Writing Mats

August 24, 2026

Handwriting is an important part of developing writing skills, which also leads to improving literacy skills. The Tennessee Reading Research Center has developed 11 writing mats that make handwriting fun!

These mats can be utilized by elementary teachers and educators of Grades K–5.

Young femme presenting student writing on a writing mat at the TRRC

Writing Mat 1: Sentence Writing

Student and Teacher working with Sentence 2 Writing Mat at the TRRC

Writing Mat 2a & 2b: Narrative Writing – Beginning, Middle, and End

Student seated at a desk writing with a pencil on a Writing Mat from the TRRC, student is smiling, her hair is in two buns, and she's wearing a jean jacket

Writing Mat 3a & 3b: Narrative Writing – Main Character Solves a Problem

student in a wheelchair, getting help from a tutor or father figure

Writing Mat 4a & 4b: Expository Writing – Sequence

A classroom of students writing, one student is zoomed in, writing in a book, the teacher is in the back of the classroom

Writing Mat 5a & 5b: Expository Writing – Problem and Solution

an upper elementary girl and another female student are writing in a paper notebook at a desk in a classroom

Writing Mat 6a & 6b: Expository Writing – Cause and Effect

Use the key below to navigate through the Writing Mats released.

MatThemeSymbolDifficulty Level
1Sentence WritingtreeBeginner
2aNarrative Writing: Beginning, Middle, EndtreeBeginner
2bNarrative Writing: Beginning, Middle, EndstarIntermediate
3aNarrative Writing: Main Character Solves a ProblemstarIntermediate
3bNarrative Writing: Main Character Solves a ProblemsunAdvanced
4aExpository Writing: SequencetreeBeginner
4bExpository Writing: SequencestarIntermediate
5aExpository Writing: Problem & SolvingstarIntermediate
5bExpository Writing: Problem & SolvingsunAdvanced
6aExpository Writing: Cause & EffectstarIntermediate
6bExpository Writing: Cause & EffectsunAdvanced
  • = beginner
  • = intermediate
  • = advanced