What line heights are used in the D'Nealian and Zaner-Bloser handwriting curricula? What size and style of lined paper do you need to download or purchase for which grade? Use the graphical guide and table on this page to find out.
Graphical guide to line heights
Note that the measurements 3/4", 5/8", 1/2" and 3/8" refer to the size of the tall letters - or the distance from baseline to headline - because that's how the ‘size’ of three-lined paper and two-lined paper is described. Different styles of writing paper with the same identifying measurement may have a different number of lines on the page, but the size of the letters will be the same.
The measurement 11/32" refers to the distance from baseline to baseline, because that is how the size of ruled paper (paper with only baselines) is normally described. The size 11/32" is known as wide ruled paper. When you compare grade 5 of both handwriting curricula, notice how the size of the letters is very different even though the paper size is the same.
In the table below, I give both the size of the tall letters and the distance from baseline-to-baseline. I have converted (and sometimes rounded) the sizes to decimal numbers so you can compare them more easily:
| D'Nealian Handwriting | Zaner-Bloser Handwriting | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade | Tall letter size | Baseline-baseline distance | Line style | Tall letter size | Baseline-baseline distance | LIne style |
| K | 0.75" | 1.125" | three-lined: baseline, midline, headline; baseline is red | 0.75" | 1.125" | three-lined: baseline, midline, headline; baseline is red |
| 1 | 0.50" | 0.75" | 0.625" | 0.938" | ||
| 2 | 0.50" | 0.75" | 0.50" | 0.75" | ||
| 3 | 0.50" | 0.50" | two-lined: baseline & midline; the baseline also serves as headline; all lines same color | 0.375" | 0.563" | |
| 4 | 0.344" | 0.344" | ruled (only baselines) | 0.375" | 0.563" | three-lined: baseline, midline, headline; all lines same color |
| 5 | 0.344" | 0.344" | 0.23" | 0.344" | ruled (only baselines) | |
| 6 | no curriculum | 0.23" | 0.344" | |||
Differences in line sizing and division between D'Nealian and Zaner-Bloser
- Both the D'Nealian and the Zaner-Bloser curriculum end with the student writing on wide ruled paper.
- Zaner-Bloser students learn to write much smaller letters than D'Nealian students.
- Zaner-Bloser decreases the letter size almost every year, while D'Nealian keeps the same letter size for up to 3 years.
- Zaner-Bloser uses the same line division throughout: the baseline-baseline distance is always 50% more than the tall letter size. D'Nealian switches to a different line division in grade 3: the baseline-baseline distance becomes the same as the tall letter size.
- Both curricula use a red baseline in grades K-2, then switch to all lines being the same color in grade 3.
- The Zaner-Bloser curriculum ends a year later than D'Nealian.
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