When assigning writing to your children, you don’t always have to reinvent the wheel with a brand-new lesson. Sometimes it’s fun to approach a familiar assignment in a fresh new way. For example: Tweaking an existing lesson instruction by adding different elements....
Alexis Bonari is joining me today as a guest blogger here at In Our Write Minds. I know you'll enjoy trying this activity with your pre-writers. On the path to inspiring our children to love reading and writing, we often overlook the fact that there was a time when...
Here are three simple activities you can do to foster a love of words and writing in your younger children.
Correct and grade wisely. An arbitrary grade based on feelings (”This feels like a B-”) won’t help your student become a better writer. Tip 4: Offer helpful and consistent feedback. Use objective checklists to help you pinpoint specific areas to improve. Value your...
Much as we wish it weren’t so, kids don’t learn to write by osmosis. They need your instruction, guidance, and feedback. Tip 3: Make teaching writing a regular part of your school week. With littler ones, this may mean a daily investment of sitting together to...
How many times should a student rewrite a composition? Depends on who you ask. If you ask the student, she'll emphatically reply, "Once!" Not only that, she wants you to love that paper, slap a gold star on it, and pronounce it stellar. Should you suggest a...
Teaching writing is one of the most daunting tasks homeschoolers face. But once you discover how to teach in measurable, objective ways, your confidence will soar. And guess what? When you radiate confidence, your kids pick up on it too! Over the next few days, I'll...
Narration is a wonderful tool for coaxing stories, descriptions, and letters from a young writer, especially a more reluctant one. Previously (Tip #1), I talked about using a tape recorder to encourage verbal storytelling. Sometimes, though, a child is still not ready...
1. Kids only want to write a paper once. But getting it right the first time is pie-in-the-sky. Perfectionism sets your child up for failure. 2. The writing process is a lot like scrapbooking. >> Analogies are great teaching tools! Let's say you have a dozen photos to...
It’s never too early to introduce young children to the joy of writing. There’s so much you can do to model and encourage pre-writing skills!
The Phomnnaeil Pwoer of the Hmuan Mnid Aoccdrnig to rscheaerch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are. The olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a tatol mses and you...
Did you know historical fiction is growing on your family tree? Wouldn't it be fun to imagine what life was like for some of those interesting, often quirky relatives? Family Fiction, a reusable workbook from BrimWood Press, teaches students 10 and older how to make...
Eye-catching and effective, paired adjectives make a colorful splash in the sea of prose. From turn-of-the-century literature to modern Bible translations, and from New York Times bestsellers to Newsweek magazine, they have proven themselves a valuable addition to...
A WRITER'S ALPHABET I will… Accept feedback and suggestions Brainstorm to get my ideas on paper Create word pictures Develop my narrative voices Edit my writing Find synonyms Give my writing the time it deserves Hone in on details Imagine the...
I'm sorry. I've been procrastinating. I have put off telling you that March 3-9 marks National Procrastination Week 2008, and with only two days left, you almost missed it. I thought about waiting till next week to tell you about it, but... [Wait, you say. Isn't this...
