It seems to me that, after carefully creating such beautiful artwork, children will be very careful to use their neatest and best writing underneath! After the handwriting is finished, your child can color the picture with crayons, colored pencils, or felt tips. (Although text is shown in manuscript, you might want to have older children practice cursive.) Text is informational and in short sentences the author believes this is more motivational and useful than forming isolated letters.
After this is done, the accompanying text is copied. Then, a similar or original background and details are added to the student's picture. After you introduce the subject of the lesson, your child follows these directions (with help, if needed) to reproduce the subject. Usually, this begins with basic shape(s), then details are added a little at a time. Step-by-step drawing instruction for the main object in the picture is contained on the facing page. In each lesson, a colorful picture shows the author's model artwork, with neatly penned text on ruled lines underneath. In the spirit of Drawing with Children, most of the lessons begin with seeing the targeted objects as basic shapes and lines. Each book is divided into three themes (see below) with a total of 21 lessons. Based on a successful formula created by a now 75-year-old former teacher to inspire her students, these inviting books might become your child's favorite part of the school day! They are non-consumable, as your child will do the actual art work and writing on separate paper. These are unusual books, combining art instruction with handwriting practice, and incorporating more than a little history and science instruction along the way.