The best way
to become a good writer is to
WRITE,
WRITE, WRITE.
Let your child see you writing every day with your
grocery lists, recipe directions,
messages to family members,
reminders on the refrigerator, notes in their
lunchbox, e-mails, etc.
Encourage your child to write. As you write to
family members and
friends, ask your child to write
or draw something especially for them to add
to your letter. Give your
child various topics to think about and then sit down
together and write a story.
Give them story starter ideas. It is always nice to
web the topic and then it is
easier to have the thoughts you want to write about
right in front of you.
Cut out pictures from magazines and write a sentence
about that picture.
Getting started is the key and then your child will blossom
with writing. They tend
to fear what to write and how to spell the words.
This comes with practice and experience.
Do not be concerned with the mechanics of writing.
Don�t
be
concerned about the spelling of
words and the grammar in the sentence.
We use our word wall for basic words.
We invent the spelling and then as we
progress, we check
for correct spelling on our finished copy. We always start
off with our first draft
(sloppy copy as they love). The teacher is the editor
and we have to sometimes
rewrite a story several times to come up with a
finished copy. We always
compare it to writing a book and corrections are
good if they are needed.
We always discuss our thoughts first and see where
we want to go with the
topic. We have a "writing meeting" to encourage creative
thoughts to flow into a good
story. Our stories are usually centered on a theme
in the classroom that we are
studying for that month. But, they can be on any
topic that a child chooses
during free creative writing time.
Read aloud to your child as often as possible. Our Book-It
Program
is an wonderful way to
receive an award for your child reading to you. Their
reading to you is the most
excellent way to encourage good fluency and a love
for reading.
of writing and also see
different illustrators artwork. Part of the writing
process is also illustrating the
story if they wish. Have your child write their
own short book and bring to
class and share with their friends.
Save your child�s writing in a special writing box. Sit down at
various
times to reread the stories and
compare the growth he/she has made. You�ll be
glad that you saved their
stories of their early years of writing.
Write to your child. Put notes in
books, lunches, napkins, pencil cases,
book bags, pockets. They
will be so blessed when they find that special note
to them. Encourage
them to do the same thing for others.
Subscribe to children�s magazines. Children are
thrilled to receive their
own mail. (even e mail) It is a good idea to see which magazines accept
student
writings or illustrations.
It would be a thrill for a child to see their own work
published. Calendar contests
are wonderful ways for a budding artist to see
their art shared with others.
These are just a few ideas to help your child
become a better writer.
It can open up a wonderful world of their
imagination in the printed form.