The Palmer Method of Business Writing · Lesson 9 · Part 3: First capitals: A, O and C
9. Drills 7 and 8: capital O
Goal: Your child makes capital O from a traced oval, and then on its own with a small loop at the top and the last stroke pushed upward.
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 9 has drill 7, a traced oval swung into a capital O, and drill 8, rows of capital O.
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 7 and 8. Notice the curves of the left and right sides of O, and the small loop at the top.
Drill 7: oval into O
Trace an oval ten times (later six), lift the pen while still moving, swing it below the line and round to the start of the O, and make the O without stopping. Count six for the oval and two for the O. Three lines.
Drill 8: capital O
Rows of O, counting "1-2" for each.
In finishing O the final stroke should be pushed upward. If it is pulled downward it will too nearly resemble A.
Optional speed target: seventy or more a minute.
Watch for
O leaning the same way as the ovals, a small (not large) top loop, and letters the same size as the book's.
Gentle check and finish
Put a finger on your child's best O and on one that looks like an A. What made the difference? Finish by writing "On" or "Oh".
Afterwards
Add a line of capital O to the daily warm-up for a few days.