Imitation is important in education, but so is the object of that imitation. What to write is just as important as how to write. Not only do we want our littlest ones to form beautiful letters, we want them to copy beautiful words. If the goal is to take full advantage of each precious moment in education, why waste copybook time on anything less than the best?

After looking long and hard for high-quality copy books, we finally decided to create our own! Our Primary Copy Books are three-in-one wonders that include memory passages, copybook exercises, and drawing pages. Cursive Copy Book includes an introduction to forming letters and numbers along with hymns and prayers from Latina Christiana to help your student master Latin while practicing handwriting.

Primary Copy Book teaches penmanship, basic grammar, spelling, literature, accuracy, attention to detail, and memory--all through the simple skill of copying. We have selected Scripture from the King James Bible (chosen for its poetic verse) and classic children’s poems, such as those by Robert Louis Stevenson, which describe the world in charming detail. The clean, facing pages provide plenty of space for your neophyte to draw and color the glorious passages provided. In years to come, you will cherish these journals of your child’s work.

The series includes three books, each with more than thirty-five passages, for beginning writers in Kindergarten-2nd Grade. Each starts with slightly larger margins and decreases gradually over the three-year series. Students begin tracing, then move to copying directly under modeled words. Eventually students are asked to copy passages from the left page onto lines on the right page. Emphasizing care and accuracy, students learn how to be patient and take pleasure in getting it right.

Cursive Copy Book starts with an introduction to forming letters followed by classroom Latin and the saying and hymns from Latina Christiana. While improving their handwriting, student will memorize timeless Latin sayings and beautiful hymns.

Copy Book I is the starting point for new writers (typically in Kindergarten or First Grade). Our Copy Books use simple, clean pages to provide handwriting practice.

Primary Copy Book Sample Pages

Cursive Classroom Sample Cursive Hymn Sample

Cursive Table of Contents

Blank Lined Copy Book Pages

About our Handwriting Font
Manuscript: Memoria Press uses a continuous stroke, traditional font similar to those recommended by Susan Wise Bauer in The Well Trained Mind. Line height in the Copy Book I is 5/8".  Line height in Copy Book II, III, and the Composition and Sketch Book is 9/16".

Cursive: We use a simplified cursive font, New American Cursive, specifically designed for beginning writers. Lline height in the Cursive Copy Book is 3/8".

What is Copybook?

Copybook is a time-honored learning activity in which students copy Scripture, maxims, poetry, and other literature selections. Copybook, like memorization, is a forgotten skill in modern education. However, like memorization, copybook is a beginning skill that is indispensable to the development of good language skills.

In Copybook, students practice penmanship, spelling, reading comprehension, punctuation, and vocabulary. Students develop the habits of accuracy, neatness, attention to detail, and patience; they practice correct grammar and good writing style; they develop an appreciation for what is good, noble, and beautiful in literature.

Copybook is not the only way for the young student to practice each of these skills--but it is the only exercise that develops all of them at the same time. Copybook is concrete and physical; it complements and completes the mental exercise of memorization and reading. Copybook is so simple and obvious that we overlook it.

Even though penmanship is hard work for the young student, he should come to delight in the physical act of creating a beautiful page of writing. Because the student is not burdened by trying to compose his own words, he is liberated to concentrate on copying the immortal words of others. The young student who is not able to think great thoughts of his own can grow in wisdom by thinking great thoughts of others. And as a reward for completing his copybook exercise, he can illustrate the words he has copied with his own drawing. After the discipline of copybook, he can exercise his imagination and creativity; the original drawings of children are the perfect companion to copybook.

other popular picks:

Prima Latina K-4th Grade	The Golden Children's Bible

"I recently received the Memoria Press Copy Books in the mail.  My sister ordered one last year and recommended them to me.  The design of these books is superb.  The lines are perfectly spaced for my daughter.  The Bible passages that were chosen are lovely and are far superior to the nonsensical, forgettable handwriting practice I've seen offered elsewhere.  There are several poems included as well.  My daughter was thrilled to see that next to the copy pages, a sweetly framed blank space was included for her illustration.  It's that attention to detail that makes me so pleased with all of their products so far.  The promise that she can draw after her copy work makes the lesson so much more pleasant for all of us." 
     - J.M., Bedford, TX

"Dear Mrs. Lowe,
I just wanted to let you know that, at first, I was worried your copy books were too simple because they don't have color pictures, etc. Now that I have started using them, I realize that it is the selection of material that makes them priceless. My kids already walk around the house reciting the first two passages from Genesis."
     - Jill, AZ

"My daughter has never been so happy to practice her writing. I read her the story page from the Children's Bible while she draws her picture and copies her verse. It is truly a lovely practice book. Your Copy Books are the first program we've found that she will willingly use. We've tried other handwriting, drawing, drafting, and tracing programs and she has not liked any for long. She will actually ask me to read her the Bible story while she draws her picture and copies the verse. If you didn't actually design the program to go with the Children's Bible, then it's just a wonderful coincidence that they go together so well."
    - Diana, SC

• What is the Composition and Sketch Book?

  This simple, well-planned book allows the student to continue practicing the skills presented in the Memoria Press Copy Book sequence with his own Scripture, poetry, maxims, or composition selections. Designed to be used with or after Copy Book III, the transitional line size and spacing of the Composition and Sketch Book prepare the young child for standard notebook paper. This valuable, intermediate design requires the student to manage a blank page, a considerable task that requires practice, while accounting for small hands and beginner status. Because original illustrations provide the perfect companion to copybook, drawing pages are included on each facing page. In years to come, these books will provide a treasured journal of the child’s progress.
  

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