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JennGM
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I have been enjoying Copywork Buffet thread, and wanted to talk about actual copybooks.
There was this recent post.
Right now, we need the special writing lines, bigger lines. My son (age 7) is wanting one nice notebook to keep all his writing in. While we have a few composition and journal books, I think he wants something "beautiful" instead of just functional. It's harder for me to think of something when he isn't using just plain lines.
Do you incorporate one copybook? What do you use for different stages of writing? Do you keep one for every year?
Do share, please!
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Jennifer G. Miller
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stellamaris
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I love the idea of a copybook, but truthfully have never been able to successfully implement it. Probably I started when the children were too young. We would begin, and then pretty soon there would be a very messy page or sloppy work and that kind of ruined it.
I'm wondering if it would be a more positive experience if we waited until the basic handwriting were well established (I think my 9-yr. old ds might be getting to this point) and then let him choose the texts he would like to copy? Sort of like George Washington did? I have always assigned texts, but I think if he chose his own he would have more incentive to copy carefully and neatly.
I'd love to hear what others have done, too.
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Caroline
Wife to  dh 30+ yrs,ds's 83,85,89,dd's 91,95,ds's 01,01,02,grammy to 4
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Grace&Chaos
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This year I printed pages from Notebookingpages.com with each child in mind (my five year old had big space lines vs. my 11 yr old had regular journal lines) and then took a pretty sheet of scrap booking paper for the cover and had them spiral bound. There were enough printed sheets to cover the school year and it looks like a nice book.
So, I think for the early years I'll keep one per year. When they get to an age of appreciating a Book of Thoughts will invest on a hard bound journal type book.
I should mention that for my girls I used scattered pages of printed Proverbs quotes and blank floral pages. My 2nd graders lines are small but still have the middle line where my 5th grader has no middle line and is expected to do her copywork in cursive. My kindergartner has pages with artwork squares scattered through out.
I like this so far  .
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Jenny
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Mackfam
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JennGM wrote:
| I have been enjoying Copywork Buffet thread, and wanted to talk about actual copybooks. |
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Ok!
Before I tell you what we use, I'm going to make sure my vocabulary is talking about what you're asking about.
** Copybook - (elementary/middle school) This is something a child between the ages of 6 - 12 uses for their copywork. It can be a simple notebook, 3 ring binder, nicer journal, etc. These copywork selections can be chosen by the student, or mom/teacher, or a combination of both.
** Commonplace book - (high school) This is a collection of quotes from literature that are chosen by the student and included in their commonplace book. Generally, these are begun after the need for "copywork" has passed, in other words, the child's penmanship is reasonably good. In this case, and usually in late jr. high/high school a student transitions into a commonplace book, continuing to pen favorite and inspiring thoughts from their literature in a book. These were commonly kept by great thinkers such as Thomas Jefferson. Charlotte Mason enjoys the idea of a commonplace book and writes about the use of it:
Charlotte Mason, Volume 5, p. 260 wrote:
| It is very helpful to read with a commonplace book or reading-diary, in which to put down any striking thought in your author, or your own impression of the work, or of any part of it; but not summaries of facts. Such a diary, carefully kept through life, should be exceedingly interesting as containing the intellectual history of the writer; besides, we never forget the book that we have made extracts from, and of which we have taken the trouble to write a short review. |
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This Parents Review Article on the Teaching of History expresses how older students make use of the commonplace book when studying history through period literature:
Quote:
| The pupils make entries into a "Commonplace Book," of those passages whose literary force or beauty have particularly appealed to them. |
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...and, just to be confusing...we have chosen to call our commonplace book a lovely thoughts journal. 
This post....
....is likely referring to what I have above called a "commonplace book."
* * * * * * * *
JennGM wrote:
Right now, we need the special writing lines, bigger lines. My son (age 7) is wanting one nice notebook to keep all his writing in. While we have a few composition and journal books, I think he wants something "beautiful" instead of just functional. It's harder for me to think of something when he isn't using just plain lines.
Do you incorporate one copybook? What do you use for different stages of writing? Do you keep one for every year?
Do share, please! |
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For copybooks I use 3 ring binders. We do spend some effort in making the book attractive using scrapbook paper and labels because that element of looking for an attractive book to collect copywork is important to my children as well. The 3 ring binder is what I've found to be the most useful and practical.
Early copywork consists of me printing starter sentences using Startwrite, and putting that on a child's clipboard. Once a sheet is completed it is hole punched and collected in the child's 3 ring binder copybook. After manuscript letter formation is mastered, my children enjoy completing copywork on their notebooking pages which they can embellish.
We keep this notebook until the child no longer cares for the cover...at which point we give it a facelift with a fresh cover! If the student finds his older, more elementary work juvenile looking, I simply file it (or ditch it), and the notebook takes on a fresh character for the student.
The commonplace book is more of a journal or book. The older student chooses this for him/herself. A couple of considerations:
** Choose one with good quality, acid free paper.
** A sturdy cardboard cover on both sides makes this book more portable and easier to write in.
** Same rules apply from copywork with regard to penmanship, but at this point that has become a habit and the parent can enjoy the smooth and easy days they have cultivated through the habit of stressing good penmanship over the years preceding.
** Mistakes are sometimes made in the commonplace book - that's what WHITE-OUT is for!
** Using a very good pen is critical. We have found that some pens bleed through our journal pages and we don't like that. Some of that is a factor of the weight/quality of the journal selected, but we've found a very good pen to use is the Pilot V Razor Point (I linked to the set of 8 because this would make a wonderful birthday gift for a student this age. My dd enjoys this set and the different colors. I like writing in just black.)
** We enjoy the large selection of books/styles/sizes as well as the paper quality of the C.R. Gibson books. There are many other sources for journals, but we enjoy these. Some of them are available at Costco. You can find spiral, wrapped spiral, book bound, journal style, small, medium, large....in a variety of pleasing covers. Our personal preference are the lined spiral journals (which I know you don't care for, Jenn) because the covers are a substantial cardboard and add to the book so that it can be easily opened and written in.
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
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JennGM
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Thank you, Jen, for the clarification. I meant copybook for elementary age. He's somewhat dissatisified with a binder, but it's probably because I don't have your skills of sprucing it up. Do you use a plastic binder with pockets to change the cover?
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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stellamaris
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Thank you, Jen! That post was so helpful to clarify my thinking on this whole subject. We definitely started too early...I had "commonplace book" and "copybook" sort of combined in some kind of vague mix of the two.
Mackfam wrote:
| For copybooks I use 3 ring binders. We do spend some effort in making the book attractive using scrapbook paper and labels because that element of looking for an attractive book to collect copywork is important to my children as well. The 3 ring binder is what I've found to be the most useful and practical. |
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This is the route we will be going again next year. In the past, only a ring-type binder has worked during the elementary years. I sort of got off-track this year trying to do a main lesson type book that included copywork and other things, but it didn't work out.
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In Christ,
Caroline
Wife to dh 30+ yrs,ds's 83,85,89,dd's 91,95,ds's 01,01,02,grammy to 4
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Mimip
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We use a binder with page protectors for each child for each year. At the end of the year the copy work all goes into their portfolios. We started at 7 with both of my girls and now my 5 year old really wants to start one because he likes the binders.
JennGM wrote:
| Thank you, Jen, for the clarification. I meant copybook for elementary age. He's somewhat dissatisified with a binder, but it's probably because I don't have your skills of sprucing it up. Do you use a plastic binder with pockets to change the cover? |
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You know we had my kids each choose which ever binder they wanted from the store. My oldest has a beautiful one with all sorts of flowers, my next daughter has one with Hello Kitty and my son has of course Star Wars. I know its not ideal but they LOVE their copywork binders and love to display all of their work:)
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In Christ,
Mimi
Wife of 16 years to Tom, Mom of DD'00, DD'02, '04(in heaven) DS'05, DS'08 and DS '12
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Mackfam
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JennGM wrote:
| Thank you, Jen, for the clarification. I meant copybook for elementary age. He's somewhat dissatisified with a binder, but it's probably because I don't have your skills of sprucing it up. Do you use a plastic binder with pockets to change the cover? |
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Yes! I use a 1 inch binder. Then, with a Michael's coupon, or from existing stash of paper, the child gets to choose their own paper for the cover. My boys chose the All About Boys collection for this past year and this provided themed paper for several books. Other great boy-themed scrapbook papers:
** Cub Scouts
** Boy Scouts
** Wooden This Be Nice Boy Pack
It's not necessary to purchase a complete set of paper either! I do because we use it for other projects and it's nice to have some paper around. You can go to Michael's when their paper is on sale and spend less than a dollar for 2 sheets which is all you need to cover one notebook. AND...you DON'T have to use printed/themed paper either! One year we just used a plain blue cardstock for the cover and I found some clipart to embellish the cover with. I added the child's name in a nice font. It was simple, but very nice!
I trim the 12 x 12 paper to fit the clear exterior pockets, and from the excess paper, trim a piece that will fit in the spine. We all prefer using the 12 x 12 and cutting the paper down to fit exactly. It just looks nicer than an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet in the pocket. I add a label for the spine with my labelmaker and call it done! My son likes dividers because he likes to sort the topics of his copywork...mostly so he can visit his sports copywork frequently!
An alternative to scrapbook paper in a white binder would be a nicer 3 ring binder for him, Jenn. Maybe something in a bright color, or a recycled binder. I've seen those recycled binders in the store and they have a neat look to them. My son even asked for one...so I know they appeal to the rugged fella! These tinted view binders are kinda cool - and they have some boy colors. Those are just a few different notebook ideas for you that don't require you to go the "scrapbook paper route."
Hopefully there's an idea or two in here for you, Jenn!
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Jen Mackintosh
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Mimip wrote:
You know we had my kids each choose which ever binder they wanted from the store. My oldest has a beautiful one with all sorts of flowers, my next daughter has one with Hello Kitty and my son has of course Star Wars. I know its not ideal but they LOVE their copywork binders and love to display all of their work:)
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Oh good, Mimi! We were cross-posting again (so nice to be in such good company!) and with the same idea! I think this might be a good option for you, Jenn! Nice, pre-decorated binder! Glad you suggested it, too, Mimi!
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Jen Mackintosh
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Mackfam
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stellamaris wrote:
| Thank you, Jen! That post was so helpful to clarify my thinking on this whole subject. We definitely started too early...I had "commonplace book" and "copybook" sort of combined in some kind of vague mix of the two. |
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Oh, I'm so happy if it helped, Caroline! Sounds like a simpler version of copywork might really help streamline and simplify for you! And that's always a winner in my book!
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Jen Mackintosh
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stellamaris
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One last foolish craft question...is there some easy way to get the side piece down into that skinny pocket on the spine of the notebook? I always have a struggle with that and often end up tearing the paper or just giving up because it looks all crinkled up and tacky. 
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Caroline
Wife to dh 30+ yrs,ds's 83,85,89,dd's 91,95,ds's 01,01,02,grammy to 4
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Mackfam
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stellamaris wrote:
| One last foolish craft question...is there some easy way to get the side piece down into that skinny pocket on the spine of the notebook? I always have a struggle with that and often end up tearing the paper or just giving up because it looks all crinkled up and tacky. |
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Take the binder and place it in your lap with the binder rings facing the chair and the spine sort of positioned between your legs. Lift up on both the front and back cover - in the opposite direction of closing the binder - you're essentially hyper-opening it...if that's a word....at all.  This makes it easier (not necessarily easy) to slide that spine in place. IF...you have one of those binders with small cut outs in the clear plastic sleeve of the spine (I have a few like this...they're usually in a place above a rivet on the spine), use those spaces and with your fingers help work the spine downward. The biggest key is getting the spine cut not too wide. If it starts to crumple/bunch on the way down....take it out and trim it.
And now...where is Suzanne to laugh at me for writing SO MUCH on inserting a cardstock spine into a 3 ring binder????
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Jen Mackintosh
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JennGM
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It should be cardstock, Caroline. If you are trying to insert paper, you should make it more sturdy at the insertion end by reinforcing the end with cardstock. And at all of Jen's tips I'm nodding.
I had to do multiple spines for a job I had Before Marriage and Children. Practice makes perfect.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Family in Feast and Feria
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stellamaris
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THANK YOU! I realize it's a fine point, but it will be SO nice to be able to do it without such aggravation. My patience only goes so far  !
(This is me laughing at myself for being such a silly goose...need a silly goose icon!)
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Caroline
Wife to dh 30+ yrs,ds's 83,85,89,dd's 91,95,ds's 01,01,02,grammy to 4
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Grace&Chaos
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Not silly  , ONE of the reasons I went with the coil bindings .
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Jenny
Mom to dds(00,03) and dss(05,06,08,09)
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4Real Forums : Language Arts Come Alive
Topic: CopyBooks
