Big Line Down, Little Line Across

This class loves to make messages for their friends. As many of the children have learned how to write part or all of their name, now they are wondering how to write the letters in their friends' names. 

We started with the letter T, "Big line down, little line across."

Wet

On the slates, the children trace a line with a small sponge (wet) 

Dry

then repeat with a tiny paper towel (dry) 

Try

and finally form a line on their own with chalk (try).  Wet, Dry, Try is a very popular activity. Repetition like this offers deep practice.

We began with a big line down. "Start in the starting corner. Say hello to the smiley face."
We use the language of Handwriting Without Tears to narrate the process.
Next we tried a little line across. 

After practicing the letter on the slate, each child drew a message. The three children whose name begins with a T all received messages this day. Next we tried another letter composed of all straight tines, E. The three children whose name begins with an E were the recipients of messages that day.

Then we tried adding a little curve to our big line. The children recognized this as a letter P. The curve is more of a challenge as the chalk has to change direction while drawing. We built the letter with wooden forms and then ran our pointer finger over the letter card before beginning wet, dry, try. 

Other members of our school community have received messages in mailboxes, Ms Pargellis, Mr. Postema, Ms Baker, and even Bluey the fish.

As we make letters, we're using the words top, middle, and bottom a lot. (There is a song for this. Here is a slightly more energetic version than what we have been singing in class.)