As homeschool moms, we want to give our children every tool they need to thrive. But if you’re homeschooling a child with dyslexia or another learning disability, you know how discouraging writing and spelling can feel—for them and for us.
Here’s the good news: sometimes the most simple practices make the biggest impact. Tracing and copywork may feel old-fashioned, but they are incredibly powerful for helping our kids build spelling, handwriting, and writing skills.
Building Spelling Skills
Kids with dyslexia often struggle to remember how words are put together. Spelling can be a daily struggle. Students may reverse letters, miss sounds in words, or mix up the sequence of letters. Tracing words gives children repeated exposure to letter sequences, strengthening their memory of word patterns. It’s gentle repetition that helps the brain remember.
Copywork is the natural next step. After tracing, your child tries writing those same words on their own. This step bridges the gap between guided practice and independent spelling—without the stress of guessing. Together, these practices reinforce correct spelling through structured, multisensory repetition.
Improving Handwriting
Students with learning disabilities often have difficulty forming letters consistently and legibly. Sometimes the issue may be fine motor skills. For other kids, handwriting difficulty may be a visual processing issue.
If your child battles messy handwriting, you’re not alone. Many kids with learning differences find it hard to keep their letters straight, evenly sized, or readable. Tracing slows them down and provides a model to follow, building muscle memory for letter shapes. Tracing offers guided practice, helping kids learn proper letter formation and spacing in a low-pressure way.
Then copywork lets them practice forming those same letters and sentences on their own. Over time, the motions become smoother, and handwriting becomes less of a fight and more of a skill they can actually be proud of. This foundation not only supports academic work but also builds the child’s confidence in everyday tasks like note-taking or filling out forms.
Enhancing Written Expression
Writing isn’t just about neat letters and spelling—it’s about expressing thoughts clearly. Copywork exposes students to well-written sentences. Copywork gives kids exposure to strong, well-constructed sentences. As they copy meaningful words, they’re quietly learning grammar, vocabulary, and sentence flow.
As they trace and copy meaningful text, students begin to develop fluency and rhythm in their writing. These experiences translate into stronger written expression, giving children the tools they need to share their ideas with clarity and confidence. When copywork has become a bit easier, start having your child dictate one to three sentences to trace or copy. You will have started the transition to independent writing.
Little by little, they grow more confident putting their own thoughts on paper. For many of our kids, this is huge. Copywork helps them move from “I can’t” to “I can!”
Why Tracing and Copywork Work
Writing is the most difficult academic skill. Writing involves organization of thoughts, a sense of grammar, formation of letters into correct spelling of words, and effectively communicating ideas through written language. It is a complex variation of expressive language.
Tracing and copywork are multisensory practices—they engage the eyes, hands, and brain together. This approach helps students with dyslexia and other learning disabilities bridge the gap between recognition and action. They move beyond just seeing or hearing words, into actively shaping and writing them. It takes away the guesswork and replaces it with small, steady wins.
And maybe the best part? These practices are calming. For kids who often struggle with reading and writing, a sequential system involving tracing, copywork, dictation, and independent writing gives structure and predictability to a complex skill that often feels overwhelming. With every page traced and every sentence copied, your child is building momentum for important skills that needed in adult life.
Takeaway
Tracing and copywork may seem simple, but for children with dyslexia and other learning disabilities, they are powerful tools for growth. They not only build skills in spelling, handwriting, and written expression but also help children gain confidence in their ability to communicate. Even if your kiddo is in middle school, try implementing tracing and copywork into your homeschool day. It may make a huge difference in the peacefulness and joyfulness of your homeschool!
