The object of the chalkboard is to have physical boundaries for each letter. The sides of the chalkboard act as these boundaries. Letters that should come to the top of the line such as capital letters and lower case “l”, “h”, and “k” will be written on the chalk board to go all of the way to the top. Other letters that only take up half a space will go halfway to the top of the chalkboard. A ruler can be taped across at the halfway mark to help with these.
Your child begins by choosing the color of chalk that they like best. This activity can be done at a desk or table for more control of the letter formation or it can be done in the child’s lap. If the board is rectangular, hold the chalkboard so it is taller as opposed to wide. Use the letters that your child has already practiced or learned. Choose a letter to begin with. A good choice is to use a letter that your child can form fairly well. There will be less resistance from them if they have success right from the start.
Start with letters that take up the entire line. Have your child start the letter formation in the correct position and form the letter. Some letters will start at the bottom and some will start at the top of the line such as the letter “o”. Offer positive reinforcement after each letter is formed. Erase the letter and try again or move on to another letter. Do this for no more than five to ten minutes each day. Afterwards allow your child to color on the chalkboard for free play.
Practicing letters in this way is less intimidating than lined paper. The size of the chalkboard allows the child room to form the letters correctly. Once they have mastered creating letters on a large scale, it is easier for them to apply the technique to paper. A good resource for parents is the series Handwriting Without Tears.
