HANDWRITING

Some of our handwriting goals include:

Proper formation of upper and lowercase letters

Proper formation of numbers

A mature pencil grip and increasing stamina with writing tasks

Writing words, sentences, labeling, and punctuation

Fun activities to try at home:

• Write letters using shaving cream. You can write letters on the table or in the bathtub on the bathtub wall. Remember to start your letters at the top!
• Play Alphabet Battle and Learn Letters! This letter learning game is similar to Battleship. Kids will have a ton of fun while learning letters and developing critical thinking skills! See the link below (#11) for a list of materials and directions.
• Playdough Writing! Materials needed: Playdough and a stick from outside (make sure one side is somewhat sharp). Step 1: Flatten the playdough, Step 2: Write all the uppercase letters, Step 3: Write the lowercase letters, Step 4: Write the sight words, Step 5: Write simple sentences! If you don’t have playdough at home...don’t worry! Follow the steps below (link #12) to make your own at home!
• Make a printing bag! Materials you will need: resealable bag (Ziplock brand works well), strong packing tape or Duct tape, paint or hair gel, Q-tips (optional). To make the printing bags, fill resealable baggies with paint or hair gel, usually just a couple squirts. Tape the top closed so the kids can not open the bags (open bags=big mess). The bags are then ready to use. Kids can use Q-tips or their fingers to draw on top of the bag. Using the Q-tips will help build fine motor muscles!
• Follow the link below (#13) for an interactive handwriting activity where you trace letters and numbers to the beat of the music! There are also many other fun letter and number games on the same site (ABCya) below.
• Wet-Dry-Try! This is a fun way to practice letter formation. You will need a chalkboard, chalk, small piece of a sponge, and a piece of a paper towel. After you make a letter on the chalkboard ask your child to trace the letter with a small wet sponge and then again with a crumpled up piece of paper towel. *Remind your child to start their letters at the top. They will remember this from the classroom. See links 14 and 15 below for the handwriting song and a printable sheet for more letter practice.
• Bubble Wrap Writing! Materials Needed: markers and bubble wrap

Almost everyone loves to pop bubble wrap, and this might be the most exciting way to practice tracing letters! Using pieces of old bubble wrap, take a permanent marker and draw letters on the bubble wrap, over the bubbles. Instruct your child to follow the proper handwriting strokes as he or she pops the bubbles. Your child will begin popping the bubbles to reinforce letter recognition and formation. As always - please make sure your child starts at the top of each letter! You can repeat this activity for lowercase letters as well. Dry erase markers work well too.

• Draw it on Your Back! Here’s a fun activity that you can get in on with your child! This exercise creates a unique tactile and movement lesson that stimulates learning in the simplest of ways! Sit on the floor or a comfortable couch and get your child to form letters on your back using their fingers. Try to guess what letters they’re writing! Switch with your child and trace letters on their back. Challenge your child with guessing the letters you’re writing. Not only will your child practice forming letters, but your child will learn by recognizing the strokes you’re taking to write letters on their own back!

Handwriting Links:

1. Make your own worksheets

2. Step by step drawing

3. Mazes, Dot-to-Dots, Long Line Drawing, Tracing Pictures, numbers, and Letters

4. TONS OF FREE HANDWRITING WORKSHEETS

5. Handwriting without tears FREE resources

6. Using Wet Dry Try Method

7. Coloring pages

8. Playdough letters

9. Grade K-2 Coloring pages

10. Grade K-2 Color and Write worksheets

11. https://funlearningforkids.com/alphabet-battle-letter-learning-game/ Alphabet Battle Game

12. https://youtu.be/oAIAm6BF0fs Make your own playdough

13. https://www.abcya.com/games/letter_trace Trace numbers and letters to the beat of the music

14. https://www.greatschools.org/gk/worksheets/the-alphabet/ Handwriting practice sheet printable

15. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcAYnrh6fdw Where do you start your letters? Handwriting song