1st Grade Writing Paper
Have you been on the hunt for a printable template for 1st grade writing paper? As teachers, we know when we give our students a writing assignment, we can’t give our younger elementary school students notebook paper straight from a notebook. Our young students, particularly kindergarten, 1st grade, and 2nd grade, need the type of paper with the dotted midline.
As our young students build their fine motor skills throughout lower elementary, they will be stronger with forming letters on different types of writing paper. We need to make sure the writing paper we provide has plenty of room for them to make correct letter formation. Don’t worry, you have come to the right place for kindergartners, first graders, and second graders.
Why use primary writing paper?
Our younger students need the lined writing paper with the dotted midline to learn to form lowercase letters and uppercase letters correctly. They learn to go from the top line to the bottom line, using the dotted line in the middle to help. This visual cue helps young children know how to form letters and numbers correctly.
In 1st grade, I prefer to use this writing paper throughout most of the school year for most students. This helps them to continue forming their letters correctly. Throughout the school year, the wide lines may get smaller, but I prefer to continue using the lined writing paper with the dotted midline to continue to help them form their letters correctly. When students are in 2nd grade, they may be ready for the elementary lined paper.
When To Use Primary Writing Paper
Our writing centers have primary writing paper available. Students can pick a prompt or story starter and begin writing. It is the perfect tool to help young students write, while also forming their letters correctly. The importance of the writing center is not about handwriting; however, some students can get frustrated if they aren’t sure how to write on regular notebook paper. Since handwriting seems to be less focused on for 1st grade and 2nd grade, it’s important to use the primary paper with the dotted midline so that they can continue working on writing their letters correctly.
Why Use A Picture Box On Primary Writing Paper
We use primary paper with a picture box because we teach our young learners that pictures tell a story too! Plus, this is usually their favorite part of writing short stories! I teach my students to write their story first and then draw a picture to match in the picture box.
Using Small Groups To Determine Which Writing Paper To Use
An easy way to determine which type of lined writing paper is right for your students is to work on writing in small groups. You can pull skill groups based on how your students write. Give these students a prompt to write to and different paper options. You can see which type of lined writing paper they choose on their own first and then determine which would work for them based on their handwriting, how they form their letters, letter placement, and how much they are writing. In small groups, you can work with your students on their writing skills, forming letters correctly, and writing sentences.
Where to get primary writing paper
In the past, my grade level team would put this primary writing notebook on our class list. It has the lined writing paper with the picture box on each page. It can be difficult to find in stores, especially if you wait until the back to school season. Another con with using writing paper inside a notebook is that students feel uncomfortable with the crease from the spine. It can be uncomfortable with where to put your arm or hand and students will not write across the entire page, which results in them writing less even if they do not mean to write less.
Don’t worry, I have created lined writing paper that you can download and print for free!
Use Primary Writing Paper With Our Writing Centers
Our yearlong bundle of writing centers includes primary writing paper in each month. Each month has writing templates for opinion writing, book report, illustrative writing, informative writing, how-to stories, creative writing, lists, notes, writing prompts, and story starters. Each type of writing has two different types of writing paper.
There’s the regular lined writing paper and there’s the lined writing paper with the dotted midline. You can print both so your students can choose what works for them or you can choose! There are also blank writing pages for students to use for writing prompts and story starters. These lined writing paper sheets have a fun border to match the month or season. I love how our writing centers give students the extra writing practice that they need to build their writing skills.
Check out our writing centers here on TPT.
Check out our writing centers here in our Missing Tooth Grins store.
Download Your Free Primary Writing Paper
Don’t worry, we have free primary writing paper just for you! This free printable writing paper is the perfect addition to your writing centers or writers workshop. There are pages with the picture box on the top and pages with just black lines so that you can choose what your students need. It’s possible that they need both! There are also a few different paper designs to match different seasons that I think you will enjoy! I hope these different paper options help you and your elementary students have a successful writing experience!
Click here for your free writing paper.
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