Writing (and I use the term broadly here) improves with practice. A key in motivating young writers often lies in identifying a true audience. Children may write at the request of their teacher or a parent, but there’s a whole different level of energy applied to the task when the writing is done for a “real” audience.
This month my boys were invited to display their
“collections” at the local public library.
This month my boys were invited to display their
“collections” at the local public library.
After a heated discussion about what should be included in the display, the boys went right to work in devising a plan. Each boy diligently made signs and labels to help identify each item. If you had been able to watch our impromptu work session you would have seen my oldest son showing a remarkable interest in spelling and penmanship and my youngest and I talking about capital letters vs. lower case letters. This interaction wasn’t ‘homework’ or ‘practice’ or even Mom ‘making them’ do something it was instead an exciting adventure. Yes, we talked about the apostrophe S that is used to show possession. No, we didn’t try to attain perfect letter formation or spacing.
Varied and frequent experiences with letters and words do lead to better writing and reading. An easy way for parents to help their child achieve in these areas is by grabbing hold when an opportunities presents itself:
Making brownies from the box?
Ask your 4 year-old to help you read the illustrated
directions on the back of the box.
Riding the bus?
Ask your 6 year old to keep track of the stops
listed on the map.
Singing at church?
Move your finger slowly under each word in the hymnal.
Have a collection?
Contact the Youth Services Department at the Library
and offer to design a display.
Varied and frequent experiences with letters and words do lead to better writing and reading. An easy way for parents to help their child achieve in these areas is by grabbing hold when an opportunities presents itself:
Making brownies from the box?
Ask your 4 year-old to help you read the illustrated
directions on the back of the box.
Riding the bus?
Ask your 6 year old to keep track of the stops
listed on the map.
Singing at church?
Move your finger slowly under each word in the hymnal.
Have a collection?
Contact the Youth Services Department at the Library
and offer to design a display.