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The Trials and Triumphs of Teaching Writing
June 5, 2024
Heidi Mosher
How to Win with Writing Instruction
Todd Wilson
The Reluctant Writer
Dianne Craft
Writing Trials and Triumphs
Natalie Mack
The Perfect vs. the Creative
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Heidi Mosher
How to Win with Writing Instruction
Writing requires bravery. It is vulnerable work. When we write, we transfer ideas from heart to paper. Once-hidden thoughts and ideas now sit exposed, awaiting judgment. Of any school subject, writing begs most for an instructor’s kind eyes.
A mother has kind eyes. Her view can turn writing trials into triumphs.
How?
Start with a gentle curriculum. The Paragraph Book is my top suggestion. Though the four books in the series are marketed as remedial, I find its simplicity ideal. I use it for upper elementary and middle school, and I feel free to substitute topics that interest my kids. (Anyone will turn out a better paragraph if their subject resonates.)
The Paragraph Book series provides a solid foundation that prepares writers for high school essays (and indirectly, for speech class). This is the writing curriculum I wish I had for all of my kids.
Model. When your child has a writing assignment, give yourself the same assignment. Share your work. Writing along with your child eases their burden and turns trial into triumph.
Model good writing in an everyday way by taking advantage of subtle teaching opportunities. Any time you leave a note or text your child, write in complete sentences and punctuate properly.
Notice published writing. Make a habit of pointing out stirring sentences and also humorous errors in books, articles, and even church bulletins. Be inspired—or laugh together!
Keep praise high and critiques low. Who wants to keep writing when their work is torn apart? Resist the urge to correct every error. Instead, identify one concept to improve upon per assignment. Sandwich that with generous comments on what was done well.
Young writers don’t need to learn everything all at once. With your coaching and cheering, writing is a win.
About the author
Heidi Mosher is honored to write for The Homeschool Minute, as it was a lifeline of her early homeschooling years. She is thankful to be the mother of four—two recent homeschool graduates and two who are currently homeschooled.
Grammar doesn’t have to be complicated! Visit www.easygrammar.com to learn about our unique approach to grammar. It is “Easy to Teach…Easy to Learn…Easy to Remember!”
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Todd Wilson
The Reluctant Writer
Most all of us have reluctant writers . . . kids who take to writing like fish take to pudding. I know we’ve run the whole gamut at our house. I have one daughter who has written several books and some who can barely write a sentence.
My simple advice to encourage your reluctant writer is to let him write without fear of failure or correction. Have your kids self-correct their spelling tests, and when you have them write in the elementary grades, don’t correct their work, just let them write . . . and write . . . without fear. They can learn about grammar when the time comes, but just getting them to write is the important part. Do not let yourself tear it apart with corrections. Leave the misspellings. It’s okay.
I believe some of ‘our’ kids are afraid to write a single sentence because we, as parents, swoop in to correct their many mistakes. “You forgot to put the period at the end of the sentence . . . you forgot to start with a capital letter . . . you don’t need a comma there . . . you do need one here . . . I can barely read your handwriting . . . you write like a two-year-old, etc.”
I’m telling you, I’d be afraid to write if I was treated like that. Just let your kids write without fear of being wrong. And, by the way, you don’t need to be afraid either. I think one of the reasons we drive our kids so hard and kill the love of writing, or school for that matter, is because we don’t want them to embarrass us or not be able to get a job because we didn’t make them write enough.
Just relax, and . . .
Be Real,
Todd