As a frequent exhibitor at Michigan conventions, I’ve learned to stay away from Zeezok Publishing/Book Peddler’s booth unless I have a specific item in mind. I could easily blow my home school budget there! My husband gets a little nervous whenever we are placed near them…I’m very distracted! Not only do they carry wonderful products, but their business is truly a family business, right down to the little one I caught napping in a tote under the table at the end of a long weekend!
The TOS Crew received a selection of products from Zeezok, from Presidential Penmanship to Composer Studies. You can read all the reviews here. I received a copy of Presidential Penmanship in AB Style, Complete Program. Available in individual grades in an e-book format, the complete program for grades 1-high school is available on CD-ROM.
How we used it: Each grade is available as a separate .pdf file. Because Maggie has been writing in cursive since first grade (her choice) I had to print the third grade sheets which is the first level available in cursive. Nathanael used the grade 5 sheets. The third grade sheets contained quotes by the founding fathers-we’ve had Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson so far. Maggie likes these because they have the grey traceable words before the blank lines for copying. Nathanael’s fifth grade sheets had two for each week—one with a Rule for Civility by Washington and another with an appropriate Bible verse.
My only concern with this particular set is that AB style refers to A Beka. Families who are used to using their handwriting style will be familiar with their cursive program beginning at kindergarten. The pages available with this set begin with manuscript. I would have appreciated first and second grade level quotes in cursive as well as manuscript. Maggie is a good reader, so it hasn’t been a big problem. I’ve had to explain most of the quotes, which has provided a learning experience for her.
We love copywork for handwriting practice, and usually I tie it in with current studies or Bible memorization tasks. This would be ideal for families studying American history. I like being able to print the individual sheets I will need each week or skipping one that doesn’t fit with what we are doing. It is also a non-consumable product, in that you can print sheets for each of your children as they reach that level.
Cost: $39.99 for all levels on CD-ROM or e-book, 9.99 for individual levels in an e-book.
