In the world of education, copywork stands out as an incredibly effective tool for teaching writing. It’s not popular in modern schools, but many of us who work outside the educational mainstream, understand that this time-tested practice yields great results. Copywork is a simple yet powerful practice: students carefully transcribe excerpts from well-written texts, absorbing the craftsmanship of exceptional authors in the process. The growth in popularity of the Charlotte Mason method has also brought a revival in the practice of copywork, though the method has been used for hundreds of years prior to Miss Mason's work
How copywork actually works
Copywork involves more than just copying words onto paper—it’s an intentional exercise in observation and precision. When a child copies a passage, they’re engaging with the structure, vocabulary, and punctuation of quality literature. This seemingly straightforward practice delivers numerous benefits:
Improved handwriting: By focusing on forming each letter correctly, students naturally improve their penmanship.
Enhanced spelling and vocabulary: Encountering new words in meaningful contexts helps children remember and understand them better.
Practical grammar lessons: Observing how sentences are crafted and punctuated provides valuable, hands-on lessons in grammar.
Charlotte Mason herself famously said, “The child should be made familiar with the best that has been thought or said in the world.” Copywork puts that philosophy into action by immersing students in beautifully written passages.
The power of paying attention
Copywork also cultivates habits of attention and careful execution. Mason was a strong advocate for encouraging perfection in small tasks, suggesting that children should not move on until they had done their best work. This mindset fosters diligence and pride in one’s efforts.
Building confidence for original writing
One of the things I love most about copywork is how it gently prepares children for more advanced writing tasks. For young learners, generating original content can be intimidating. Copywork removes the pressure to come up with ideas, allowing children to focus purely on the mechanics of writing. Over time, they internalise what good writing looks and feels like, building a strong foundation for their own creative compositions.
Practical tips for implementing copywork
If you’re new to the concept of copywork, here are a few practical tips to help you get started:
1. Choose quality texts: Select passages from literature that exemplify excellent writing. Poetry, quotes, speeches, and classic prose all work beautifully. Choose passages that are appropriate in length for your child's age and writing stamina
2. Keep sessions short: Aim for no more than 10 minutes per session to maintain focus and avoid frustration.
3. Encourage excellence: Gently guide students to produce their best work, reinforcing the value of careful execution. Keep everything in a folder so you can track progress.
By incorporating copywork into your home education routine, you’re giving your children the tools to internalise the elements of great writing naturally and joyfully. As Charlotte Mason wisely said, “To introduce children to literature is to install them in a very rich and glorious kingdom.” Along with plenty of reading, Copywork opens the gates to that kingdom, one beautifully written sentence at a time.
Amanda
P.S You don’t need a curriculum to do copywork; it can be as simple as opening a book, highlighting a passage and then asking the child to write it on paper, but if you have multiple children and would value an open-and-go programme where all the prep-work has been done for you, have a look around the Copywork Cave website. We’ve got three different levels for different abilities, and the choice of US or UK spelling, and Classic or Christian versions (Christian versions include a weekly Bible passage). We’ve carefully selected great texts and laid them out beautifully for your children to simply open and write (and they’re ink and printer friendly!) Enjoy!
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