Teaching page · Grade 1 · Lesson 1

Holding the pencil, and the first letters: l i t

A pencil is held in a pinch between thumb and pointer, resting on the middle finger — and the grip is only worth anything while a letter is being made with it.

What it is

The pencil rests on your middle finger, and your thumb and first finger pinch it just above the sharpened part. Hold it too tightly and your hand will ache before the page is finished. l, i and t are the first letters because each one is a single straight line down — and every letter you learn after this starts at the top too.

Watch it built

Pinch the pencil and rest it on your middle finger. Loose, not tight.

thumb and first finger pinch · middle finger holds it up

Start at the TOP line. Pull straight down to the bottom line. That is l.

i is a short line with a dot above. t is a tall line crossed.

i t

Remember
Every letter starts at the top and comes down.

Ask yourself: “Can I see three fingers holding, and two curled in?”

Remember

Pinch it, rest it, point it back — then write with it.