Our Homeschooling Journey: Copywork

in Home Edders2 years ago

Copywork.png

One of the tasks I hated the most when I was studying was writing. Not the composition part, but the writing part - the part where I hold the pencil, then scribble the letters over and over and over and over again, that part I have the strongest dislike. Add to the fact that I am the only left hander in the class, the result is a handwriting only I could understand. (Kudos to my mom who, now I realize had a very challenging task of deciphering my written thoughts.)

The way we were trained to practice writing when we were young was this: our parent or educator would write down our full name on top of a piece of paper, then depending on our level, they would write down broken lines which we will trace or they would instruct us to copy what was written until we filled the entire page. This was deemed effective by everyone, including me. I figured once I filled a whole page or two or three, by the time I reach the end, I'd have already mastered writing my name. Or so we thought.

"Okay. This is your name. Trace the broken lines. When you're comfortable, try to write the letters on your own on the next line. Got it? Good. I'll be back later to check your work."

Sounds familiar? Chances are most of us got the very same or a slightly different version of instructions when we were young and newly learning how to write our first letters. Do you remember how overwhelming that was when you were young? Probably not. But still, there is a high chance that we thought of writing and copywork a punishment more than a practice training for our handwriting.

I am all for training kids to learn independently. In fact, that is my goal in our homeschooling journey. I plan that one day, I'll be able to go back to working full time, still homeschooling my kid, but feeling at peace trusting that she has developed the habits necessary for her own learning. In able to achieve that, I have to equip her with the right skills, mindset, habits, and attitude integral for her independent learning.

Copywork for Children

I'm starting with our copywork. As simplistic as each steps may seem, these are important not only in ensuring that our children give their best in every endeavor they may have. It also ensures that they are appreciating what they are learning, while enjoying it, and truly and honestly loving every bit of it. As opposed to how we were taught before, I am using these instructions to my kid on our copyworks.

Copywork (1).png

Observe.

The first instruction I gave my daughter was to take a close look at each letter. I told her to pay attention to the curves and lines, how they look like in the copywork sheet. My kid already knows how to write the entire alphabet when we tried the CM approach in copywork. It was a bit of a challenge at first to unlearn what I initially taught her from few years ago. At this part of the instruction, they did not need to do anything yet. All they have to do is simply take a look at the letters (or words), let them notice all the lines and curves and shapes of the letters.

Close your eyes and try to imagine the letter (or words) in your head.

Here, we want them to see the letters in their mind's eye. The reason we need this part is to train their mind to remember how each letters look like. It is also a practice for their memory. Challenge them to try to memorize the letters you are studying at the moment. If they need to take another look, let them, but as time goes by, they should aim to remember how the letters look like.

Trace.

You may do this with broken lines, but I find tracing (or writing) it in the air (or water, or sand) is more effective. The more they picture it in their head (in their mind's eye) and imagine writing it somewhere where only their imagination can see it, the better they'll remember it when it is time for them to write it on paper or whiteboard or blackboard (whichever they are comfortable with). Though homeschooling is mostly parent-led, it is important that we as parent educators take into consideration the comfort level of our little ones and match it with the lessons and goals that we set for them.

Emphasize the need for EXCELLENT execution.

Copywork (2).png

The keyword here is excellent. Refrain from pushing the kids to try to write perfectly. My instructions to my daughter always include "Try to copy the words as beautiful as you possibly can." At first, my daughter thought she needed to do it perfectly, this caused frustration on her part. Plus, she is naturally a perfectionist, we have to sometimes take a break whenever she feels that way. Children need to be reminded that it is important to exert an effort on everything they do, but they also need to know their limits. (Just like grownups.) Make the kids feel that it's alright if they think their work isn't as beautiful as they had expected to, as long as they are practicing excellent execution. Meaning, they gave their best and they put all the effort they can muster to produce that piece.

Write with care

Along with excellent execution, children, especially in the early years, must also learn to slowdown and take their time in performing their tasks. Originally, I would tell her to "write carefully" which she translated as avoid mistakes. This added to her frustration (being that she's a perfectionist.) I broke down the instruction into two. Try to copy the lines and curves as best as you possibly can and take her time in writing. I know, I set only 5 minutes for her copywork time but that doesn't mean she must rush her writing in order to complete the task at hand. In that 5 minutes allotted for her copywork, we spend time to just take a look at the letters which she has a hard time writing, we practice them on another piece of paper and when she's comfortable enough with her output, she goes back to her copywork notebook to continue writing.

Gently remind and correct them while they're doing their copywork.

Children's handwriting won't be perfect right away. It is our job to correct them and guide them as they go along. Children will develop muscle memory as they practice writing. It is important that what their muscle remembers is the correct and proper way. While it is important that we correct them, always remember to be very gentle but stern with them. Gentle in providing coaching, pointing out specifics, encouraging them, and taking notice of their efforts. But we also have to be strict when it comes to observing the rules and and carrying out instructions.

Teaching and training kids how to write properly in the early years is a very challenging feat. It is up to their educators to make this task less taxing to a young child as it possibly can. Children need specific instructions carefully and passionately delivered in a language children will understand. Discipline must also be observed and instilled so that these instructions, relayed with utmost care to the young minds, will be carried out and produce outputs that clearly show excellently executed copyworks. In this day and age when technology often takes control of almost everything, having good handwriting is a valuable skill to have not only for written communication but also because acquiring such skills entails learning other values such as patience, perseverance, discipline, and habit of excellence.

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Copy of Nanay Romeski (4 x 1.5 in) (2.5 x 1.5 in) (2 x 1 in) (3 x 1 in) (4 x 3 in) (2.5 x 1.5 in) (3 x 1.5 in).png

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Ang ganda naman magsulat ni aya! ❤️

I started school as a left- hander, but when I finished KG I was already writing with my right hand. The teacher would stay by my side and make sure that I pick up the pencil with my right hand every time. There are still lots of things I do until now where the left is my dominant hand - - like washing the clothes, hanging things, pouring, etc. And I can still write legibly with my left hand - both block and cursive. My eldest is a leftie. I didn't not bother to change what he is comfortable with.

Though we have not officially started our new school year, we have also started with copy work. We also shifted to D'Nealean style. My youngest didn't want to, at first because of the curves but he is now okay with it and he's actually doing great.

Actually natural na left hander din si Aya. Kaya lang may nagganyn din sa kanya, pinilit na kanan ang gamiting pangkuha ng pencil. Mejo napatawad ko na sya sa pangengealam nya sa anak ko. Hahahah

Magandang pangtraining for pre-cursive yung mga curvy na fonts. Nung una, ayaw kong palitan yung font namin kasi baka malito sya. Pero mas nag make sense sa akin na i-transition na sya agad s cursive habang formative years nya pa lang.

Nababawasan daw creativity ng bata or something like that, pag pinilit baguhin. Idk. Parang nga. Haha.

Yep, yan din nasa isip ko- Prep cia for cursive since mag grade 3 na ung girl ko. Kaya

I love her writing, the curves are nice, especially the letter N. By the way, I will just mention that I am also a lefthander like you (^_^)

Uy! Kaparehas pala tayo! Haha. Challenging din ba sayo ang handwriting? May teacher pa ako dati nung elementary na bawal magsulat sa board ang kaliwete eh ako lang ang kaliwete sa class. Haha.

Challenging din ba sayo ang handwriting?

Pagkakatanda ko parang hindi, ang natatandaan ko lang daito masipag ako magsulat, hehe (^_^)

Buti na lang wala akong naging teacher na bawal magsulat ng kaliwete sa board. At tsaka kaya kong magsulat ng kanan sa board, tapos magbasketball ako kanan, magkutsara ay kaliwa, magkamay na kumain ay kanan, ahahay, ang gulo ko.

I don't recall having to do repeated words, but I have to admit my writing looked like a kid's even into my adult years. I have to make a concious effort to write neatly and can only do so if I'm writing slowly. Maybe this kind of practice when younger would have helped me, but I'll never know now.

Both myself and a friend in my class had to rewrite our essays for the teacher before he would put them in for the exam. I painstakingly rewrote them until they were acceptable, but the teacher gave up on my friend's. 😅

Oh, it's like torture here in our country. When you're learning to write your name, you'll have to write them repeatedly on a piece of paper. Then in the higher years, it's a form of punishment when you forgot your assignment or if you are noisy in class or not seated on the proper seat. I am always caught talking so my punishment is always "I will not be noisy again." Or somewhere along those lines. 😅 Clearly, I did not learn the lesson in that punishment. Haha

Oh the essay writing. I can imagine having to write by hand some hundred words. Haha. Kids nowadays are lucky they have computers.

"I will not be noisy again."

LOL. I can still clearly remember during 1st grade, I forgot to cut my fingernails for the Monday inspection. My punishment was to writr: "I promise to cut my fingernails everyday." 😂

Haha. Ang kulit. Isang buong grade 6 pad paper madalas pinapasulat, back to back pa nga. Kaya lalo kong na-hate magsulat eh. Hahaha

Maybe if I was trained in the same way my penmanship wasn't that messy looking hehe. Me too I hate writing especially Elem days and its because of my messy hands. I was trained with my mother holding my fingers writing the letters of my names. That's was nostalgic thou, my mother have no education background and she tried her best to teach me to write. That's why I love my mother and respect all the mothers who do all the possible techniques in improving writings.

I have exactly the same thoughts. Being a left hander, writing has always been a challenge to me and to anyone who tries to teach me. LOL. So really hats off to my mom and all the moms in the world who give it their best even if they themselves are also having a hard time coping with everything in life.

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Thank you!

For sure! I went ahead and supported your proposal. :)

Thank you for your support @romeskie, really appreciate it! 👍

She has beautiful writing. I struggle with getting my son to think for himself. There is so much he wants to do yet often forgets. Getting him to write things down is another challenge. We will get there though.

Thank you. We went through a lot of practice to get her to write the way she does now. There still are times though that she's just not in the mood to write with care. We just have to remind her every now and then.

Children does have so much going on in their minds and wants to accomplish a lot of things. As long as we consistently and gently guide them, they would always find their way.

How old is your daughter @romeskie. She's good in writing already. Me and my son doesn't reach in writing words of numbers but he already knew how to write numbers and letters.

Yes writing is learning not just about to write but to teach them to persevere in writing too. This is challenging because some kids have a short attention span.

She just turned 6 last month. I've been teaching her since she was 3 or 4-ish years old. We went through lots of tears, sweat, and so many hours of practice to get to the way she writes now.

Each kid has their own level of comfort when it comes to writing. Just continue teaching him, encourage him, and consistently guide him, he'll get there. :)

Ah okay, my son is four now and he is turning 5 on November 13. Yes i let him practice more and more. Thanks @romeskie

We also do copywork! There were some great ideas that CM thought of years ago, huh? My kids usually will copy a Bible verse as part of their copywork!

Sometimes we do hymns and bible verses too. It's part of her memory work as well.

😊😉👍🌈

wow, actual hand writing?! :P My one teacher in 7th grade told me I have organized chicken scratch writing! 😁😜 i'm so thankful for keyboards!

did that one say 'we must not hope to be mowers'??

did that one say 'we must not hope to be mowers'??

Yeah, that's a part of the poem we're working on right now. We're learning about perseverance. The poem is about not hoping to be mowers and gatherers if we didn't plant the seeds and watered it everyday. We do only 5 minutes a day of copywork that's why it's not yet finished.

organized chicken scratch writing

Mine also looks like that. 😅 I'm practicing along with my daughter right now though. Haha

😊😜🌈

Your content is interesting. Through the copy we work on fine motor skills, the way in which the pencil is used and the pressure that our little ones exert on it. In addition to, visual motor skills since they must be focused on what they are observing and capturing with their pencil on paper.

Cheers

Your content has been voted as a part of Encouragement program. Keep up the good work!

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