraser for bottom Joining of
automaticity final for letters
(VCELY301) Pen when publishing margin. continue.
licence is only.
obtained
5 Develop a Standard 8mm Lead pencil. No liquid Red pen 1x20 minutes Victorian
handwriting lines Pencil for paper One line Modern
style that is labelling on top Cursive with
becoming maps and Rule blue and one closed p and
legible, fluent diagrams. line on b
and automatic Red pen for through bottom Speed loops
(VCELY331) ruling up. error for introduced
Transition margin. Beginning to
to blue pen Eraser for develop a
by end of final personal
Term 1. publishing style
Fine liner only.
optional
for
presentatio
n
6 Develop a Standard 8mm Blue and No liquid Red pen 1x20 minutes Victorian
handwriting lines red pen paper One line Modern
style that is Pencil for on top Cursive using
legible, fluent labelling Rule blue and one speed loops.
and that can maps and line on Beginning to
vary depending diagrams. Through bottom develop a
on context Fine liner for personal
(VCELY360) optional Eraser for margin. style
for final
presentatio publishing
n only.
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Prep to Grade 2
Grade 3 & 4
Grade 5 & 6
St Ambrose Parish School System Update: March 2019
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Consistently demonstrate handwriting that is:
1. Well spaced
2. Joined correctly and neatly
3. On the correct lines
4. Smooth and fluent
Recht, E. 2010, Write Well, 6th Edition, Pearson Australia, Port Melbourne.
Achieving a Pen Licence:
● Students need to have demonstrated the above criteria consistently in Grade 4, but can receive a pen
license in Grade 3 if all above criteria are achieved and maintained.
● In order to be awarded a Pen Licence, 10 perfect pages of handwriting must be achieved throughout
Term 3 & 4 and must be noted/sighted by the teacher (not necessarily just in the child’s structured
handwriting session/workbook).
● Students are to be made aware that once the pen licence is issued, it may be retracted at any time for
illegible writing or for not consistently demonstrating the above criteria.
● At the conclusion of the Grade 4 year, all Grade 4 students will have the number of pages of perfect
handwriting that they have earned towards achieving their pen licence recorded on their profile card.
This will be handed on to the following year’s teacher so that students who have not achieved their Pen
St Ambrose Parish School System Update: March 2019
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Version 1. Date of Next Review: March 2021License can continue to work towards achieving their licence.
● Students who have already been awarded their licence in Grade 4 will be able to commence their Grade
5 year using pen, keeping in mind that it may be retracted at any time for not consistently demonstrating
the above criteria.
● Pen licences may be re-awarded after being retracted for not demonstrating the above criteria, at the
discretion of the teacher.
● Teacher may stipulate that grey-lead be used for Mathematics.
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