Kia ora whānau,

In Year 1, we focus on developing independent writing skills. Building on the foundation of pencil grip and letter formation, students will now work on writing letters. Parents can encourage their child  to hold pencil correctly, letters should be of medium font, letters must sit on the line. For first five weeks we focus on writing in yellow books where we encourage children to focus on medium font size, letters sitting/touching the blue line and writing only in fron of the blue dots for good spacing. Our goal for tamariki is to feel confident in writing on their own, celebrating their progress as they become more independent writers.

Casey the Caterpillar Handwriting Program

In Year 1, we continue using the Casey the Caterpillar program to refine letter and number formation. Students will focus on improving letter size, spacing, and fluency. The program helps them develop strong handwriting skills by teaching correct starting points and pencil grip.

You can support your child by ensuring they hold their pencil correctly, start letters from the right point, and practice regularly to build neat and consistent handwriting.