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. 

I'm back!

It has been a long and amazing journey, that has left this blog woefully neglected.  But I am back, at least for the summer, and have some activities and files to share with you.  But first, let me give you a brief idea of what has been going on.

When I began this blog I was homeschooling my youngest child, who at the time was a preschooler.  I had attended college for a pre-k/elementary education degree which ironically led my husband and I to the decision to homeschool.  I did not, at the time, have an "educational philosophy" in mind.  We just knew we wanted something that the public schools could not offer.  So I began sharing here some of the things we were doing.

Over time I studied and researched and prayed and we finally settled on a Charlotte Mason approach about half way through our kindergarten year.  We decided to use Ambleside Online as our primary curriculum.  We gradually worked our way through, starting with the basics and over the last 4 years adding in the riches.  When she was in first grade, my 8th grade public school daughter encountered some bullying which led us to take her out of public school for the remainder of the year with the intent that she would return for high school.  She requested to complete her education at home and graduated this year!

Three years ago we also took in an adorable 11 month old little girl, and almost a year ago we opened our home to her newborn brother as well.  It has been an adventurous ride!

I plan to share with you over the summer (and possibly randomly throughout the year as time allows) some of the things I have created or used that have helped us along the way.  I hope they bless you.

Last Minute Stocking Stuffer

Looking for a last minute stocking stuffer?  Here is a great idea, extended bedtime passes!  In my house Princess A is always asking to stay up past her bedtime, especially since her older siblings have a later bedtime than she does.  These passes allow her a few minutes extra, and are a quick and easy gift to add to her stocking.  

Feel free to use mine and print your own as well.   You can download the free PDF here.  Merry Christmas!

50 States and Charlotte Mason

The "Build Your Bundle" - Homeschool Edition sale is going on for one week only (July 21-28)! There are so many wonderful products and amazing deals! Today I want to share with you one of the awesome resources included in the Charlotte Mason Bundle that we will be using this year, 50 States and Where to Find Them from Barefoot Meandering. I wanted to include a states study in Princess's education and we even began a few states last year, beginning with our own and moving out to a few neighboring states.  I don't know if you have ever attempted to gather age appropriate resources on your own before, but let me tell you it can be a headache!  I could picture what I wanted but had to spend forever to find it and then I had to compile and organize it all.  Imagine all of that multiplied by 50!!! Then I came across this, the 50 States and Where to Find Them.  It is perfect!  States are divided by region, which allows you to pick the region you live in and focus there first.  Each state includes not only a map of the state, but a map of where it is in the region AND a map of where it is in the US allowing your child to get the complete view.   The teaching edition includes geography terms, suggesting reading books, interesting facts and various activites for each state.  And then you get the student book, which contains maps for your child to color, outline, and label.  Also included are state flags, birds, and plants making this a complete overview for each state and a great way to gently introduce your child to them.  I especially like that a large portion of the information is connected to living books. And this is just ONE of the awesome items included in the Charlotte Mason Bundle.  Check out the rest:

$377.35 ONLY $49.00 Save: 87% Amazing things await you in our Charlotte Mason Bundle! This bundle features a complete curriculum using the Charlotte Mason Methods for language arts, handwriting, and reading, a full geography curriculum, a plethora of resources for studying nature, artists, poetry, and a variety of "extras" just for mom! Learn all about Charlotte Mason and enjoy a special bonus (a $90 value all by itself)—the top 5 best selling G.A. Henty audio books from Jim Hodges Productions. This bundle is jam packed full of amazing resources your family will love! Buy more & save more! Purchase 2 pre-assembled bundles and get the 3rd one 50% off! See site for details. Checkout the items in the Charlotte Mason Bundle:

Write from History - Retail $22.95 With modern writing programs, children's weaknesses often overshadow their strengths, but with the Charlotte Mason Method of teaching your children to write all those frustrations will fly out the window. The Write from History series teaches children to write via the Charlotte Mason Method, children find writing to be easy and even fun. And when they are asked to put the various writing skills together, they do so easily and naturally. Write from History is an easy and effective way to teach writing, supplement history, and reinforce proper handwriting. Click here to learn more! Sheldon's NEW Primary Language Lessons - Retail $14.95 Sheldon's New Primary Language Lessons is a beginning grammar workbook for students learning the 8 parts of speech and the fundamentals of sentence and paragraph writing. This language arts curriculum is a gentle introduction to grammar and composition for students in the elementary grades. Writing exercises are in cursive and print. Click here to learn more! 50 States and Where to Find Them - Retail $30.00 50 States and Where to Find Them teaches children the states and capitals region by region through mapping exercises and quality literature. Children fill out a map of the region as they learn about each state. State lessons include historical information about the state and coloring pages of the state flower, state bird, and state flag. Each region wraps up with a crossword puzzle, a word search, and a bonus lesson pertaining to the region. Click here to learn more! The Charlotte Mason Way Explained - Retail $6.99 The Charlotte Mason Way Explained ebook consist of 30 chapters, 53 pages written by a veteran home educating mother of four, who has used the Charlotte Mason way to teach her children from preschool through high school. Practical insights of how to simply implement each of Charlotte Mason methods into today's homeschool, a reader will gain inspiration, clarity and focus on their own homeschooling journey. Click here to learn more! Recommended for you and found at this price only at the Build Your Bundle - Homeschool Edition Sale in the Premium Products Section: *Not included in the Charlotte Mason Bundle, available for purchase individually at 60% off. Handwriting - Webster's Syllabary with Phonics - Retail $15.00 This first book in the Handwriting Lessons Through Literature program teaches cursive handwriting through Webster's syllabary and seventy-five phonograms. Students also learn capital letters and numbers 1-100. Included in this file are both a vertical and a slant cursive workbook, each with its own unique set of writing instructions. Click here to learn more! Fine Art Pages Collection 1 - Retail $14.95 This fabulous artist study program that will aid you in studying famous paintings plus information about each work and the artist.In addition to the art pages, you will also receive some practical tips and suggestions about how to utilize the Fine Art Pages and get the most out of them for both you and your students. Click here to learn more! Reading Lessons through Literature - Retail $25.00 Reading Lessons through Literature is a pick-up and go Orton phonogram reading program organized around the stories in The Elson Readers. Like other Orton phonogram programs, it focuses on teaching reading through spelling. First children learn the basic phonograms. Then they begin writing their spelling words, analyzing them, and reading them for practice. And finally, they begin to read stories which include the words they've learned. RLTL teaches 75 basic phonograms. Click here to learn more! Level 3 Old Testament Overview Part 1 - Retail $28.00 On this trail Bible students will learn about the Creation, the Promises God made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and much more. Along the path they will also learn basic Bible geography through mapping exercises. Students will draw the timeline, identify biblical locations on a map, and recite memory verses and important facts from the Bible. Students who take this trail will be able to identify the people and places of the Bible! Click here to learn more! Jim Hodges Audio Books - Retail $90.00 Download the top 5 G.A. Henty Audio Books of all time! These exciting, historically accurate, uplifting stories in complete, unabridged recordings by Jim Hodges Productions will have your children begging for more! The titles include: With Lee in Virginia, In Freedom's Cause, Beric the Briton, For the Temple, and Winning His Spurs. Click here to learn more! Notebooking Pages: Trees & Plants - Retail $11.90 The Plants & Trees Basic Study contains 49 notebooking pages includes diagrams and pages designed to complement your child's basic study of plants and trees. Also included is Trees of North America, 344+ notebooking pages covers 43 of North America's trees. Wonderful coloring pages, choice of primary or regular lines, and a variety of layouts are included for each tree in this set. Click here to learn more! Notebooking Pages: Complete Birds Set - Retail $23.80 This is the entire collection of nature study birds notebooking sets! You will be amazed at all of the pages you will get in this bundle! This bundled purchase includes: All About Birds Basic Study Notebooking Pages, Birds of the World Notebooking Pages, North American Birds Notebooking Pages, and Tropical Birds Notebooking Pages. Click here to learn more! Notebooking Pages: Wildflowers, Weeds, and Garden Flowers - Retail $12.95 This set was created to compliment a nature study of flowers using the Handbook of Nature Study, by Anna Botsford Comstock. There are 8 designed notebooking pages for each Wildflower, Weed, & Garden Flower named in this study (over 45 plants in all!). Included are both regular-lined and primary-lined so they will work for all ages. Click here to learn more! NaturExplorers Fruit & Nuts - Retail $8.95 This unit will not only have you observing and examining fruits and nuts, you will learn to observe insect and animal behavior, watch for the effects of disease or weather on plants and be challenged to create meals, make models, create history reports and so much more! Also included is a slight focus on the Fruits of the Spirit in the Bible section with additional book, music and activity ideas to follow through with Biblical character training. This is a well-rounded unit chock-full of lessons to fit every academic area! Click here to learn more! Words With Wings - Retail $39 Introducing Words With Wings, an exciting new poetry curriculum and contest for kids. Each monthly lesson includes the simple explanation of a fun poetry form and poetic devices, a writing prompt, examples from the Words With Wings poets, easy 'how-to' tips, and samples from famous poets. Bible verses are woven through each lesson in a relevant way that inspires a love of language, as well an understanding of the language of His love. Click here to learn more! Discipleship: A Character Curriculum Using Scriptures - Retail $14.95 Discipleship: A Character Curriculum Using Scripture is a one, two or three year curriculum geared toward children who are learning to write and all the way to a high school curriculum. Each year curriculum has assignments for a 5 day week, however if you desire to take longer with this curriculum, just turn it into whatever year curriculum works for your own family! Click here to learn more! Because I Said So - a Biblical Study of Obedience - Retail $4.99 This is a brand new 26 page Bible study that teaches HOW and WHY we should obey through scripture and study of biblical people who struggled with the issue of obedience. Also included is a bonus hymn study on the beloved hymn, Trust and Obey. The study is perfect for family devotions, quiet time or homeschool Bible class! Click here to learn more! When I Survey - a Hymnological Journey to the Cross - Retail $4.99 When I Survey is a 12-day hymnological journey to the cross. Students and families will dig into the Bible and then support their learning with the study of a hymn. This study will empower you to set truth deep into the hearts of your children in a simple and easy way! Click here to learn more! Breakfast Stations Pack - Retail $2.99 This pack is just what every busy mom needs. You'll find 60+ days of breakfasts that your kids can make themselves in less than 3 minutes. They are healthy, fast, easy, and best of all...FRUGAL! Click here to learn more! How to Build a Strong Christian Home - Retail $4.99 Most of us love our families very much but we struggle in so many different ways, and sometimes we just need a little help and guidance to become the family we know the Lord wants us to become. Our families are a blessing and worth the patience, love, and time to invest in building a strong Christian home for God's glory and we can do this one step at a time. Click here to learn more!

BUY MORE & SAVE MORE!

*Lots of ways to save! When you purchase ANY 2 pre-assembled bundles you will get the 3rd pre-assembled bundle of equal or lesser value for 50% off! When you purchase ANY 2 "build your own" bundles you will get the 3rd "build your own" bundle of equal or lesser value for 50% off! Tell your friends about the "Build Your Bundle" - Homeschool Edition Sale using our referral system that is found on the top of the website! When 10 of your referrals visit our site using your unique link, we will give you a code to save 10% off your total purchase! *The B2G1 50% off offer applies to pre-assembled or "Build Your Own" Bundles only. Discount taken off the lowes priced bundle. See site for complete details and FAQ.

Prefer to pick and choose what you want?

It's HERE!!!

For one week only - now through July 28th - get an amazing bundle FULL of curriculum for your early elementary students (*other bundles are being offered for students in pre-k through high school!) for just $39.00 - a 79% savings! The "Build Your Bundle" - Homeschool Edition sale has so many wonderful products and amazing deals! We are highlighting the Kindergarten - Third Grade Bundle below.

Take a look at the K-3 Bundle:

$187.13 ONLY $39.00 Save: 79% Teach your K-3 children basic skills and core truths through easily understandable lessons and hands-on activities. Our K-3 Bundle includes reading, math, science, handwriting, character training and Bible resources. Your children will experience life in 17th century America as they learn about the settlers and our 13 original colonies. You will have everything you need to savor these first days of discovery! This bundle includes a Cathy Duffy Top 100 Pick! Buy more & save more! Purchase 2 pre-assembled bundles and get the 3rd one 50% off! See site for details. Checkout the items in the K-3 Bundle:

Early Settlers in America - Retail $19.95 This FUN, NO PREP, 6-week unit study is appropriate for grades 2-12. You will voyage back in time to the founding of America and meet brave men and women of extraordinary faith, enjoy classic family read-alouds, create and maintain a simple history timeline, learn geography, research and make Early American crafts. Children will meet the Pilgrims and discover life in the 1600s, get to know some famous artists of the time, enjoy creative language assignments, and more! Click here to learn more! Creation Science a Study Guide to Creation - Retail $18.95 This series has been selected as the top 100 and now 101 Top Picks of Homeschool Curriculum by Cathy Duffy. Read great books, demonstrate theories with activities and learn the joy of knowing our universe was created by an amazing God! This is written for all grade levels integrating all subjects. This includes outlines, activities, experiments, vocabulary, reading lists, math ideas, book reviews, reproducible sheets, and much more. This features a detailed teaching outline! Click here to learn more! Raising Rock Stars Kindergarten - Retail $10.00 What you will find in Raising Rock Stars Kindergarten? Along with fun activities children love, you will find tracing, cutting, phonics, site words, coloring, vocabulary, math, sign language, and more! Click here to learn more! Recommended for you and found at these prices only at the Build Your Bundle - Homeschool Edition Sale in the Premium Products Section: *Not included in the K-3 Bundle, available for purchase individually at 60% off. ABC's of Godly Children - Retail $15.99 The ABC's For Godly Children is a comprehensive, Bible Curriculum centered around teaching children ages 4-10 about the God they serve and how to have a heart like His. By using each letter of the alphabet a Bible lesson is presented in an understandable and interactive format to teach core truths concerning the Gospel, Godly Character, and Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. Click here to learn more! Reading Lessons Through Literature Level 1 - Retail $25.00 Reading Lessons Through Literature is a pick-up and go Orton phonogram reading program organized around the stories in The Elson Readers. Like other Orton phonogram programs, it focuses on teaching reading through spelling. First children learn the basic phonograms. Then they begin writing their spelling words, analyzing them, and reading them for practice. And finally, they begin to read stories which include the words they've learned. RLTL teaches 75 basic phonograms. Level 1 includes instructional material, the spelling lists, and The Elson Readers Primer, so there are no additional readers to purchase. Click here to learn more! Asia: It's People and History - Retail $6.95 Is the land of Asia a mystery to your kids? Do they know who lives there? Do they know how to pray for them? Asia is home to more than fifty countries and territories and roughly three-fifths of the world's population. Could you use some help introducing your family to this vast land? This sixteen-week course presents a brief picture of six nations. Click here to learn more! Beginner Old Testament Part 1 Teacher/Student - Retail $28.00 Beginning at Creation, students will take an unforgettable stick figure journey through the Old Testament. Starting in the Garden of Eden your students will stick figure events to the Tower of Babel. This hands-on Bible study will show how God interacted with people from Adam to Noah. Your students will study the events chronologically from Creation to the building of the Tower of Babel. Contains: lesson notes, stick figure drawings, lesson goals & key points, memory verses, and review questions & answers. Click here to learn more! Write Through the Bible: Philippians 2:1-18, (ESV) - Retail $5.00 This is a full-year handwriting workbook using a D'Nealian Manuscript font. The text is Philippians 2:1-18 from the English Standard Version (ESV). Philippians 2:1-18 contains a theologically-rich poem, perhaps a hymn that was sung in the early church, about Christ's humility, death, and exaltation. In this text, Paul connects this profound doctrine to how we should treat one another as Christians. Click here to learn more! Meet Penny: Premium Membership - Retail $25.00 Lifetime membership for one person OR one family to all printables, powerpoint shows, and ebooks posted to Meet Penny valued at $3.99 and under. Click here to learn more! Botany in 8 Lessons - Retail $14.95 Botany in 8 Lessons is a complete curriculum designed for ages 8-14. Includes both student text and teacher's activity guide, along with an activity section of over 100 pages of supplemental games, crafts, and experiments. Labs include flower dissection, dissecting xylem tubes out of celery, experimenting with growing roots, testing soil pH, testing the strength of germinating seeds, looking at pollen grains, watching osmosis, and more. Also includes arts/crafts activities, lapbook templates, coloring pagesm and test. Click here to learn more! Character Badges - Retail $12.99 Character Badges is a system consisting of three charts (the Obedience Chart, the Disobedience Chart, and the Consequence Chart), a series of specially designed badges, and a set of flash cards which work together to make character training fun and rewarding for both you and your child. Click here to learn more! Math Mammoth Place Value 2 Students will study place value starting with three-digit numbers and move on to number lines, forming numbers and breaking them apart, skip counting, compare and order, rounding, bar graphs, and much more! Click here to learn more! Math Mammoth Add & Subtract 4 Covers addition and subtraction related topics: - mental addition and subtraction strategies; - adding and subtracting in columns; - some numerical patterns; - bar models in problem solving; - order of operations; - line graphs and bar graphs; - rounding and estimating; - money problems and discounts Click here to learn more!

BUY MORE & SAVE MORE!

*Lots of ways to save! When you purchase ANY 2 pre-assembled bundles you will get the 3rd pre-assembled bundle of equal or lesser value for 50% off! When you purchase ANY 2 "build your own" bundles you will get the 3rd "build your own" bundle of equal or lesser value for 50% off! Tell your friends about the "Build Your Bundle" - Homeschool Edition Sale using our referral system that is found on the top of the website! When 10 of your referrals visit our site using your unique link, we will give you a code to save 10% off your total purchase! *The B2G1 50% off offer applies to pre-assembled or "Build Your Own" Bundles only. Discount taken off the lowes priced bundle. See site for complete details and FAQ.

Prefer to pick and choose what you want?