Pre-writing
Spirals Worksheet
Printable spirals tracing practice. Fine control at decreasing size, and steady wrist rotation. Trace the dashed guide, then try the empty row underneath. Adjust the size to suit the hand using it, then print or save a PDF.
Four steps
How to practise spirals
- 1
Say the cue
Round and round, getting smaller each time.
- 2
Trace the guide
Start on the dot, follow the dashed line without lifting the pencil.
- 3
Try the empty row
The row underneath has no guide, so the movement is repeated unaided.
- 4
Shrink it over time
Reduce the row height as control improves.
What spirals trains
Fine control at decreasing size, and steady wrist rotation.
Say this while they trace: “Round and round, getting smaller each time.”
Why it matters later
Pencil control generally, rather than one letter.
That connection is the reason to practise the movement on its own. When one of those letters later refuses to come out right, the problem is usually this movement rather than the letter, and a page of spirals fixes it faster than another page of the letter.
Where it sits in the order
This is pattern 9 of 11 in the teaching order used across these sheets. If it proves difficult, step back to circles. Once it is comfortable, move on to squares.
Related printables
See all pre-writing patterns, or move on to alphabet tracing and number tracing when the movements are secure.
Answers