How to use this pack
Work through the sheets in order. Skip nothing. OTs teach these building blocks in this sequence because each one builds the hand strength and motor plan for the next. Expect 10 minutes a day, five days a week, for six weeks.
Print each sheet at 100% scale on plain A4 paper. Use a standard pencil (HB or 2B) with a grip aid if the child's fingers slip. Sit at a table with feet flat on the floor and paper tilted 20 degrees away from the writing hand.
Week 1 to 2: pre-writing shapes
These five shapes appear inside every letter. If the child cannot draw them cleanly, letters will never settle.
- Vertical line (top to bottom). Trace then copy. The child must start at the top every time.
- Horizontal line (left to right). Always left to right, even for left-handers.
- Diagonal line. Top-right to bottom-left, then bottom-left to top-right.
- Curve. Anti-clockwise curve first (forms c, a, d, g, o, q).
- Cross. Vertical first, then horizontal across it.
Red flag: if after a week the child still cannot draw a straight vertical line without wobbling, stop the pack and book an OT assessment.
Week 3: uppercase letters A to Z
Uppercase first, because every letter starts at the top and uses only straight lines and simple curves. The green dot marks where the pencil lands; the arrow shows direction. Teach in family groups:
- Stick letters: L, I, T, H, E, F (vertical + horizontal only).
- Diagonal letters: A, V, W, X, M, N, K, Y, Z.
- Curve letters: C, O, Q, G, S, U, J.
- Mixed letters: B, D, P, R, b-family.
Week 4: lowercase a to z
Lowercase is harder because half the letters start in the middle of the line, not the top. Teach in three height bands:
- Small: a, c, e, i, m, n, o, r, s, u, v, w, x, z.
- Tall: b, d, f, h, k, l, t.
- Hanging: g, j, p, q, y.
Use three-line paper so the child can see where each letter sits. Do not move to two-line paper until week 5.
Week 5: simple words
Three-letter CVC words from the Malaysian year 1 syllabus: cat, dog, sun, bed, pen, cup, bag, fan, box, top. Trace, copy, then write from memory. One word per line, written three times.
Week 6: endurance and spacing
Write short sentences. Insert a small square after every word as a spacing reminder. Build to two full lines of writing without a break.
Pencil grip reminders
- Pencil rests on the middle finger, held by thumb and index.
- Ring and little fingers curl into the palm.
- Pencil should angle back toward the shoulder, not straight up.
- If the child squeezes hard enough to tear paper, add a gel grip or switch to a triangular pencil.
Parent progress log
Each week tick three boxes: (1) finished all worksheets for the week, (2) grip stayed correct without reminders, (3) child wrote for 10 minutes without complaint. If two or more weeks in a row score below two ticks, ask an OT to review the plan.