Speedwriting isn’t about scribbling faster—it’s about maintaining shape, spacing, and joins when time is tight. These warm-ups are designed for everyday use in classrooms and at home. Each drill takes under five minutes, so you can slot them into morning starters, literacy rotations, or homework without overloading learners.
Printable Speedwriting Pack
Download ready-to-use drill sheets, tracking charts, and certificates to celebrate fluency milestones.
Speedwriting Goals That Matter
Before pressing start on the timer, agree on the qualities that count:
- Consistency: letters stay the same height and slant from start to finish.
- Spacing: words remain evenly spaced even when writing speeds up.
- Legibility: teachers and examiners can read every word first time.
Signature Warm-Up Drills
Mix and match these drills across the week. Each focuses on a different element of fluent handwriting.
Flow Loops
- 30 seconds of forward loops, 30 seconds of reverse loops.
- Focus on even height and keeping joins touching the mid-line.
- Great as a muscle warm-up before longer tasks.
Zig-Zag Connectors
- Alternate diagonal connectors (in, im, un, um) for 60 seconds.
- Highlight the neatest row with a star or sticker.
- Useful for tightening joins that drift or flatten.
Word Ladders
- Pick a base word (for example play) and add a letter each line (plays, player, playful).
- Time for 90 seconds and count clear words.
- Encourages spelling recall while practising pace.
Timing Framework
Use the table below to set expectations and track improvement over time.
| Duration | Focus | Coaching Tips |
|---|---|---|
| 30 seconds | Muscle activation (loops, waves, ovals) | Keep wrists relaxed, shoulders down, no clenched grip. |
| 60 seconds | Word bursts | Pause timer if joins collapse, re-model, then restart. |
| 90 seconds | Sentence sprint | Read work aloud afterwards to check legibility and punctuation. |
Teacher & Home Tips
Project the timer, model the pace, and encourage learners to stop writing when the timer ends—no extra strokes. Use document cameras to celebrate a neat line from the class.
Pair the drill with a favourite song clip (30–60 seconds). When the music stops, so does the writing. Compare to yesterday’s attempt to highlight progress.
Weekly Warm-Up Plan
- Monday: Flow Loops + Word Ladder (focus on accuracy).
- Wednesday: Zig-Zag Connectors + power words (focus on joins).
- Friday: Sentence sprint + celebration reflection (focus on stamina).
Celebrate Fluency
Record the number of words written, the neatest line, and one improvement target. Learners quickly see that speed and legibility can grow together. Make it fun—award “Smoothest Joins” or “Best Pace” certificates at the end of each month.