How to Teach Writing

Teaching someone how to write might be a little challenging, but it can also be a very rewarding experience for you. Everyone needs to know how to write because we use writing for so many things, such as completing applications and forms, jotting down notes, paying bills, writing letters and performing certain job duties. With a little time, patience and effective writing strategies, you can successfully teach students how to write. Overall, there are a few guidelines that you should take into consideration when you teach writing.

Things You'll Need

• Primary handwriting paper
• Large pencils, markers and crayons
• Adult sized pens and pencils
• Finger grips
• Alphabet chart

Instructions

1. Establish a regular writing schedule. In order to teach writing, you should begin by setting a schedule for you and the students to follow. Your schedule should depend on the amount of classroom time you have available and the number of students that are in your class. You may even choose to do one-on-one tutoring with a student, child, neighbor or relative, which gives you more flexibility and time to devote to the writing sessions. Be sure to have all students practice their writing skills everyday, during the week.

2. Purchase the correct writing utensils. It is a good idea for children to use primary handwriting paper, like the paper with solid lines at the top and bottom of the row, with dotted lines in the middle. They should also practice writing with large pencils, markers and crayons. The students can also use regular sized adult pencils and pens, but be sure to place a finger grip on the utensils.

3. Teach them how to write one letter at a time and focus on letter formation, size, slant and spacing. Start by teaching the students a few lower case letters and work your way through the entire alphabet. Next, teach the students how to write upper case letters. Be sure to write each letter on paper a few times for the students to copy and trace and make sure that you inform them that the lower case letters should be half the size of upper case letters. Also, place copies of the alphabet chart around the classroom and give each student a chart to keep in her notebook or folder.

4. Show the class how to write words and sentences. Once the students learn how to write the letters of the alphabet, you can show them how to write simple words. Begin by using short, one syllable words, such as them, the, it and can. After the students learn how to write words, they can start writing whole sentences. Be sure to show the students how to use proper spacing between the letters and words. Also, tell them to use their pinky finger to determine the appropriate amount of space between the words.

5. Monitor the students writing skills. Be sure to frequently check to see how each student is coming along with their handwriting. Feel free to reward them for good work and have them erase and rewrite things that are unacceptable and of poor quality.

6. Give the students a chance to review what they have learned. Each day, you may choose to review what you taught the students during the previous class period. And at the end of the week, try reviewing everything that you taught your class during that entire week. Be sure to allow enough time to answer each student’s questions.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure that the students practice good posture when writing. They should sit upright in their chair with both feet on the floor. Also, check to make sure that the desks and chairs are the proper height for your students.

Resources

• Design-A-Study for handwriting tips
• National Education Association