The Palmer Method of Business Writing · Lesson 71 · Part 11: E, B, b, k and f
66. Drills 86 and 87: capital B
Goal: Your child writes capital B using a straight guide line as its "framework", ending it with a dot or an angle.
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 71 is drill 86, the framework of capital B and rows of B, and drill 87, B's joined together.
The lesson, step by step
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).
Look at the model
Open the book page. Look at the framework models of B. A straight line starting about three-quarters of the way up is a guide, a prop the rest of the letter leans on, even though it is usually lost in the retraced line.
A definite start and end
The book stresses definiteness: every letter should have a definite starting point and a definite ending point, and every curve and loop a definite place. Point to the start and end of the book's B together.
Drill 86: rows of B
Three lines, counting "1, 2, 3." B may end with a dot or with an angle that joins the next letter.
Optional speed target: about forty a minute when separate.
Drill 87: joined B's
Two lines of B's joined with the angular ending, a little faster than separate ones.
Gentle check and finish
Can your child point to the start and end of each B? Finish by writing "Ben" or "Bea".