My Favorite Writing Tools for Teaching Phonics

Teaching foundational and writing skills to kindergarten students can be a challenging task. Some students find traditional worksheets boring and repetitive, so why not switch up your writing tools?

You could use fun tools to make learning more engaging and interactive. I will share how you could use stamps, dabbers, and playdough to teach foundational skills in kindergarten.

Writing Tool #1: Stamps

Stamps are an excellent tool to replace pencils or other writing tools. Using stamps, you can create a worksheet where students stamp a missing letter(s) or build words. For example, students can stamp the missing letters in a vowel activity. This activity not only helps students learn to identify sounds but also helps them with their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

Writing Tool #2: Dabbers

Dabbers are another tool that is a huge hit! Similar to stamps, dabbers can replace traditional writing tools. Students can dab the missing phonemes in a word or count the number of syllables.

Writing Tool #3: Playdough

Playdough is a fun and versatile tool. To practice letter formation, students can roll playdough into the shape of a letter or number. This helps children learn about the shape and form of different letters and numbers. You can also use play dough to teach students about addition and subtraction. They can roll a ball of playdough to add or smash the playdough to subtract.