When I was first studying different homeschooling styles I found much to be admired in the Classical style. I especially thought the copywork was intriguing.
Then reality set in, and I didn’t follow up with it. We did the occasional copywork, but I wasn’t using it properly.
And you can tell from my boys’ handwriting. It’s atrocious. They are constantly having to redo their work because it’s so hard to read.
That’s part of why I want my kids to start copywork.
Here’s the advantages I see:
1. They get a chance to practice their handwriting, and improve. After all practice makes perfect.
2. They become familiar with works of literature, or verses. Your goal is not for them to copy random things. Your goal is for them to copy famous works of literature or verses. As they copy the words it becomes part of their memory.
3. They can see the correct way to form the words right in front of them, so they have an example.
Those are my big reasons for copywork. It’s much like having an art student copy a famous painting, they become familiar with different artistic styles.
Okay, you’re wondering why do I like Classical Copywork.?
First I like how she’s made the pages. Instead of having it all at the top, it’s interspersed with a line of copywork, and then a line for your kid to write on. This has helped my boys a lot {I’m referring to my boys all the time, because Princess is the typical girl with very pretty handwriting for her age, I think if she continues her handwriting will be better than mine in a year}. They find it much easier to copy if they’re not constantly having to look at the top of the page, and can just copy the line right above.
Second, I like the subject matter. I chose to review the book of Genesis copywork. I like that my kids are practicing writing by copying verses of the Bible. Especially since it’s got a few of my favorites in there, like Genesis 50:20 that I showed a picture of above. Many of her other products are for McGuffey Readers, which I’ve had a set of since college when I did a report on them.
Third, the price. She’s kept the price low and friendly for home-schooling Moms: $1.00 for Genesis. That’s a great price, isn’t it? Her biggest pack so far is her poetry pack, 114 pages, and it’s only $3.00. A great price since you can print it over and over again (which I sadly have had to do because I lost mine).
How are we using Classical Copywork.?
I printed it off and bound it using my binding machine (and then I promptly lost one copy over the ensuing weekend and had to print another, found it in the shoe box for Superman).
Then I set up a rotation among my kids. The “Kid of the Day” reads with me first, while the other two are either reading library books or doing their copywork for the day.
This has been working really well for us. The only problem I run into is when the child doing copywork finishes before his or her sibling is done with their reading lesson.
Where can I get Classical Copywork?
Click here to visit Classical Copywork. As my kids would say, “Easy peasy lemon squeezy,” just click and choose one.
OR, you can enter here and WIN ONE! I’m picking 3 winners, sweet!
Hi, Ticia! I love copywork, too. I include ours with our regular history or science studies, so their notebooks for those subjects include narrations and copywork. I like your idea of reading and copywork rotation. I think I will pick that up for my boys.
I know just the child to use this with!
Thanks,
Gena
Thanks for posting this. I love to give my son things to do that have more than 1 purpose. This will be great! I already downloaded a free sample.
I have started doing copy work with Sammy to help with his handwriting as well. I love how these are setup w/ the writing lines already on the page.
Hi lol. I’ve not done this with mine, instead we’ve done handwriting but it’s not working. Maybe this is the way we should go.
Hope I win!!! Thank you!
This looks great!! I don’t do copywork right now, but I really should.
Hey! I love this! We just implemented copy-work into my daughter’s school days. I love it. We do a memory verse every week and I especially love the thought of having her copy her memory verse over and filling her up with God’s word. Thanks so much for this.
I like how these are set up and that cursive is an option too. Thanks for the info!
I love this idea! I plan to purchase this for my four if I don’t win it! 🙂 Thank you!
I held off on hand-writing with my older child (my daughter) until 3rd grade. She just wasn’t ready before then. As a 5th grader, she has beautiful writing. 3rd grader son, who was ready for writing in 1st grade, has deplorable writing and hates to write. Maybe a copywork program would help him.
We are using C S Lewis right now, but I have been looking for scripture. So glad I found this blog post!!!
I have tried copy work before and sometimes forget why I am doing it. This looks like a great substitution for the handwriting curriculum I use…maybe I can kill two birds with one stone! Thanks!
I am very interested in this idea. I think it would be a great way to help with handwriting and memory.
I love how the child can write a line right below the written words. So smart!
I have two boys who have terrible handwriting as well. My girl, like yours, loves to write! As long as I instruct her on HOW it should look, she goes at it! The boys are a different story all together. We are seriously considering “going Classical” with homeschooling next year, so this would be one thing that I’d already have in my “classical toolbox.” 🙂 Thanks for introducing us to Classical Copywork!
So glad I saw this! Can’t wait to look around!
We have been doing some copywork, but not like I would want. I am trying to add more of it with our lessons!
We have been doing more copy work to improve handwriting.
Copywork is integrated into our curriculum. I wish I would have known about it when my oldest was learning to write!
Handwriting is important to me. I have been known to make my son copy something again because it is not neat.