Improving written work

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Improving written work
By Grace

Melanie, I find it is very hard to change how children form their letters once they have learnt a particular way of doing it. I really don't think that worksheets help because they can start anywhere on the letter. My advice
is to look at the work and see just what the problems are. Are they not leaving spaces between words? Do they make all the letters the same size? Are there some letters that are worse than others or are they just not trying because they know that you will try to decipher it? Once you have isolated the problems, choose one to work on. If it is spacing, get them to put down a finger before

they write the next word. As they practise you could go round and draw a few little smiley faces in the spaces with a special pen. If it is particular letters they get wrong, teach these together as they all start with a c---- c e g d o. Small children enjoy making the shape in the air with their finger. Just concentrate on one thing at a time. you won't improve the writing overnight. Offer a special reward for anybody who can do writing that you can read every word. This will let you see what their best looks like. Sometimes they give you less than their best because they know you will take it. It's sometimes amazing what they can produce when they want to. I hope this is of some use. I wouldn't waste any money on sheets. I've tried them and still think that the best way is to use a chalk board or white board to show them how letters are made. Good luck. Grace