At Cedar Academy we practice the time tested, tried and true technique of copy work. Copy work is a simple yet powerful technique that allows the student to work, simultaneously, on grammar, spelling, penmanship, cursive, vocabulary, motor skills and attention to detail among others. It eventually leads to dictation. It involves books that start with simple words and sentences and progressively introduces more complex material. Persistence and patience are key.
Over the past month a student who is new to this technique didn’t want to have anything to do with it. We tried different books that were within his skill level but more to his interests and that helped a little but he still resisted. Having previous experience and success with this technique we persisted. Last week while everyone was working on their lessons, the student stopped and raised his hand. When called upon, he said, “Coach, I get it. It works!” When asked what he meant, he responded “When I started writing my sentences and words, it was like my mind wanted to write the sentence one way but my hand wrote the words another way. When I checked my work, my hand was right. Then my mind saw the mistake it was making and I knew my hand was right!” His face was aglow and he was excited! At this point, now that his hands were assisting his mind, we knew he was ready to move forward. This week we started dictation work along with his copy work. We are pleased to say that he does very well and he is very eager to work with this technique now to improve. He had his “Ah-ha” moment. That is a very powerful moment because he now becomes a driver in his education. His learning is now reinforced by his own experience and he has a testimony of it.
Many times, students need to experience the reason or purpose for doing something. They have been trained for so long to “just do it, you might need it someday”, that they just feel like we are just giving them busywork. No matter how many times you try to explain the reason behind it, they just don’t see it. When “it clicks” though and the metaphorical light bulb comes on, they are no longer in the dark and it illuminates so many more things for them to discover. That is what ignites the power and love of learning!