© 2008 Handwriting Without Tears®

IMAGINARY WRITING Imaginary writing is a kinesthetic strategy with visual and auditory components. The picking up and holding of pencils adds a tactile component. This strategy allows you to watch the entire class and ensure that all students are making letters correctly.

Air WritingPreparation Learn Air Writing, Track 3, from the Rock, Rap, Tap & Learn CD.

Directions1. Sing to prepare the class for participation.2. Review a letter or number. Trace it in the air in front of your class.3. Have students hold a pencil correctly in the air. Everyone checks pencil grips.4. Retrace the letter or number again with your students.

TipIf you are facing your students, make the letter backward in relation to you so that the letter will be correct from your students’ perspective.

My Teacher WritesPreparation Gather chalk or markers for a large board or easel. Use My Teacher Writes, Track 21, from the Rock, Rap, Tap & Learn CD.

Directions1. Children sing as you stand in front of the class: My teacher writes a letter (number) for me What’s this letter (number) let’s look and see2. Review a letter or number and trace it in the air or on the board.3. Have students hold a pencil correctly in the air. Everyone checks

pencil grips.4. Retrace the letter or number again with your students.

TipIf you are facing your students and doing Air Writing, make the letter backward in relation to you so the letter will be correct from your students’ perspective.

Excerpted from 1st Grade Printing Teacher’s Guide

© 2008 Handwriting Without Tears®

Follow the BallPreparation Find a brightly colored cup or ball.

Directions1. Have students hold a pencil correctly in the air. Everyone checks pencil grips.2. Face the class and hold up a cup or ball. 3. Have students point their pencils at the cup or ball.4. Write the letter in the air slowly, giving the directions.5. Have students follow along with their pencils, saying the directions with you.

Tips• If you are facing your students, make the letter backward in relation to you so

that the letter will be correct from your students’ perspective.• Hold the cup or ball in your right hand, out to your right side at eye level.

Stand still.• Say the steps and letters, perhaps: “Magic c, up like a helicopter, bump

back down, bump. This is lowercase a.”

Laser LettersPreparation Gather a laser pointer and chalk or markers for a large board or easel.

Directions1. Write a large letter on a board or easel, giving step-by-step directions.2. Have students hold a pencil correctly in the air. Everyone checks pencil grips.3. Move to the back of room, and point the laser to the start of the letter.4. Have students point their pencils to the laser dot at the start of the letter.5. Use the laser to trace the letter slowly, giving step-by-step directions.6. Have students follow with their pencils, saying the directions along with you.

Note: You may decide to allow students to use the laser with your supervision.

TipsLaser letters are ideal for teaching tricky letters because they enable children to see the following:

• You writing the large letter first• The laser pointing to the start of the completed letter• The laser moving along the completed letter

Excerpted from 1st Grade Printing Teacher’s Guide