Beginner Handwriting Dot Trick

Posted on September 8, 2023 by Squarehead Teachers

Many kindergartners have a hard time knowing where to put their pencil when tracing letters or numbers. It’s hard for them to remember the stroke order of each one and often they make up their own stroke order. Then they practice the stroke order wrong over and over before a teacher catches it and can reteach it. I’ve found a little trick that seems to help!

I take a highlighter or colored marker and put a dot where they should start their pencil.

I’ve also put it in the spot they should put their pencil when they’re supposed to write their own letter (not tracing).

What other tricks have you learned that help your students when they’re first learning to write letters?

I Have A Dream (Martin Luther King Jr. Day Activity)

Posted on January 14, 2019 by Squarehead Teachers

I love Martin Luther King, Jr.’s dream of peace. It is a huge overwhelming goal, but when each of us makes an effort to be kinder, we will see results. Use this page as a springboard to start a class discussion about making the world a better place in the areas we each have influence.

This one is a half sheet for younger grades. Click here to download: I Have a Dream – Half Sheet

This one is a full sheet for upper grades and middle school. We don’t often get to discuss behavior on social media (and many youth don’t get this discussion at home), so take this opportunity! Click here to download: I Have a Dream – Full Sheet

I’ve also done some anti-bullying activities! Click here to see my post about an awesome one!

“Snapshot of Fall Break” Graphic Organizer

Posted on October 15, 2018 by Squarehead Teachers

Thank heavens for fall break! It can’t come soon enough and it never lasts long enough! At least you can have an easy way for everyone to share their fall break adventures with this easy printable! Have your students write or draw something to answer each prompt.

Click here to download the PDF: Snapshots of Fall Break

“Snapshot of Summer” Back to School Writing Activity

Posted on August 18, 2018 by Squarehead Teachers

As an elementary school kid, I always looked forward to telling my classmates all the cool things I did during the summer. I also usually wanted to tell my teacher about my summer… and so did everyone else! Teachers can facilitate a mass “share your summer experience” activity with this simple (self explanatory!) page. Depending on your grade level, have your students draw or write about each of the 5 prompts.

Click here to download the PDF: Snapshots of Summer Break

Some students don’t have amazing vacation stories to tell, so I tried to include things that every kid can write/draw about (like “things I ate”) when I was creating this page. Good luck on your first day!

My Groundhog Day Prediction (Writing Activity)

Posted on January 29, 2018 by Squarehead Teachers

Looking for some simple Groundhog Day fun? Here is my 2013 activity (click here) that focused on grammar. I’m ready for a change, though, so I made this little writing activity for lower grades. PLEASE let it be Spring already!!! Happy Groundhog Day!

Click here to download the free PDF: My Groundhog Day Prediction

Santa’s Elf Application (Writing Activity)

Posted on December 3, 2015 by Squarehead Teachers

Santa's Elf STICKER

Kids crack me up. They say, write and do the silliest things! Here’s another opportunity to capture all that creativity. This writing activity asks kids to apply to be one of Santa’s elves. Be sure to give kids an opportunity to share their application with other students. Maybe have the kids collect “endorsements” from classmates (Have students write their name on the back of a classmate’s paper to indicate that the student shared it with them). Merry Christmas!

Click here for the free printable PDF: Santa’s Elf Application

Squarehead Teachers Birthday Giveaway!

Posted on August 13, 2015 by Squarehead Teachers

Happy 3rd birthday, Squarehead Teachers!

Let’s kick of this school year right! Another giveaway to celebrate the 3rd birthday of this blog! I’m so thankful to all my family, friends and readers for making this blog such a fun success!

**This giveaway has ended!**

The Prize: 2 winners will each receive 2 Stamp Stations! Stamp Stations are new and unused. Each has 6 self-inking stamps in one, all centered around a theme (writing, for example). This blue one is all about motivating good writing traits, with stamps like “Topic sentence?” and “Sentence variety please!”

Here’s the detailed image of the stamps:Each Stamp Station has a theme, and the winners will each receive 2 Stamp Stations.

Participating in this birthday giveaway is simple. All you have to do is follow this blog. If you’re already a follower, then you’re already entered! If you still need to follow this blog, you can accomplish this one of two ways:

OPTION 1: (Available to WordPress members only), click the “follow” button at the top of the page to follow with your WordPress blog reader.
follow on wordpress OPTION 2: Click the “follow” button in the right sidebar to follow this blog via email.

This giveaway ends at midnight (PST) on Friday, August 21, 2015. Don’t wait!

The Fine Print: Participation is optional. No purchase is necessary to participate. Available to US participants only. There will be two winners. Winner will be randomly selected. I will email the winner between Saturday, August 22 – Sunday, August 23. The winner will have 72 hours to respond and provide me with shipping information so I can mail them their prize! If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, the winner forfeits the prize and another winner will randomly be selected (in which case the new winner will be notified and the same terms apply). The winner will be announced on this blog once eligibility has been confirmed. This giveaway is solely sponsored by Squarehead Teachers and is not affiliated with WordPress or any other sponsor. If you have additional questions, please contact me!

**This giveaway has ended!**

What Good Writers Do (Graphic Organizer)

Posted on August 6, 2015 by Squarehead Teachers

What Good Writers Do - preview

I’ve posted another fun freebie over at my Teachers Pay Teachers Store! This time, it’s a graphic organizer all about what good writers do all throughout the writing process. Click the button below to check it out! Thanks!