Length of lesson: Fifteen minutes daily, five times per week. After correct habits are established, encourage home practice. Place the penmanship period early in the day or prior to the spelling in order that it may function properly.
Distribution of time to subject matter: During the first month give one-half or more of the time to good habit formation by use of movement drills. For the following months spend one-third of the period on ovals, little o, or the like, one-third on capital letters, and one-third on words and sentences.
Heading: Place the following heading daily on the second blue line. Write on every line except the first below the heading. Model:
John Brown, 3 B, Sept. 15, 1924.
Sample: Memorize the following sample which is to be taken the middle of each month. Model:
John Brown, 3 B, Sept. 15, 1924.
John Doe School
City, State.
(Skip a line.)
I use a free swing
I use a free swing
I use a free swing
FOURTH GRADE
The demand for more and better written work will become practically imperative in the fourth year. The child will be able to meet the demand because he will have nothing to undo, having spent all the time devoted to penmanship in working on a correct foundation. The efforts may be crude. However, technique in the beginning is of less importance than that the proper habits may be established. It will be necessary for the teacher of this grade to require of the pupils all that has been required before and to improve upon what has been done.
Aim: To develop relaxation, correct posture, easy movement, sufficient speed to prevent finger movement and to apply these fundamental principles to all writing lessons, spelling, and copy work. The grade is to be based upon whether or not the pupil uses arm movement during the penmanship period, copy work, and spelling. Grade “Failure” if movement is not used as above directed. Attain a speed of sixty letters per minute in words and sentences.