I like teaching the D’Nealian Style because it is easier to transition into cursive writing later.
Level 1: Getting Started Learning to write the ABCs, simple CVC words, and illustrated sentences. (This is where most children begin) → [Go to Level 1 Activities]
Writing, spelling, and reading skills grow together! In this section you’ll find progressive activities that build naturally from one level to the next. Start where your child is and move forward as they’re ready.
Level 2: Beginning Writers Writing more words, practicing tricky letters as needed, and building short sentences. → [Go to Level 2 Activities]
Level 1: Getting Started (Primary / Pre-Writing)
Level 2: From Letters to Words-Spelling & Writing Practice (beginning)
Level 3: Growing Writers (Intermediate)
Level 4: Independent Writers (Advanced)
Level 3: Growing Writers More advanced Make-a-Word activities, spelling patterns, and longer writing. → [Go to Level 3 Activities]
Level 4: Confident Writers Creative writing, chapter book responses, and independent writing projects. → [Go to Level 4 Activities]
Level 1: Getting Started
Learning to write the ABCs, simple CVC words, and illustrated sentences
Holding a pencil correctly is an important skill in these early years.
If your child is having trouble finding a comfortable, effective grip, a pencil grip can be very helpful. These are available at most teacher supply stores.
If you’re unable to find one, a limited number are also available in Mrs. Bee’s Shop.
Writing Practice – Start with the Letter You Are Learning
How to Practice:
Choose the letter you are currently working on.
Practice both the capital and lowercase letter.
Use primary lined paper (or pre-primer paper).
Daily/Weekly Routine:
Day 1: Practice 3–5 of the new letter (both capital and lowercase).
Following days: Review 1–2 previously learned letters + practice 3–5 of the new letter.
Continue writing all previous lower case letters as you introduce each new letter.
Important Tips:
You do not need to fill an entire row. Short, consistent practice is best.
Once a week is plenty at this stage — keep sessions short and positive.
As your child’s letter list grows, gradually phase out repeatedly writing capital letters and focus more on lowercase letters.
Note: Letters C and K can be practiced together since they have the same sound.
Make-a-Word: Fun Spelling Alternative to Writing Practice
Make-a-Word is a wonderful way to practice spelling while reinforcing the letters and sounds your child is learning. It’s also a great alternative to traditional handwriting on some days!
How to Use Make-a-Word in Your Writing Block:
Ask: “Tell me how to spell_________?
.
Great Sources for Words to Write and or Spell:
All the words from the Free Phonics Charts
Your Make-a-Word lists
Tip: On days when your child seems tired of pencil-and-paper writing, switch to Make-a-Word activities. It still builds important spelling skills while keeping the session fun and low-pressure.
Build Skills & Endurance Over Time
Once your child has learned several vowels, you can begin adding simple words to your ABC writing practice. At this stage, you can also start focusing more on lowercase letters, while still introducing the capital letter for each new one.
During your writing block, encourage your child to spell words out loud. For example: “Tell me how to spell man.” Sound it out together: “What letter says /mmm/? What comes next?” Then write the word together as they model you.
If you are using the Phonics Charts, refer to them often. Use the rules to help teach spelling rules, such as:
“What says /sh/ — be quiet?” (for ship)
“Why can ‘o’ say its ‘o’ in go? (Because when a baby word ends in a vowel…the vowel can say it’s own name)
Progression:
Start with 3–5 words per session.
Gradually build up to 8–10 words.
Once they’re comfortable, move on to writing simple sentences (example: “I see a sun.”) and let them illustrate their sentence.
Tip: Focus mostly on lowercase letters, as they are used far more often in everyday writing. Capitals are still important, but they don’t need to be practiced as frequently.
Teaching Letter Formation
Show your child how to form each letter
Keep movements smooth and consistent
Use the same pattern each time
👉 You can add your video here later:
[ Demo Video Coming Soon ]
Level 2: From Letters to Words
Increasing Spelling & Writing Practice
Writing more words, practicing tricky letters as needed, building short sentences, and gaining confidence with spelling.
Establishing a Daily Writing Block
You’ve already done the important work of teaching your child how to form letters correctly. Now it’s time to move from letters to real words — while continuing to strengthen neat handwriting.
This next phase combines spelling instruction with ongoing letter formation practice. In my classroom, I called this our Writing Block. Having a consistent daily writing block helps children know exactly what is expected, builds writing endurance, and makes spelling rules stick.
At home, you don’t need a long block — 5 to 15 minutes is plenty to start. The key is consistency and keeping it positive and playful.
The Goal of This Stage
Continue practicing correct letter formation (size, shape, spacing, and direction)
Teach common spelling rules and patterns in a natural way
Help your child learn to sound out and spell words independently
Build confidence and writing stamina gradually
Helpful Tips for Homeschool Moms
Keep sessions short and positive.
Focus on one or two rules per session until you have several rule under your belt, so it doesn’t feel overwhelming.
Practice writing the lowercase abc once a month to continue correct formation of the letters.
Recognize and praise the things you want repeated.
Use the Make a Word template you already introduced — it pairs perfectly with this writing block . Switching between handwriting and making words keeps your child engaged and prevent writing fatigue and provides variety and yet practices the same skills
Progression of Skills
Weeks 1–2: Simple CVC words (cat, dog, sun, pig)
Next: Words with beginning blends (drip, stop, clap, frog)
Then: Silent e / magic e words (bake, like, home, cute)
Then: Digraphs (ship, chick, bath, sock)
Later: Mix them together and begin writing short sentences
Worksheet helps for this section:
How to Run a Simple Daily Writing Block
Start small — Begin with just 6-10 words per session. As your child’s hand strength and confidence grow, you can increase to 12-15 words.
Step-by-Step Routine (The Mrs. Bee Way):
Choose words focused on the skill you’re working on (I’ll share word lists below).
Say the word clearly Ask your child to tell you how to spell it —then you both write it together, this is one of the most powerful steps!
Identify any blends, vowel sounds, spelling rules, etc.
Mark the special features together (model everything with your child) using a red pencil or red pen. ( note: red is used only for marking, not general writing because we like red)
Marking Ideas (use a red pencil or pen to make learning visual and memorable):
Underline blends (dr, bl, st, tr, etc.) in red
Draw a happy face mouth above short vowels
Draw straight line above long vowels
Draw an line through the silent e
Circle digraphs (sh, ch, th, ck, ng, etc.)
Underline doubled letters (ll, ss, ff, zz)
Write “Red Word” in red. (note: these are Dolch words. words that can not be sounded out.)
Conclude your writing session with a sentence and an opportunity to illustrate your sentence. Keep your sentences short and use words they can read. ( Teach capitals at the beginning of a sentence and punctuation at the end.)
Examples:
Word: drip Parent: “Tell me how to spell drip.” Child: “d-r-i-p” Discussion: “Great! dr is a blend — those two letters are friends and stay together.” Child writes: drip Marking: Underline dr in red + happy mouth over the short i
Word: bake Parent: “How would you spell bake?” Child: “B – A – K?” Discussion: “The “a” wants to say its long sound /ā/. It needs a silent e to help it. Remember: When two vowels go walking, the first one does the talking and says its name.” Child writes: bake Marking: straight line above the vowel with red, cross out the silent e with a single slash)
Word: hill Parent: “Tell me how to spell hill.” Child: “H – I – L?” Discussion: Remember we double the l'l’s and the s’'ss on ‘baby words : Underline or box the ll
Read Words: Write these words in Red. Discussion: say each letter s-a-i-d, then raise your hands above your head like a cheerleader and say SAID! Do this 3 times. The write the word on your paper as you say each letter. The and Out are also good red words to work on. For out say “ Eeny, meeny, miny, moe O-U-T spells out Goes you! Then teach if you can spell o-u-t you can spell about and shout.
Grammar Nouns:
Level 3: Growing Writers
More advanced Make-a-Word activities, spelling patterns and rules, writing longer sentences and short paragraphs, and beginning creative writing.
Spelling Rules to Focus On in Phase 3
(These can be taught gradually — one or two per week)
Bossy R (ar, er, ir, or, ur)
Vowel teams (ee, ea, ai, oa, oo, etc.)
More doubling rules (hop → hopping)
Drop the silent e when adding -ing (bake → baking)
Soft c and g
-ng and -nk endings
Common exceptions and sight words
Example Session:
Spelling Word: storm Discussion: “or is a bossy r — the r bosses the vowel around and makes it say a new sound.” Child writes: storm (circle or in red)
Sentence: The storm is coming. Child writes the full sentence while you remind them:
Capital T
Space between words
Period at the end
Proposed Content Outline for Phase 3
From Words to Sentences: Building Strong Writers
Continue Your Daily Writing Block Now that your child is comfortable spelling and writing single words, we’ll extend the same routine into sentences. We’ll also introduce more advanced spelling rules and patterns.
Goals for this stage:
Write complete sentences with proper spacing, capitalization, and end punctuation
Learn and apply more spelling rules
Build writing endurance (start with 1–2 sentences, work up to 3–5)
Keep reinforcing neat letter formation
Daily Writing Block Routine (same flow as Phase 2, just more involved):
Review 3–5 spelling words (now including more complex patterns)
Discuss the rule(s) together
Child writes the word(s)
Then use 1–2 of those words in a full sentence
Mark spelling features + check sentence conventions
Marking & Reminders (add these new ones):
Capital letter at the beginning of a sentence
Period, question mark, or exclamation point at the end
Spaces between words
Continue circling blends, highlighting silent e, etc.
Phase 1 (Already done): Letter Formation
Phase 2 (We just drafted): From Letters to Words – Spelling & Writing Practice
Phase 3: From Words to Sentences: Building Strong Writers
Phase 4 (Optional later): From Sentences to Paragraphs & Independent Writing