* M
* A
* S
We're following the Oxford Owl phonics order because I wanted to stay as close as possible to what he'll be learning in school. I've also linked the Oxford Owl sound chart and our handwriting resources in Google Drive (here), so other parents can use them too.
The resources include:
* The handwriting phrases
* Letter tracing sheets
* Activities to reinforce each letter
Then We Had a Funny Realisation...
Last week, Zachariah's dad and I were chatting about how Oliver could already spell his name before he started Reception.
Then we remembered something...
Oliver has six letters.
Zachariah has nine!
At that moment, I thought, *Poor child... what was I thinking when I gave him such a long name?*
Of course, he'll have to write it one day!
So instead of waiting until school starts, I decided to give him a head start.
I created a simple worksheet that says:
"My name is Zachariah."
The plan is for him to practise writing it every day throughout the summer.
My hope is that by the first day of Reception, he'll be able to write his name confidently without tracing or needing to copy it.
Progress Doesn't Happen Overnight
One thing I really want to encourage parents about is this...
Please don't judge Day One.
Don't worry if the letters go off the line.
Don't worry if they can't trace neatly.
Don't worry if they struggle.
When Zachariah first started tracing, I honestly found myself comparing him to Oliver.
I remembered Oliver picking it up quite quickly and thought,
"Wait... I don't remember it being this difficult."*
For a moment, I questioned whether we had started too early.
Then I reminded myself:
If not now... when?
He's starting school soon.
He's going to be writing every day.
Learning takes practice.
So we carried on.
The Difference Just a Few Days Makes
By Day Two, there was already improvement.
He was beginning to write without relying completely on the tracing lines.
By Day Three...
His letter M looked fantastic.
That reminded me that children simply need repetition.
Practice really does make progress.
Why We're Only Learning Three Letters
Some parents like to teach lots of letters at once.
I've decided not to.
For us, three letters a week feels realistic.
It gives Zachariah enough time to recognise the sounds, practise writing them, and build confidence before moving on.
While he's writing each letter, I encourage him to say the sound aloud.
So when he writes:
M - he says the sound and handwriting phrase, and so on.
That way, he's learning handwriting and phonics together.
It's Okay to Skip a Day or Days. Please, don't judge yourself
One evening, Zachariah told me he was tired and didn't want to do any work.
So we skipped it.
And that's perfectly okay.
I never want learning to become something he dreads.
I want him to enjoy learning.
Children learn best when they're interested, encouraged, and excited not when they feel forced.
A missed day won't ruin their progress.
A love for learning will build progress for years.
You Can Create These Worksheets Too
Quite a few parents have asked about the handwriting sheets.
If you'd like one personalised with your child's name, you can make one yourself; AI can do it in seconds.
Try a prompt like:
*"Create a printable Reception handwriting worksheet that says “My name is [Name]” five times in dotted traceable letters, with blank handwriting lines underneath for practice. Child-friendly and print-ready."*
You can even ask it to generate a printable PDF.
It's a brilliant way to create personalised handwriting practice at home.
Final Thoughts
If there's one thing I've learnt already, it's this:
Children don't improve because they're naturally good at something.
They improve because they practise.
So if your child is struggling today, don't panic.
Keep showing up.
Keep encouraging them.
Celebrate the small improvements.
Before you know it, those wobbly first attempts will become confident handwriting.
And that's exactly what we're hoping to see by the end of the summer.
With Love,
Ayo
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