The Palmer Method of Business Writing · Lesson 11 · Part 3: First capitals: A, O and C
11. Drills 9 and 10: capital C
Goal: Your child makes capital C, aiming in the air first and starting with a downward left curve.
You'll need
- Wide-ruled lined paper (several sheets)
- A sharp pencil or a smooth gel pen
- The book open at today's page
- A watch, clock or phone timer that shows seconds (only for the optional speed check)
What's in the book
Lesson 11 has drill 9, a traced oval swung into a capital C, and drill 10, rows of capital C.
The lesson, step by step
Warm up
One minute of compact ovals two spaces tall (drill 3), then one line of capital A (drill 6). Ovals come first every time: they loosen the arm.
Look at the model
Open the book page. Look at drills 9 and 10. The first stroke of C comes down in a curve to the left, like the left side of an oval.
Drill 9: oval into C
Practice it just like the A and O drills. Count "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6" for the oval and "1, 2" for the C. Three lines.
Drill 10: aim before you shoot
Swing the pen in the path of a C several times before making the first letter; in fact, aim before you shoot.
Lift the pen while still moving at the end of each C and carry the motion through the air to the next one. Three lines.
Optional speed target: about seventy a minute, counting 1-2 for each C.
Watch for
The first stroke must go downward to the left. If your child starts upward, go back to air practice.
Gentle check and finish
Count the C's on a line of the book's drill 10 and on your child's line. Same number? Finish by writing "Cam" or "Coco".
Afterwards
Ovals, A, O and C for a few minutes each day this week.