We call these "name tickets" and students write one each morning.  They are both sentence strips that have been laminated.  One is the "model" that students use as a reference and mentor; the other is laminated and used over and over every day.  It can be erased if students need to "try again".  

Sky to Ground Sentence Strips

Handwriting practice in "block print" or "manuscript" available.  For free!

ABC Printouts from Starfall

Print the document back to back, cut out the windows, laminate, and then cut out the windows again.  Students lay the letter windows over a blank piece of copy paper and practice writing each letter.  They then turn their paper and the letter windows over and do the reverse side. One side is uppercase and the other is lowercase. I used an exacto knife to cut the windows.  A box cutter also works, and a teacher recently suggested a paper punch.

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This is created in D'Nealian font.

These very colorful guides help students with letter shape and size.  I purchased the "Smart Start" K-1 Writing Paper, "Smart Start" Sentence Strips, "Smart Start" Teacher Chart, 4 "Smart Start" Super Slates, and then made a class set of corresponding tactile, felt handwriting guides for students to use with their finger tips when we practice handwriting as a class.  I laminated a class set of the writing paper and a class set of the sentence strips for wipe and write handwriting lessons.  

WEB SITE

Watch as each letter of the alphabet is formed or use the "magic" pencil to form letters, words, or sentences.  Very cool!

WEB SITE

Download the document, print a class set, laminate, and then use for handwriting instruction.  Each student would need one handwriting house guide.  Use wipe off crayons and tissues for an easy, scent-free experience!  

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Handwriting Song:

Always start your letters at the top.

Always start your letters at the top.

When you write a letter,

you'll get better, better, better, 

if you always start your letters at the top!

TUNE:  "If You're Happy and you Know It"  

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Every once in awhile, I'd like to give my students a poem or paragraph to copy using their best handwriting.  These handwriting assessments were completed using a pencil.  My students actually enjoyed this activity.  

A 52 page handwriting download.  Each letter features a double-page spread.  Copy the pages back to back so that each letter is on a double page spread (you'll have to create a title page so that it allows the "Aa" pages to be on adjacent pages.  I bind mine for durability an ease when turning pages.  On the first page, students use a thick marker to trace the large outline letters.  They then use paper punchers and glue on punches that begin with focus letter.  In the next box, students find and object that begins with the focus letter.  They glue the object to the empty space and write the object's name on the line.  Objects may be found in magazines, stickers, clip art, etc.  The class then reads the poem, and highlights all the upper and lower case letters for the focus letter.  Finally, on page one, students use their best writing and trace letters and write letters to complete the line of focus letters.  On page two, students continue tracing and writing upper and lower case letters.  At the bottom of the page, the class words together to identify words that contain the focus letter (begins with, ends with, or contains) - don't forget classmate names, months, and days of the week in this section! 

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From the Learning Page.  These can either be sent home as extra practice pages or laminated and put into the Handwriting Literacy Corner [center].  

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Letter Book Template

Paper Punch List

[scroll down to bottom of page]

Gel Board

MagnaDoodle

Dry Erase Board

Water Wizard

Gel Packs

Sugar

Play Dough

Salt

Shaving Cream

Sentence Practice