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Even if a student has messy handwriting, improving spacing between words and adherence to the lines can make his or her handwriting easier to read. These tricks can easily be taught in a quick lesson to your entire class.
The "Bottle of Nothing"
Take an empty bottle and write the word “Nothing” on it. Write a sentence on the board without spaces between words and ask a student to read it. Have a conversation about how it is hard to read because there needs to be a space - or "Nothing" between the words. Then, use your magic "Bottle of Nothing" to place nothing between each word as you re-write the sentence. Ask students to hold out their hands and pour some “nothing” into them. Instruct your students to use a little “nothing” after every word as they write!
These tiny bottles are the perfect size for checking spacing between words, as well as providing a tactile and visual reminder to your students to use proper spacing!
If the "Bottle of Nothing" does not work to help a student with spacing, try...
□ Popsicle sticks, or placing a finger down between words.
□ Try using a small stamp and stamp pad and have student stamp between words.
□ Use exaggerating the spaces by putting "nothing' between words.
□ place dashes between words come back and erase the marks
□ You can also place a small piece of candy or a sticker between words.
Keeping letters on the line:
Skip lines (using regular notebook paper)
Highlight or darken baseline
Highlight margins, Green light - Go for left side and red light - Stop for right side.
Try teaching the student cursive.
Try writing with an instrument that has a different color.
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