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  • 1st Grade
  • Writing
  • About 10 minutes
  • See it all: a chart to keep

Neat Writing Chart

Neat writing is easy to read. Use this page to check your letters and spaces.

Need more than one? Tap + for extra copies (up to 10).

Neat Writing ChartName:Date:Neat writing is easy to read. Use this page to check your letters and spaces.Letter sizesTalltouch the top lineSmallfit in the middleTailhang belowSpacesA finger space between words. Letters in a word stay close.My neat writing checklistTall letters touch the top line.Small letters fit under the dashed line.Tail letters hang below the bottom line.I left a finger space between words.I started with a capital and ended with a period.k5printables.com · Sheet #50724601 · Aligned with Common Core L.1.1a

How to do it

  1. Look at the tall, small and tail letters on the lines.
  2. Leave a finger space between words.
  3. Check your writing with the checklist.

Teaching tip

Have your child put a finger down after each word before writing the next one. This sheet is aligned with Common Core L.1.1a.

Neat Writing Chart for 1st grade (letter size and spacing), free printable
Printable preview

About this chart

Tall letters, small letters and tail letters on handwriting lines, finger spaces between words, and a neat writing checklist.

What kids practice

Neat printing comes down to three things: starting each letter in the right place, making it the right size, and leaving space between words. Handwriting paper has a top line, a dashed middle line and a bottom line. Tall letters reach the top line, small letters stay under the dashed line, and tail letters hang below the bottom line. These sheets use the same lines every time so kids can see exactly where each letter goes.

Watch for

  • Starting letters at the bottom, which makes them slow and messy later on.
  • Making small letters as tall as capital letters.
  • Mixing up b and d. Point out that b starts with a tall line, then the circle.
  • Running words together with no spaces.

It's free to print, as many copies as you need. See the full letter size and spacing guide for 1st grade.

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