The Palmer Method of Business Writing · Lesson 38 · Part 7: c, r, s and a big review

38. Drill 44: small s

Goal: Your child writes small s pointed at the top and closed on the line, a quarter higher than the other small letters.

⏱ About 15 minutes · 6 steps

Open it at the Internet Archive ↗ 🖨 Copywork sheet

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 38 explains small s (and its companion r) and gives drill 44, rows of small s.

The lesson, step by step

  1. Warm up

    About three minutes: compact ovals, then a line each of small o, small m and small l (drills 3, 11, 14 and 33).

  2. Look at the model

    Open the book page. Look at drill 44. Small r and s may be a quarter of a space taller than o, because they look better that way.

    Small s should be pointed, not looped, at the top, and entirely closed on the base line.

  3. Rows of s

    Four lines in groups of five. Count 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, or "swing one, swing two..." or "curve one, curve two...".

    Optional speed target: about seventeen groups of five a minute.

  4. Watch for

    The right amount of curve in the first stroke; the width depends on the curve of the last part.

  5. Gentle check

    Is each s closed at the bottom? Pointed at the top?

  6. Finish

    Write "sees" and "sun".

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