We hit the ground running with handwriting expectations at the beginning of the school year. After spending the first few weeks reviewing our letters and how they are formed, we then move on to discuss the expectations for our handwriting.We started off creating an anchor chart together. I told my students that we were going to make a chart with the same word…written 3 different ways. I also let them know that every letter in the word has to touch either the cloud, fence, or grass on the handwriting lines. We talked about how letters in words do not float in outer space…they all have a place on the handwriting lines. After drawing the grass, fence and clouds…they told me which writing earned 1 star, 2 stars, and 3 stars, with 3 stars being the best. After rating them, we discussed why each word got that many stars. We talked about how everyone’s best work looks different…but that 3 star handwriting is what our GOAL is for 1st grade.
Next, we used our anchor chart to help us sort words in this handwriting flip flap book.
We sorted words that were written with 3 star handwriting….
and words that were not written with 3 star handwriting.
Now, we have a simple chart hanging in our room that we can refer to as a reminder of what our handwriting GOAL is in first grade.
You can download this freebie here.