The letters in the Abracadabra family are made using a series of strokes which are linked to magical words and actions. To help your child with the letter formation, use a magic wand (or a stick) to practise making large shapes in the air. Here are the magic words:

Writing in sparkly glitter is a fun way to practise letter formation. You could start by using your fingers and then move on to using a tool e.g. a dry paintbrush. This will help your children practise the skills needed to hold and use a pencil.

Children sometimes mix up ‘b’ and ‘d’. This magic letter flip trick is a great way to compare the two letters and spot the difference. Place a letter behind a glass jar full of water and watch it flip! When the light passes through the glass and the water it refracts (bends). The full glass of water acts and a convex lens which flips the image.

I have recently introduced my children to Boggle and they love it. It’s a great way to get them writing and spelling.

I have used these Melissa and Doug scratch art pads in the classroom and at home; children love them! They are such a fun way to explore mark-making and writing. You use the wooden stick like a pencil to scratch off the black layer, revealing the colourful base layer.