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Set the scene for handwriting success

Writing Time 12/2/15

Handwriting is the perfect activity to help students settle down and focus when they come in from morning break. To set the scene for quiet work time, clear all desks of clutter – all a student needs is a sharp pencil and an eraser.

Start with the 3Ps

Project the 3Ps from Writing Time Online and go through them as a class. Follow up by reciting a rhyme, such as:

1, 2, 3, 4
Are my feet flat on the floor?
5, 6, 7, 8
Is my back up nice and straight?
9, 10, 11, 12
This is how my pencil’s held.

Remember to spend a little time checking each student’s posture, book position and pencil grip.

Teach

Take advantage of Writing Time Online tools to teach handwriting technique. Project the See & Trace tool to demonstrate correct letter formation, then ask students to practise drawing letters in the air or on the interactive whiteboard before writing in their books or on their worksheets.

Practise

Once they have practised letter formation in isolation, students should apply their developing knowledge and skills to everyday writing tasks.

• Use common spelling words, sight words and rhyming words to give students lots of practice with common letters and letter combinations.
• Create your own meaningful contexts for targeted handwriting practice or take advantage of the embedded tasks in Writing Time Practice Books. You’ll find themed paragraphs, poems, puzzles and a range of other enjoyable practice activities.

These activities may take time, but the concepts and skills learnt in the lower years are the building blocks for good handwriting in the years to come.

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