handwriting

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handwriting
By Valerie

I taught kindergarten for a lot of years before looping this year with my students to first grade. In kinder we wrote all the time. I often wrote a sentence on the chalkboard for them to copy using lined paper when I feel
they are ready,usually before Christmas. At first their writing may not be that good, but I tell them that they are doing a great job and the more you do this, the better it gets. If your kinder teachers worked with their children on correct letter formation, they should be ready to write when coming to first grade. Writing is a big thing in my school. Kindergarteners begin to write

descriptive sentences (one or two sentences, more if they can) and in first grade we pick up and continue this, writing stories. I am very particular about the whole process. I insist that my children hold their pencils correctly (you will have to show some). They are able to copy off the board and we write on lined paper every day. I just found this site, so hope this is not too late and hope it will help. The more kids write, the better they get. You could also set up a center with chalkboard or marker boards with lines and let them practice. In my writing center, I always keep a supply of paper, both lined and unlined. At the end of this year, most of my students had beautiful handwriting.