PrintPrint
Handwriting Practice with Varied Writing Surfaces How to be A Star
Time: 20 minutes
Please use your Zaner-Bloser ABC strip as a model during home practice.
Materials Required:
Writing Surface #1:
  • 1 1-gallon Ziploc plastic storage bag
  • 1 container hair gel (color-tinted gel works best)
Writing Surface #2:
  • shaving cream
Writing Surface #3:
  • flat container of playground sand
Writing Surface #4:
  • about a 12" X 12" piece of window screen
  • blank paper
  • pencil, crayons, or markers
Directions:
Writing Surface #1:
  1. Empty enough hair gel into the plastic bag to create about a 1/4 inch writing surface.
  2. Remove air from bag and seal closed. Place the bag on a flat work surface.
  3. Using his or her pointer finger, have your child practice the Zaner-Bloser letter and number formations by pressing the finger onto the bag. Smooth the surface before moving on to another letter or number.
Writing Surface #2:
  1. Squirt shaving cream onto a flat surface and spread until smooth. Using his or her pointer finger, have your child practice the Zaner-Bloser letter and number formations in the shaving cream. Smooth the surface before moving on to another letter or number.
  2. For a quick clean-up, use a dust pan, squeegee, or metal spatula to easily remove the shaving cream.
Writing Surface #3:
  1. Pour playground sand into a shallow container.
  2. Have your child use his or her pointer finger to practice the Zaner-Bloser letter and number formations in the sand. Smooth the surface before attempting a new letter or number.
Writing Surface #4:
  1. Place blank paper on top of the screen.
  2. Have your child use a dull pencil, crayons, or markers to practice writing the Zaner-Bloser letter and number formations on the textured surface.

--submitted by Lynn Hess