Write students' names in dotted letters on sentence strips. Include starting dots and arrows to show students the correct starting place and direction to move their pencil or marker. Laminate sentence strips. Every morning, have students use washable markers to trace over their names. At the end of the day, wipe off sentence strips with a damp paper towel. When students are ready, provide sentence strips with only a starting dot for each letter.
When teaching a new manuscript letter, have students hold their writing hand straight out in front of their bodies. Have students point with two fingers. Then practice writing letters very large in the air. Encourage students to use their whole arm to make each letter. Practice letters a few times so students get in the habit of making letters in the correct direction, such as writing the letter "l" starting at the top or moving counterclockwise when writing the letter "o."
Increase students' ability to feel the letters they are making by encouraging handwriting practice on textured surfaces. Have students write letters, names or words on the carpet using their fingers. Write on sandpaper with crayons, over recycled mesh window screens with fingers or on the sidewalk with chalk.
Place a dab of shaving cream on a cookie sheet and invite students to spread the shaving cream around in a layer. Encourage students to write letters, their names or words using their fingers so the bottom of the cookie sheet shows through. Keep the activity fresh by varying the medium. Mix it up with shaving cream, pudding, whipped cream, finger paints and vegetable shortening. If you have a sand table, have students write in dry sand one week and damp sand the next week.
Provide time for students to write on lined paper. Provide paper that has a top line, dotted center line and bottom line so students practice correct placement of letters in relation to the lines. Print off worksheets that encourage students to trace dotted letters and then write letters on their own. Make your own worksheets so students can practice writing high frequency words you are teaching in class. Laminate sentence strips with names of colors, days of week, months of the year or animal names so students can trace over these words when they want to practice writing bigger words.