From tracing to writing on their own
By December, most first graders can form their letters, and the next job is making them even and well spaced. These eight longer words give plenty of practice at that. Children trace each word across the page, then choose two to write by themselves on the blank lines at the bottom, or use the back of the page for the rest.
What to look for
- Tall letters such as d, k and l reach the top line, and small letters stop at the dashed middle line.
- Letters sitting on the baseline, not floating above it.
- Tails on g and y dropping below the line in sleigh and any words you add.
- A consistent gap between letters, rather than a squashed end to the word.
Pick one of these to focus on for the whole page. It works better than correcting everything at once.
Link it to spelling and writing
Several words have spellings worth pausing on. Reindeer has a double e, and sleigh and wreath have silent letters. After tracing, children can cover the word and try writing it from memory, then check.
Follow the page with a small writing task: a thank-you note, a wish list or three sentences about a snowman. Writing the same words in a real message is what makes them stick. To change the sheet, type your class spelling words in the box, one per line.