Is copywork REALLY enough?

[momee]

I have a 2nd grader that I'm beginning to think needs more work in the LA dept.

We're doing the ebook download of ancient history copywork.
We're also doing the free grammar book mentioned of late.

I don't think spelling should really start until third grade but her attempt at writing is scary. :)

We're doing TOG's writing aids program for composition so I think we're probably good. The lit in TOG is very easy for her so I may add in some of their additional ideas or do AO readings.

What do you think?

[dcjlkplus3]

Sound fine to me, but I would add spelling. I added it to to first grade last spring, because I didn't want dd learning to spell wrong, and have to reteach it. She loves being able to spell things that others can read (IOW, right). Before we did Spelling Power, I would have her write words from her primer - that didn't last long, she took great offense at having to write words that she already knew how to spell, or were too easy.

We started dictation today, which is the only other thing I would suggest (if you are not doing it yet, I'm not familiar with TOG or the grammar program you are using). in WWE, SWB suggests that you spell any words they don't know yet to them.

[NJKelli]

My dd went to public school for K and 1st. They really had them writing. Then I took her home for 2nd and she wouldn't write at all. I was despairing until I learned about classical methods for teaching writing. We ended up doing some copywork daily as well as dictation now and then, mostly taking selections from Primary Language Lessons. I really wondered if it was working, REALLY WONDERED. Then this year something clicked. I think it was from all the copywork she'd done. She started out this year writing on her own comfortably--and using correct capitalization and punctuation, too! She even seems to know when to start a new paragraph and indent. I really can't believe the development she has shown. Thank you, copywork!

[Laurel]

Are you doing narrations as well? Do narrations as usual, and then have her copy her narration sentences, so she is slowly learning how to put the pieces together, and eventually write independently.

[one l michele]

especially for the tranistion between learning letter formation and actually writing on their own. I think of it more as handwriting. Once my dc's are forming letters properly, we move our focus to practicing summarizing (gradually increasing length) and daily dictation (using Spelling Plus Dictation which combines spelling words and other skills). From there our goal is for them to be able to write their own summary in 2nd.

I've tried copywork, we all thought it was busy work once they no longer had to think to form letters. With dictation, I am seeing the results in other subjects.

[Linda...inOwasso]

I love copywork. My dd8 did daily copywork in grades 1 & 2. It teaches so many things, but most importantly to me: it forces the child to focus on details.

Some of the things my dd picked up about writing through copywork include: All sentences start w/ a capital & end with a punctuation mark, the first letter inside a direct quote should be capitalized, indent the first line in a paragraph, etc...)

It improved her overall handwriting by providing consistent exposure to quality penmanship; helped her spacing of words & letters in addition to giving her a daily dose of character education since many of my copywork selections were quotes from famous people.

I would respectfully encourage you to begin spelling instruction now. I believe many children are reluctant to write simply because they're frustrated by not knowing how to spell many words.

Best of luck to you! :)

[LindaOz]

I think copywork is an excellent start to writing and it is something that can be added to, rather than replaced. As a child becomes proficient at copywork, you can add dictation, then narrations, and other types of writing as desired, while still using copywork at increasing levels of difficulty.

I was reading recently about using copywork to aid in spelling development - by having the child look at a word to be copied, picture it, then write it without looking back at the word until it is written. Then check. If the child looks to and fro from the word while writing it letter by letter, then no real spelling gain is made. I've been working with one of my dc on using copywork in this way.

Maybe if you wanted to start extra writing, you could have your dd illustrate a scene from an AO reading and then write a caption/sentence about the picture.

HTH
Linda