There is much to be said about copywork, many ways of integrating copywork into the homeschool, and just as many sources for reading and learning about copywork. This is how we incorporate copywork in our home.
Last year I spent a few minutes each week (sometimes that morning) pulling quotes from the current readings for copywork. I also used proverbs, memory verses, and bits of poems that seemed particularly amusing. The girls copied the same text everyday for the entire week.
This year I've made a few changes; but what has remained the same is the careful attention to perfect execution and the application of full attention to slow and faultless work, whether it be a single stroke for the beginner or a lengthy paragraph for the older student.
For my older students that have already mastered basic letter formation:
- I started a copywork jar in which I've preprinted various quotes from the year’s readings and cut and folded into individual slips. Each year has its own color slips. The quotes are the best examples of the literature that they're reading; examples of good sentence structure and rich vocabulary. (This has been made easier by the charitable work of the ladies at the Ambleside Online Copywork Project.)
- The child gets to choose two slips of paper and pick which she will copy. The rejected slip goes back into the jar (sometimes then stirred and shaken so the slip goes to the bottom of the jar). The chosen text is copied, checked by mom, and saved so that it can be reused by the others in their turn. I have the child correct malformed letters, incorrect spellings or punctuation. In the past I would have the child completely re-write a passage if there was a mistake. But I haven't implemented that rule this year—doesn't seem to be a need (perhaps because of that early training)—for fear making the task too tedious as the passages get longer.
- I allow the girls to copy a different selection each day which keeps things new and exposes them to more selections over the long run.
I have chosen for my younger students work from Handwriting Without Tears to master basic letter formation. Then we move to short words on very wide ruled paper. It is more crucial that I watch the younger child at this level as it is important to stop letters formed poorly and words spelled incorrectly as we don't want to let bad letter formation to become a habit, or a "picture" of a misspelled word to be logged in the child’s mind. Right now I have Maya working from a basic first grade reading list, words like go, see, and, etc. Next will be short sentences with simple punctuation. All of this takes 5 minutes or less.
Copywork introduces or reinforces spelling, capitalization and punctuation, trains the power of attention, and exposes the child to noble thoughts. But the primary work of copywork is to practice handwriting with an emphasis on perfect execution and a proper grip on the pencil. Here are CM's principals of perfect execution:
- Expect perfection.
- Do not give into whining.
- Keep the lesson VERY short to avoid tediousness-5 to 10 minutes is plenty for young children.
- Start with a stroke, not a letter.
- Do not require a page full of strokes or even a line, just a few PERFECT strokes.
- Do not go on to a new letter until it is perfect.
- A job well done makes the doer happy.
- The lesson immediately following should not be written work, but totally different for a change of pace.
Commonplacing: When students enter the upper years it is optional to put aside copywork as dictation becomes more important and letter formation should be mastered at some point. I, however, will ask them to choose their own passages to record in a commonplace book. Perhaps we'll buy a special journal to mark the occasion. It is to be kept beside them as they read and quotes jotted down as they find one striking or worthy of concentrated thought. Not exactly a diary or a journal as it does not contain one's own thoughts, but is a compilation of others noble ideas, complied in their very best handwriting. I have kept a commonplace book for years (although will confess that it does not often contain my best handwriting, but I’m working on that) and have experienced a sense delight as I have created a book of my own made of bits and quotes that inspire and provoke worthy thought pulled from the various readings over time. I often go back to it to re-think a passage or memorize a portion. It has been helpful in focusing my own learning as I read.
More information and copywork resources:
http://simplycharlottemason.com/timesavers/manucopywork/
http://amblesideonline.org/CM/1_5c.html
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AmbleLore/message/168
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