The Palmer Method of Business Writing · Lesson 24 · Part 5: First words, M and N
24. Drills 24 and 25: the loop beginning
Goal: Your child makes the small beginning loop (an upside-down figure six) used to start twelve capitals, and the ten-part movement drill below it.
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 24 has drills 24 and 25: a beginning-loop exercise shaped like an inverted figure six, and a row of rounded ten-part drills. The book says this beginning is used in twelve capitals and should be reviewed often.
The lesson, step by step
Warm up
Three to five minutes: compact ovals (drill 3), a line of small o (drill 11) and a line of small m (drill 14). This is the book's daily opening from now on.
Look at the model
Open the book page. Look at the top line of the drill. The nine little forms at the right are a large figure six turned upside down. Each ends abruptly at the bottom line with a blunt stroke.
The beginning loop
Two lines of the inverted-six forms. Count "down, over," or "1-2."
For business writing it would be better to make a dot than a large loop.
The ten-part drill
The lower line has five drills across the page, ten rounded parts in each. Down strokes toward the middle of the body, over-motion at the tops, counting 1 to 10. Three lines.
Optional speed target: sixteen complete exercises a minute.
Find the twelve
Turn to the alphabet page (Lesson 13). Ask your child to find the capitals that start with this little loop. The book later lists them: F, Q, W, X, Z, H, K, M, N, U, V and Y.
Gentle check and finish
Are the beginning loops small? Finish by writing a capital M or N, starting with the new loop.
Afterwards
The book says this lesson should be reviewed often.