Joined-up writing is a phonics activity that allows children to write letters and say sounds simultaneously. It is also a good foundation for cursive writing in the years following. To do joined-up writing, have students hold their pencils in the tripod position: grasp the pencil between the index finger and thumb, resting it on the third finger. As the students say the sounds of a word, such as "d-o-g," they write, connecting the letters together as they say the sounds. As the sounds blend together, it begins to sound more and more like the word. Practice joining letters and sounds for each word five times.
Using a child's own name to teach phonics and letter formation helps them read and recognize the spelling and sound of the letters in their name in other words. Have an attendance chart for lunches, class surveys and a helper's list in which students can sign in and say their name. Create a class alphabet chart. Write the students' names on name cards and hang them next to the first letter of the students' names. Design student name puzzles by letting them write their name on a shape and cut it out into puzzle pieces. Play a "match the student game" by holding up the name card of a student and having the other students match the card to the owner. This helps students begin to recognize letters in their own names as well as in others' names. Use these activities throughout the day for ongoing letter formation practice.
Nursery rhymes are an effective way to teach letter formation and use students' names at the same time. Choose several favorite nursery rhymes and write them into flip charts or big books, leaving spaces for names from your classroom in appropriate places in the story. When you get to a space, take a student volunteer to come up and write their name in the space in the story. You can also use name cards with Velcro on the back to save time. Once all of the spaces are filled with students' names, read the nursery rhyme again. The students will enjoy hearing their names throughout the story and recognizing the letters and their formations each time names are read.
Immerse your students in the alphabet through favorite alphabet books. Put together a collection of alphabet books for your classroom. Choose books that have letter symbols, a simple picture and a short sentence. Read these books aloud as a class and make them available for students to read during free time or independent reading time. Set up a center with several of the books where students can copy favorite pages out of the books, forming the letters on the pages in sand, shaving cream, pudding and clay.