The Palmer Method of Business Writing · Lesson 91 · Part 13: Capitals with words
86. Size, and drill 113: A and Ailing
Goal: Your child understands why the book keeps its writing small, and writes capital A and the word "Ailing" as movement drills.
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 91 has "Something more about size" and "Capital and word practice as movement drills": from here, each lesson repeats a capital and then a word ending in "ing". Drill 113 is capital A and "Ailing".
The lesson, step by step
Warm up
Two or three minutes of your usual movement drills: compact ovals, then a line each of small o, m and l.
About size
It is a grave error to present for practice models larger than the pupils are expected to employ in their ordinary writing.
The book's writing is the size it wants your child to use every day. Compare a line of your child's school writing with the book's.
The plan from now on
The plan is to repeat the capital until it can be made at the speed designated, and to follow with word practice.
In the words, the pen stays on the paper from the beginning to the end of the small letters.
Capital A
Three lines of capital A in groups of five.
Optional speed target: seventy-five to eighty-five a minute.
Ailing
Four lines of "Ailing."
Optional speed target: about fifteen words a minute.
Gentle check and finish
Is the word the same size as the book's? Finish by writing "Annie" or "Alan".