StartWrite

I've had a few questions about the StartWrite software that I use for handwriting and copywork. So, I thought I'd do a little feature on it here on my blog.

How do I use StartWrite?

• Make notebooks for the kids to use for dictation, Reading Made Easy, spelling, copywork
• Make full sheets to use for writing which I put in the notebook/lapbook
• Make half sheets with lines and then a blank spot for drawing a picture
• Handwriting instruction letter by letter in manuscript
• Handwriting instruction for cursive letter by letter
• Type in what my child dictates to me that I can leave lines under so he/she can copy his/her own words as copywork.
• Type in sentences for handwriting/copywork that come from our unit study topic/FIAR book for the week.

Some cool features:

• You can add pictures- color or black and white to your handwriting page
• You can make different sized handwriting sheets depending on your child's age or fine motor skills
• You have the choice of different fonts- manuscript vs. italics and of course cursive
• You can go landscape or portrait style
• You can make as much as you want!
• You don't have to purchase consumable workbooks for handwriting practice
• You can print out copywork with the traceable letters.
• You can print out copywork with the letters that have arrow marks for beginners.
• You can make a sheet with both on it plus one to just copy outright

This stack shows the bindings for the notebooks. I get them done at Staples. Though I think i will try my comb binder the next time to save a little cash.

I-6's Reading Made Easy notebook. I set up the copywork for him with the reading cues and he copies it. If I was all together I could type all this up and then have it bound. I'm not that intense. Despite what you think!

In general, he does the copywork for a lesson and we review it and he draws his own picture and writes a sentence about it the next day. You can see my written directions at the top of the second page.

I have blank books of different line sizes for free writing too.

We keep single sheets in a folder for when we need them for other studies.

R8 uses one for spelling. She has her list on one side and her paragraph using a set of the spelling words on cards on the other.

I made a cursive reference sheet and printed it on cardstock before laminating it.

That about covers it. I love this program. It's so versatile. The possibilities are endless!