Encouraging their BEST Handwriting

I am so excited to join over 180 bloggers (Yes, 180!) for the 2nd edition of the Bright Ideas Blog Hop where we bring you nothing but great ideas for your classroom! I know that's a whole lotta readin' to do- so I'll make this as short and sweet as possible!

I'm going to share a quick, easy way to get your students to always write using their very best handwriting - cause let's face it.. they all get a little lazy times!

 First- On an index card, we write in our very best most neatest handwriting, "My name is ______.  This is my best handwriting." I cannot remember where I got this idea but it was brilliant!  These are taped to their desk so they can see it and I can just point and say, "Is that your best handwriting?"

Now- to encourage them to actually use their best handwriting, all.the.time. - I found a spot in my room and hung up 1 sandwich baggie for each student.  These are really not "cute" but they do the trick! I got this idea from one of my {oh-so-fabulous} teammates!

Every time we are doing anything that has a writing component (uhm - basically everything!) they can earn a cube in their bag.  I simple check to see if they used their neatest handwriting and say, "Great Handwriting" or "You can write neater than that!"  I have an over abundance of unfix cubes, so we use them but you could use beans, little plastic toys, or anything you can get your hands on.  When the student gets a certain number of cubes in their bag, they get a homework pass!

The first time they had to get 7 cubes, then 8, then 9, 10, 11.  After 15, we just keep repeating.  For every 15 cubes, they receive 1 homework pass.  And trust me, they hate when I tell them, "I'm sorry but this is not your best handwriting.  I'm sure next time you'll .... (Space out your words, take your time and form your letters, write on one line, etc.)" This little incentive has worked pretty well with my 2nd graders!

Ready for some more bright ideas? Check out the link up below or head on over to First Grade Smiles where she's sharing some ideas on Math Relay Races!  Thanks for stopping by!  Stay bright!

An InLinkz Link-up

An InLinkz Link-up