Do You Have a Reluctant Writer?
Reluctant writers are easy to spot. Slumped over their paper, shoulders hunched up around their ears, pencil tightly gripped, worried expression on their face—these are the kids who need our constant direction and redirection.
No shortage of words, just a shortage of skills needed to get ideas onto paper.
My son Ben had some learning challenges that contributed to delayed learning and reluctant writing. From the time I began homeschooling him in kindergarten until he was 14 or 15, I had to stay closely involved with his writing. Whether it meant prompting his writing with questions and dialogue or letting him dictate to me while I wrote his words down, my purposeful involvement gave wings to the ideas that swirled around in his busy mind. Sometime around 10th grade, the pieces finally fell into place for him, and by the time he graduated from our homeschool, he had become a strong, independent writer.
Perhaps you have a reluctant writer of your own. Or maybe you’re a reluctant mom who struggles with teaching, editing, and grading writing. If you’re wondering, “Why is writing so difficult to teach?” and would love a round-up of helpful articles, keep reading!
Blog Round-up
Teaching Reluctant Writers
- Encourage your reluctant child to brainstorm with graphic organizers, lists, and mindmaps.
- Helping a child with writer’s block is a big concern for parents. These 5 tips will help when perfectionism or writer’s block strike.
- Working together during writing trains children in good brainstorming habits and teaches them to THINK before they WRITE.
- When teaching writing, try these three simple writing ideas to encourage reluctant writers.
- Introduce reluctant writers to Microsoft® PowerPoint! For kids who dislike writing, making a PowerPoint presentation is a cool way to merge knowledge, writing, and technology.
- Gain some tips on how to motivate a 9-year-old.
- And learn how to help a young child bust through writer’s block!
Teaching Reluctant Teens
- Got older students? Help reluctant teen writers embrace the writing process with tips that can help you avoid arguments, head-butting, and apathy.
- Past writing failures don’t have to be accurate predictors of future success. With a few adjustments in attitude and/or method, your teen can get back on track.
- Writing tips for reluctant teens offers ideas to guide your middle school and high school students when they feel stuck or can’t seem to get started writing.
- Writing is the most important academic skill students must develop in high school. Homeschool parents can teach and guide teens to become strong writers.
- Don’t let your teens depend on you to fix all their writing mistakes. The key to teaching self editing is to hold them responsible to do their part.
Editing with Reluctant Children
- Kids hate editing! Here are 7 ways to make self-editing easier during homeschool writing lessons.
- Is it possible for self-editing to go from a hated chore to a task kids actually enjoy? With time, patience, and favorite tools, you can make editing fun!
- If you’re looking for tips to help improve editing skills for kids, try these ideas to make the process more positive for children and parents alike.
- When children learn at a young age the value of gentle correction and self-improvement, they come to see editing as a natural part of the writing process.
Editing, Revising, and Grading Writing for the Reluctant Parent
- Our children need measurable, clear writing expectations. Achievable goals, specific directions, and consistency will boost confidence and skills.
- When editing your kids’ writing, how do you find the balance between appreciating content and addressing errors?
- You’ll be encouraged by these tips for how to love your kids’ writing, especially when you’d rather wad it into a ball and toss it across the room.
- Discover ways to give your kids writing feedback while overcoming your own insecurity and doubt about editing and evaluating their writing lessons.
- Soak up some tips for homeschool parents who need help learning how to edit and grade writing (especially your high school students’ compositions and essays).
Visit our Reluctant Writer category on the blog for even more inspiration, and remember … when editing your student’s work, speak the truth in love.
Instagram Round-up
Join WriteShop and friends on Instagram for a fun reluctant-writer Instagram round-up!
Pinterest Round-up
Join us on Pinterest, starting with our Reluctant Writer Pinterest board.
