How to Make Copywork More Enjoyable

Copywork.

Some children cringe at the sound of that word.

I can understand that. Copying text isn’t the most exciting job in the world, but neither is washing dishes. 😉

And like doing dishes, it has to be done, that is, if you use copywork in your homeschool.

But copywork doesn’t always have to be a boring, monotonous task. There are some things you can do to make it into a more pleasant experience for your child. Here are some suggestions and tips on how to make copywork fun and easier for your child to do.

*This post contains paid links. I earn a small commission from the sale of products purchased via these links. Please see my disclosure for details.

How Make Copywork Fun

Play music during copywork time. This is especially beneficial for auditory learners, but it can work well for all learners. Listening to music can make copywork into a more relaxing and enjoyable experience for children. That’s why I include a list of recommended pieces to listen to in the Homeschooling with a Touch of Class copywork books. Playing music is also a great way to combine two subjects, Music and Copywork, which is a nice time-saver.

Offer choices. Sometimes you may need to require certain selections for your child to copy because it ties in to something you’re currently studying. However, try to offer choices as frequently as you can. This gives your child some ownership over his learning. It allows him to follow his interests which is more motivating. You may want to have a folder of copywork on hand for him to choose from.

Variety is the spice of life. Copying the same old thing can get boring for anyone. Try to use text from a variety of sources and genres such as historical fiction, folklore, just so stories, poetry, mysteries (like Sherlock Holmes), drama (like Shakespeare), and non-fiction books on topics your child loves like dinosaurs or electricity or Abraham Lincoln.

Choose works that are fun or interesting. There are so many possibilities out there when it comes to selecting passages that are exciting or funny or captivating. How about using a passage from Treasure Island or 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea? What about letting your child copy a limerick by Edward Lear, a nonsense verse like the Jabberwocky, or a rhyming riddle that he can try to solve? Those sorts of literary works will pique your child’s interest.

Pick selections that go with creative writing projects your child is doing. This works best with older children. If your child is going to be writing a haiku, you may want to first have him copy a haiku or two. (Rhyme intended)

Let your child make a copywork passage into a poster. This can work well with beautiful or inspiring scripture passages or famous quotes or poetry. This allows your child to make the text into a visual work of art that you can hang up in your homeschool room.

Use copywork pages that have images for your child to color. Homeschooling with a Touch of Class copywork books have black and white images to go with the text, some hand-drawn. Coloring these gives your child something fun to do as a reward after completing the work. “You can color the picture as soon as you finish writing the text.” Your child can also add some of his own pictures and decor to the page as well.

Let your child assemble his own thematic copywork books. These make nice keepsakes. You can use 3-ring binders for this. Either you can have one book which is divided into sections or you can have multiple books. Some possible themes include poetry, stories, wit and humor, prayers, myths and fables, and Bible quotes. I have some free printable binder covers here that you can use.

Other Tips for Using Copywork

Here are a few more things to keep in mind when implementing copywork in your homeschool.

If your young child is struggling with forming his letters properly, you may want to have him start by tracing copywork. Copywork books like mine have traceable pages.

The number of times copywork is done each week will vary from child to child. Some children can do it 5 days a week, others only twice.

Tell them the “why” behind doing it. When children know there is a purpose to doing something, they are typically more willing to do it. You may want to share some of these benefits of copywork with your child.

If none of these suggestions work, then sometimes you just have to smile and tell your child that we all have to be willing to do certain tasks that aren’t necessarily fun…like dishes. 😉

Many blessings,