When you search for worksheets online, it’s easy to either spend endless hours searching for the perfect activity or end up with a pile of random activities that don’t fit together. Most of the existing worksheet creators offer one-off activities - great for a quick win, not so great for building a routine. When we started looking into dyslexia assessment for my son one thing that I kept hearing was that we need regular practice.

What I needed was something consistent, yet not overwhelming. Something to practice handwriting and spelling as these were our main areas of focus. After many homework battles we settled on a morning routine that aimed at around 15 minutes of before school. We tried using a dyslexia workbook, but the activity levels were mixed and if left to his own devices he would choose the easier activities if the goal was to complete say 4 exercises.

I looked for worksheets online, but a lot of handwriting focused tasks were more appropriate for younger children. We also struggled to find a balance between activities that were fun, but maybe less practical (like mazes and colouring) and ones that were more study focused - I do get that tracing might not be the most exciting thing in the world. We also struggled (despite him being almost 9) with days of the week and keeping track of time.

What I really wanted was a single page that combined multiple connected activities. Enough variety to keep it interesting, but not so much that it felt scattered. A routine where my son knew exactly what to expect each day and knew when he was done. With fun treats in the form of creative activities, but with a core built around the spelling and handwriting practice, the worksheets helped reduce the resistance towards homework we were facing.

That’s why I built the daily two-sided worksheet template that My Dragon Library worksheets are based on. Each page is designed to support spelling and handwriting in a structured, repeatable way. It’s short enough to slot into a morning routine, but flexible enough to adapt to whatever words or concepts he is learning about at school.

Over time, the layout grew into four core features: the Spelling Fold for recall, the Today Is… section for handwriting and routine, Sentence Writing blocks for context, and Traceable Text for extra support. Together, they form a simple framework that balances structure with customisation. The two optional custom activity slots allow you to add your own activities to the worksheet, which I often use the add the fun things like colouring, mazes, clocks, etc.

Why One Page Works

When it comes to daily practice, more is not always better. A single two-sided worksheet is enough to cover the essentials without creating overwhelm. The aim isn’t to cram in as many activities as possible, but to build a routine that’s consistent, achievable, and actually gets done.

If we have a good day, I may do more printouts from different places (like say Twinkl), or other activities using apps and games. But having that one page as a starting point has removed a lot of the stress and resistance around homework. That sense of completion really matters, especially when my son often struggles with low self esteem and negative self talk due to reading and writing problems.

The other important thing is that the activities connect to each other. The spelling words show up again in sentence writing, and the traceable text reinforces handwriting while practising the same content. Writing the date also ties into number formation and time awareness. It’s not about cramming in more work, it’s about layering practice in a way that feels natural and reinforces skills from different angles.

The point isn’t to just “do worksheets” but to create a rhythm. By keeping the structure the same, my son knows what’s coming and what’s expected. It helps with his independence too, as I don’t have to explain the instructions or activity rules every time. And the spelling fold let’s him self check each word (and it’s fun to use the folded flap).

Because the page is repeatable, I can swap out the content without changing the format. New spelling list? Drop it in. Still struggling with the same tricky words? Keep them on for another day or week. Want to focus more on handwriting? Switch from writing sentences to tracing. The frame stays constant while the details adapt to whatever we’re working on.

This balance between consistency and flexibility is what makes the two-sided page work so well for us. That said, we still have our ups and downs. There are mornings when the worksheet gets crumpled in a tantrum, or only half is done, or the colouring ends up scribbled over in protest at having “sooooooo much work.” We’re open with him that this is his work - some parts will be fun, and some parts will feel hard or boring. That’s life.

He usually gets a small reward afterwards (game time, a cartoon, or house points) but if he refuses the worksheet, I don’t force it. The natural consequence is just missing the reward. Over time, this has turned the worksheets into a practice in perseverance as much as handwriting. The crumpled page might get straightened and finished later in the day. Morning is best (fresh brain, better focus), but finishing later is still a win.

The Core Features

The worksheet layout has grown slowly over time as I experimented with what worked (and what didn’t). Here’s a quick look at each of the core features:

• The Spelling Fold — a simple “look, cover, write, check” style activity that helps with recall and independence. It’s probably the most important part of our routine.
• The Today Is… section — a space for writing the date and day of the week. It sounds basic, but it’s been hugely helpful for handwriting practice and time awareness (and tracking the worksheets around the house 😆).
• Sentence Writing blocks — taking the spelling words and using them in context, which builds meaning and grammar alongside spelling practice.
• Traceable Text — an optional way to trace over letters or words, especially useful for handwriting support.
• Custom Activity Slots — two open sections you can use for fun extras like mazes, clocks, or drawing prompts. They keep the routine from feeling too repetitive.

Why Customisation Matters

Every child is different, and their needs can change from week to week. That’s why it was important for me that these are not just static pages, but a ‘living’, evolving activity. While we’re mostly working through the top 100 high frequency words, I do throw in things I specifically see him struggle with or around a topic they are working on at school. Days of the week and number spelling are frequent repeats… I like being able to carry over the one word he got wrong the previous day or that was part of a different activity.

As we settled into a routine my son started making requests too for specific elements. While I don’t want to do the ‘easy’ things too often, it’s nice to make them a treat (he really loves the ‘This is not a…’ creative drawing tasks). The requests have also been around content and being able to incorporate his favourite characters in colouring or use excerpts from his favourite books for tracing has made making the worksheets a more collaborative experience.

Try It Yourself

Sounds like something that might work for you child (or students)? When I started I used to create the worksheets by hand in Indesign. Since then I’ve developed a printable worksheet generator that makes the process fast and easy (and free!). Just drop in your spelling words, pick the activities you want, and print. It takes less than a minute, and you can adjust it every day depending on what your learner needs.

And if you’re curious about the bigger picture behind My Dragon Library - why I started it, what I believe in, and where it’s going you can read more on the About page.