What to do when a student won't try to print?

• They may not be able to see the individual lines that make up each letter. This is especially notable in students that reverse their letters. (See the dot pattern section.)
• Use trace letters. Start with a picture of a cat and use trace letters under the picture. You can also have them trace squiggles, zigzags, etc.
• Let them write their letters as large as possible.
• Have them write letters outside in the sand or dirt.
• Fill a ziplock bag with ketchup and let them form letters on the outside of the bag.
• Have them form their bodies into the shapes of the letters, this also works for spelling words.
• Do activities for small motor skill practice, eg. string beads on cord, use small construction blocks to build things, etc.
• Tracing letters will help the student figure out how to print a letter. Start out with the beginning letter under a picture. Then try the beginning letter drawing a line to the picture that starts with the same letter. Trace short words below pictures and then try matching short words to their pictures. You can also have students trace squiggles, zigzags, etc.

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To build a PreBeginner's confidence, use the Writing Words Picture worksheets. For example:

• start with the Writing Words Picture Trace PreBeg 01
• then use the Writing Words Picture Missing Vowel PreBeg 01
• next use the Writing Words Picture Missing Letter PreBeg 01
• finally use the Writing Words Picture PreBeg 01

It is very labor intensive for a student when they first start to write so keep the words short. Eventually, full sentences can be traced.

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Writing paragraphs:

To write paragraph, essays, or reports is incredibly easy using all of the Paragraph Writing Rules. (to help support this site, I have restricted this to members only)
Paragraphs should be made up of at least five sentences.
• An introduction sentence.
• Three information sentences.
• A conclusion sentence.

See our Teaching Resources for Writing for worksheets.

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