Reviewing further common exception words, no lead-ins | English

Starter quiz

Select the statements which are correct about this lower case letter in print.

this letter has a cross on the x-height line ✓

this letter has a cross on the baseline

this letter has an ascender ✓

this letter has a descender ✓

this letter is an x-height letter
Select the statements which are correct about this lower case letter in print.

this letter starts on the x-height line ✓

this letter starts on the baseline

this letter is an x-height letter

this letter has an ascender

this letter has a descender ✓
Select the statements which are correct about this lower case letter in print.

this letter has a dot at the top ✓

this letter has a descender ✓

this letter is an x-height letter

this letter finishes on the baseline

this letter curls up at the descender line ✓
True or false? You should use cursive handwriting before learning print.

True
False ✓
Select the correct cursive joins below.
Select the correct cursive joins below.

Worksheet

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Lesson Details

Key learning points

Common exception words do not follow regular spelling or phonics rules.
Letters in the common exception words will be joined using a range of joins depending on the letters in the word.
The first letter starts at the correct starting point.
There is appropriate spacing between the letters.
You don't lift your pencil to add the 'dot' for the letter i until the letter string is complete.

Common misconception

As a child becomes more confident at keeping their pencil on the page, they may forget to go back and add the 'dot' for the letter 'i' or the cross for the letter 't'.

Model to the children that when you finish a word, you look back at it and check if anything is missing. Modelling this habit will create the habit for them.

Keywords

Common exception word - a word that does not follow the regular spelling or phonics rules, often occurring frequently but requiring specific memorisation
Join - connecting together
Lead out - the stroke or line that guides us to smoothly finish a letter
Starting point - the starting point is the place where we begin to write a letter
Letter string - a group of letters that are written together in a word