All numbers that have a curve, or direction, curve to the right --six is the lone exception. Teach students to ensure that their numbers are properly written by using their right hand as a guide. Have right-handed students write the number two and then transfer their pencil to their left hand so their right hand is free to make a half-circle, or backward C shape. The top of the two curves this way. Left-handed students should do the same, but they needn't transfer their pencils. The same principle works with numbers three, four, five, seven and nine. Numbers one and zero do not have a reversal.
Have students clear their desks. Go around the room and squirt shaving cream on the center of each desktop. The kids can spread the shaving cream around and use their fingers to write the numbers in. A quick swipe clears the number so they can practice forming other numbers. This hands-on activity can help solidify proper number orientation in kids' minds and the shaving cream can clean their desktops. Have paper towels available for cleaning the mess.
Pass out lumps of clay to your students and show them how to roll it into long, narrow snakes. Kids can use these snakes to form numbers on their desktops. The concentrated effort of forming numbers helps kids focus on the direction the number faces and how it looks. Write a number on the board for students to copy. They can unfold the clay snake and make the next number you write.
At home, use tape on carpet. Give the child a roll of transparent adhesive tape and let her practice making numbers with the tape on a rug or carpet. This slower, more thought-intensive method of forming the numbers can help kids take the time to remember the direction that numbers should face.