Dotty: the handwriting app for kids to create printable reading and writing PDFs (iOS & Android)

Creating truly personalized literacy materials takes time: adjusting font size, simplifying texts, spacing letters, printing… then doing it all again when a child’s needs change.

Dotty was built to make that process fast and calm. It turns your ideas (or a child’s interests) into printable handwriting and reading worksheets in PDF, designed for real classrooms and families.

This first blog post is more than an introduction: you’ll get ready-to-use routines, step-by-step activities, and practical adaptations so you can build your first worksheet today and use it tomorrow.

What Dotty is (and why it fits school and home)

Dotty is a handwriting app for kids—and a time-saver for teachers and specialists—that generates custom PDF worksheets from text. You can start from built-in worksheets or create your own content and tailor it in seconds.

The idea is simple: use the screen to create, then learn on paper. Dotty supports the setup; handwriting and reading practice happen with pencil, focus, and clear goals.

In one sentence

Dotty turns any text into a printable reading or handwriting worksheet, with formatting controls that make practice more comfortable and accessible for each learner.

• Dotted handwriting practice with guide lines to support letter formation.
• Inclusive reading options to reduce visual effort (helpful for dyslexia and fatigue).
• Full customization: font size, spacing, colors, and layout.
• Instant PDF export for printing and reusing.

For the official product overview, see Dotty: inclusive handwriting and reading and the store listings (App Store / Google Play).

What makes a handwriting app for kids truly useful for dyslexia or ADHD

Many tools can create “pretty worksheets”. In education and intervention, we need functional worksheets: low friction, low overload, and designed for success.

1) Legibility first: inclusive reading without fighting formatting

When a child gets tired while reading, it’s not always motivation—it’s often visual load. Small changes to font size, spacing, and contrast can transform engagement. Dotty lets you make those changes without wrestling with templates.

• Increase font size to reduce crowding.
• Raise letter spacing when there are reversals or line skips.
• Try a soft background (not bright white) if the child complains about glare.
• Shorten texts: 6 well-designed lines beat 20 rushed ones.

If you want clear, reliable background resources to share with families or staff, these are helpful starting points: What dyslexia is (British Dyslexia Association) and Structured Literacy information (International Dyslexia Association).

2) Short, bounded tasks: a key lever for ADHD (and busy classrooms)

For ADHD—and for many learners who struggle with attention—practice works better when it has a clear start, clear finish, and visible success. With Dotty, it’s easy to create short worksheets focused on one goal.

For general information and educational resources on ADHD, you can reference the CDC overview of ADHD.

3) Paper + calm: the screen as a tool, not the stage

Dotty is designed so the meaningful practice happens off-screen. If you’re interested in research-informed explanations about handwriting and learning, you can explore Frontiers’ science communication on handwriting and brain activity.

Create your first worksheet in Dotty in 5 minutes (step-by-step)

This workflow works well for teachers, families, and therapists because it avoids the classic mistake: making a worksheet that tries to do everything. One worksheet, one goal.

1. Pick one goal: letter formation / copying / read-aloud / comprehension / spelling.
2. Choose a short text (10–60 words): a favorite topic, a word list, or a mini-story.
3. Select the worksheet type: dotted handwriting or reading.
4. Adjust legibility: size, spacing, colors, and font based on needs.
5. Export to PDF and decide whether to print now or build a small weekly “worksheet bank”.
6. Practice on paper: pencil, 5–10 minutes, then a positive wrap-up.

The golden rule (so it actually works)

Before printing, ask: “What will I be able to observe at the end?” If you can’t answer clearly (e.g., “stays on the line in 8 out of 10 words”), simplify the worksheet.

Minimal materials

• Pencil (HB or 2B) and eraser.
• Highlighter (to mark a start line or key words).
• Timer (phone in airplane mode or a simple clock).
• A folder to organize printed PDFs by level.

3 micro-routines (5–10 minutes) you can use tomorrow

These micro-routines are designed to be repeated 3–4 days per week. The goal isn’t “do more”—it’s make it sustainable.

Micro-routine 1: Short reading + echo reading (7 minutes)

1. (1 min) Adult/teacher reads the text with pace, tracking with a finger or ruler.
2. (2 min) Child repeats sentence by sentence (echo reading).
3. (2 min) Second pass: child reads; adult supports only when needed.
4. (2 min) Wrap-up: underline 3 “tricky” words and read them again (no copying).

Dyslexia support: increase spacing and reduce to 3–5 sentences. ADHD support: set a visible target (“we read it twice”) and use a timer.

Micro-routine 2: Dotted handwriting “with purpose” (5–8 minutes)

Instead of meaningless repetition, use one short, functional sentence: “I can do this.” / “I focus for 5 minutes.” / “I read slowly and understand.”

1. (1 min) Choose a sentence (max 8–10 words).
2. (3–5 min) Trace it once in dotted form, then write it once without dots.
3. (1–2 min) Kind review: name one success (spacing, size, starting at the margin).

Dyslexia support: prioritize clarity over “perfect” handwriting. ADHD support: add a small “done” box at the bottom to check off.

Micro-routine 3: Selective copying (10 minutes, great for classrooms)

Copying works best when it’s selective. In Dotty, create a short text and decide the child will copy only what matters.

1. (2 min) Read and highlight 4 key words (or 2 key sentences).
2. (6 min) Copy only those items, focusing on spacing and staying on the line.
3. (2 min) Self-check: “Did I leave spaces?” / “Did I stay on the line?” / “Am I done?”

Dyslexia support: fewer words, more oral rehearsal. ADHD support: allow controlled choice (text topic or background color) to boost engagement.

Fast adaptations for dyslexia and ADHD (without reinventing the worksheet)

These adaptations reduce cognitive load without changing the learning goal.

If there is dyslexia or reading difficulty

• Less text: one idea per worksheet.
• More breathing room: increase letter and word spacing.
• Gentle contrast: avoid harsh white if glare is an issue.
• Guided tracking: finger/ruler to prevent line loss.
• Short rereads: two short passes often work better than one long one.

If there is ADHD or attention difficulty

• Time box: 5–10 minutes with a timer.
• Visible target: “6 words” or “2 lines” (not “do it well”).
• Controlled choice: choose between two topics or two color options.
• Quick movement reset: 20 seconds of hand/shoulder shake before writing.
• Clear ending: a closing action (check “done”, sticker, file the worksheet).

Observable checklist (to confirm the worksheet is well adjusted)

• The child can explain the task in one sentence (“I’ll read it twice”).
• They finish within the time limit without negotiating every step.
• There is at least one visible success (better spacing, fewer omissions, smoother start).
• The formatting is not triggering frustration (size, spacing, amount of text).
• Feedback focuses on 1–2 criteria, not “everything is wrong”.

Common mistakes in handwriting and reading practice (and how to fix them)

• Mistake: long worksheets “to make the most of it”. Fix: split into micro-worksheets by goal.
• Mistake: correcting every single letter. Fix: pick one focus (line, spacing, directionality).
• Mistake: pushing speed before automation. Fix: comfort and accuracy first, fluency later.
• Mistake: boring, irrelevant texts. Fix: use real interests—engagement skyrockets.
• Mistake: comparing to others. Fix: compare to the child’s own progress.

Dotty supports that last point especially well: when the text feels personal, practice stops feeling like a punishment and starts feeling like a short, doable win.

For counselors, educators, and speech therapists: using Dotty without extra workload

In intervention, sessions aren’t the only effort—materials and home-school carryover take time. Dotty can act as a fast worksheet generator so everyone works with consistent, aligned practice.

One practical approach: one skill, three levels

1. Level 1: shorter text, more spacing, fewer lines.
2. Level 2: same text, moderate spacing, one oral comprehension question.
3. Level 3: same topic, selective copy or short dictation.

This helps coordination across classroom–home–therapy without building new materials from scratch each week.

3 observable progress indicators (no extra testing)

• Reading: fewer line losses or omissions in short texts.
• Writing: more consistent spacing and better line tracking.
• Behavior: starts faster, protests less, finishes calmer.

Important note: Dotty is not a diagnostic tool. If you suspect dyslexia, ADHD, or other learning differences, professional assessment and coordinated support are recommended.

Trusted resources (teachers and families)

• ADHD overview and resources (CDC)
• What dyslexia is (British Dyslexia Association)
• Structured Literacy information (International Dyslexia Association)
• Science communication on handwriting and learning (Frontiers)

Download Dotty and try your first worksheet today (10-minute challenge)

If you want to quickly test whether Dotty fits your routine, try this:

1. Pick a topic the child genuinely likes (or this week’s class content).
2. Create a worksheet with 6–10 lines or 8–12 words.
3. Print it and do only 7 minutes of practice.
4. Close with one sentence: “Today improved…” (one single thing).

When materials adapt to the child—not the other way around—literacy practice becomes small, doable, and cumulative. That’s the kind of progress that lasts.