New Wave Handwriting: 1st Class

The New Wave Handwriting series helps pupils develop a fluid and legible modern style of cursive handwriting.

The content in the pupil books for Junior and Senior Infants is based on pre-cursive letters, with the 1st Class pupil book formally beginning a fully cursive style. Consistent with the Writing Learning Outcomes specified in the new Language Curriculum which states: ‘Write using cursive script’ (Stage 2, 1st and 2nd Classes).

Features:

• Each book places a major emphasis on a variety of pattern practice to facilitate the pupil’s acquisition of each letter. Sequence of letters carefully arranged: At infant level, the Jolly Phonics sequence for letter introduction is mirrored. From 1st Class on-wards, the progression is based on clockwise and anticlockwise letter formation, while diagonal and horizontal joins are carefully introduced.
• Red and blue guiding lines are used to help pupils learn letter sizes and spacing.
• Emphasis on practice throughout, at the individual letter level, progressing to words and sentences, finishing in paragraphs.
• Each book contains a variety of separate activities that involve cross-curricular themes, drawn from areas such as Gaeilge, history, geography, English and SPHE.
• Different animal characters are used in each book – these characters are used as teaching aids to help pupils learn the body letters, the head and body letters and the body and tail letters.