Copywork

Copywork was a foreign concept to me, at least in this context.  For me, copywork was something you did with a spelling list to help you memorize it: you look at the word and copy it down two or three times in the hopes that you don't forget how to spell it after that.

However, copywork accomplishes so much more. First it obviously helps to improve handwriting.  Having your child spend time daily copying the written word precisely will obviously cause improvement over time.  The key is to require your student to copy precisely.  This means that for young writers, copywork may consist of a letter or two and over time become a word, then two, then simple sentences, and eventually beautifully crafted sentences.  As your child is able to consistently copy neatly, the length of the work assigned increases.

The next benefit is that the child learns the basics of sentence structure and rules through exposure.  The things we take for granted because we have been doing it for so long are new skills for the young.  Through copying they gradually begin to identify "rules" such as capitalizing the first letter of sentences, ending punctuation, sentences need verbs, and subjects etc.  It is so much easier to explain the "rules" once they are familiar with quality examples rather than the other way around.

Copywork also allows the parent to expose a child to beautifully crafted sentences by gifted writers.  Selections for copying should be chosen to illustrate the beauty of our language.  This entices the child to think and write beautifully themselves.  It also helps to maintain interest.  After all, wouldn't you rather read and write a sentence such as, "The woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep." (from Robert Frost's poem Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening) as opposed to "The cat ran.  The dog ran."? 

There are some that stop copywork after about second grade and begin dictation (the art of writing a sentence beautifully and correctly as it is spoken aloud).  However, we have chosen to continue copywork indefinitely.  It gives me an opportunity to expose my children to a wider variety of writings than I otherwise might be able to.  And it allows for the introduction of new language "rules", history information, or even lessons for my child's improvement.  As they get older they can shift from copywork selections chosen by me to a student created notebook full of favorite quotes or poetry. 

So, to get you started, I have included a term's worth of cursive copywork for young ladies that I have compiled. A term, for us, is 60 instructional days.  Feel free to print and use them in your own schooling.