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too perfect copywork
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Okay, I have the craziest problem – my oldest daughter is 8 1/2 and we have been working on copywork. I have stressed with both of my children to do their best in all of their schoolwork. Well, now that seems to be backfiring on me – lol!
She will take f-o-r-e-v-e-r to write. Granted it is beautiful handwriting, but she seems to be missing the point. I have told her that because she going so slowly (she writes each letter very slowly and carefully) she is missing the “big picture” of the word and sentence – beauty, spelling, grammar, etc. I have gently (and sometimes not so gently) asked her to speed up a bit, but then she’s concerned that it won’t look good and be her “best writing”. I’ve even told her that she needs to be practicing nice penmanship while writing at a regular speed (she writes much faster for her own things – this is just for her schoolwork).
So now I’m stuck – I can’t now tell her that it doesn’t need to be perfect and she should just keep going because that would seem like we’re slacking in the area of doing our best. I know it seems crazy to complain – but it’s too much of a good thing in a way. We can’t seem to finish her copywork piece (she writes for a certain amount of time) because it takes longer than it should to get through it. Again, there is no lack of writing ability, because she writes at regular speed for letters, etc. She just has a need for her school writing to be “perfect” (she is a stereotypical first born girl).
So – do I just leave it alone? Will she naturally speed up as she gets more comfortable with her handwriting? Is there something I should be doing but haven’t done? Any wisdom from you ladies would be greatly appreciated!
-Tanya
Oops – sorry this shouldn’t be under CM Educating, this is a copywork post; I forgot to change the heading.
I don’t have any astounding advice for you, but one thing you don’t have to worry about is her habit of attention! I’m sure as she gets a little older and more comfortable with her “perfection” she’ll speed up a bit. I’m sure it is annoying to you right now though!
Would you consider setting an egg timer or other kitchen timer and making it a game? For instance, if she can write out her copywork before the timer goes off you’ll read an extra chapter of a favorite book, play a board game with her or something else that would motivate her to speed it up a bit.
Tanya,
My firstborn, also a girl, can sometimes be somewhat of a perfectionist, too. I have decided not to focus on getting the selection finished in one sitting, but rather work for 15 minutes and stop, no matter where she is.
Could you try setting a timer for 10-15 minutes (or however long you want her to work on copywork) and let her do her very best and then just stop and pick it up again the next time you schedule copywork. That way you’re encouraging her best, but still setting the limit as to how much time it can take.
Christie
Thank you ladies for your encouragement. Yes, I already do set a timer for 10 minutes for her and she is to stop wherever she is. I guess it is my own impatience that is in question here because I feel like she should be able to write more in 10 minutes than she already does. Yesterday she didn’t even finish two sentences, and I know she could do that in 10 minutes. I just feel like she is missing out on some of the benefits of copywork by going too slowly.
Believe me, Tanya, you’re not alone. Almost every seminar that I present, someone will ask a question about this very issue. It sounds like you’re doing things right. One question: Does she write that slowly for any other assignments? Or does she have any other written assignments, like written narration or anything yet? (I’m not recommending; just asking.)
Hi Sonya,
She doesn’t have many written assignments yet – just copywork out of books, or sometimes copywork of her own narrations (like for the library reading program they had to do a “book report” so she just told me what she wanted to say, I wrote it down and then she copied my handwriting). So, I guess the answer to your question is yes, she writes this slowly for all school assignments. But if there is anything for herself, a worksheet at Sunday school, etc. she writes at a regular speed.
Sonya,
Sorry to bring this back up, but you mentioned that this comes up a lot at your seminars. What is your advice for helping her to see the “big picture” of copywork and notice the language, spelling, punctution, etc. while writing slowly? Or is she seeing it and I’m just not realizing it?
-Tanya
Your statement
But if there is anything for herself, a worksheet at Sunday school, etc. she writes at a regular speed
makes me think that all will come right in the end. She is taking her time in order to do her best because that is the “goal” of copywork. If she were stuck in “low gear” for all of her writing, we might have cause for concern. But I think she can mentally differentiate between these various reasons for writing at different times. Stick with the timer and relax.
Your question about the “big picture” is good also. I think she is soaking it up little by little, possibly without realizing it. If you introduce some gentle English lessons, such as English for the Thoughtful Child or Emma Serl’s Language Lessons or Queen’s Language Lessons, those will point out some of those items as well as give some variety between copywork exercises.
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