Why four lines help
The four lines show children exactly how tall each letter should be and where it sits, so their writing stays even. Once that habit is set, they move to two-line and single-line ruling.
Print first, then cursive
Children usually learn print letters first and then start joining. You can make the same text in both styles: print for younger classes, handwriting practice or cursive here for older ones.
NCF and NCERT links
- UKG–Class 1The NCF-FS fine-motor competency (C-3.3) moves from legible letters at about age 5 to 6 to clear writing, tracing and copying at 6 to 7.
- Class 1–2For English as a second language, children use the common letters to write simple words and sentences (C-11.2); Mridang is NCERT’s English book for these classes.
- Classes 3–5Santoor is NCERT’s English book for Classes 3 to 5; by now children write longer sentences, so the Small setting suits them.
Four-line ruling is not set by the NCF or the NCERT books. It is a long-standing classroom practice, and four-line English notebooks are sold alongside two-line and single-line ones across India. The four lines make three bands, and the third line from the top is the one every letter sits on, which is why it is drawn a little heavier on these sheets.
On the Large setting each band is about 9 mm tall, so a whole row is close to 2.8 cm; on Small each band is just over 6 mm. The NCF-FS asks for graded practice in workbooks, so start a class on Large, move to Small, and then to two-line and single-line notebooks as letters become even.
Summarised in our own words from the National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage (NCERT, 2022) and NCERT’s current English textbooks for Classes 1 to 5.
