How much help do others give their dc with writing?

[LynnH]

My ds is doing Write with the Best. First off let me say I love this program and love how it takes things in small chunks. I am still finding though that I have to help my ds along some. He just seems to sometimes have trouble coming up with the ideas for the sentences without some help. Usually I have to just ask him a question to get his thinking going, but sometimes I actually have to give him some words that he can pick and choose from. I don't know if I am making sense or not. I guess I see all these really nice examples of writing on the week in review and am wondering if your dc do that all on their own or if you help them some with the wording. I know writing is a struggle for my ds just trying to figure out how far behind in it he really is.

[Alison in KY]

Yeah, what you said is going on here with my 11 year old ds too. His writing is okay, slightly improving. Most of the time on his schoolwork I will accept less sentences, but more quality work. I think he's improved a little. He just cares nothing about it. My son will one day be a successful wonderful man, but at this point, I cannot see writing in his future at all . Like you, I've seen some examples of great work and frankly, they just stress me out. I rarely look anymore, because no matter how great "they" look, I am still sitting here with my son...who I've learned to accept is at his own level. One of the joys of homeschooling, working at your kids level and not pushing ahead when they aren't ready for it.

Alison

[Carrie]

Lynn,

Children are all so different as far as comfort in writing goes. One large difference in how easily kiddos "take" to the written page is how much oral narrating and how much good literature they have done and read in the years prior to being asked to write much. For kiddos who come up through HOD, we include both of these items in the guides making it easier for the kiddos to be ready to write once they get to the guides that schedule a more "formal" writing program. For those children who come into HOD later, we still include these helps, but it honestly takes time to develop those skills so that is to be expected.

As far as written work goes, from my years in the classroom to my time spent on writing at home, I'll say that it is a fine line on how much help to give children with the writing process. It's important not to give so much help that the composition no longer resembles what the child wrote and instead becomes yours. However, it is also important to give the child enough help that the writing assignment does not go on too long or become overwhelming.

With kiddos in my classroom, in my public school teaching days, we did a lot of brainstorming on a white board to get kids thinking. Since your son has some struggles in this area, I would do much of the brainstorming with him, even allowing him to dictate his sentences for you to write as his scribe. Then, you could give some suggestions and guiding questions and help him do a bit of adding or subtracting. The goal is for kiddos to feel successful and not be overwhelmed. Being fearful of the written page, or feeling like the child isn't doing it "right" is something we want to avoid.

I know this answer goes in circles a bit, but the balance in how much help to give is a precarious one. I tend to give more help than not enough, unless the help is met with resistance! Then, I back off from sharing my ideas and thoughts and let the child go.

Blessings,
Carrie

[Tree House Academy]

My son has great ideas...BUT he struggles to get them into good sentences and spell things correctly.

My degree is in English (focus in technical writing, of all things!) and it was so hard for me, at first, to be sensitive to his abilities and to realize that he is not ME. I tend to allow my son many drafts and I do tend to help him make his great ideas with rough sentences into sentences that shine. I will help him re-word, but not change his thoughts at all. I will also suggest he combine choppy sentences, etc. I see it as all part of the learning process. At his age, I can't expect a writer with an English degree type work! We just keep plugging away at the basics and he keeps improving.

A few weeks ago, my son did do an amazing prargrapg in WWTB with very little help from me. He is also currently working on one describing a character right now that has great potential and good bones. I am excited as I see him going through the process to take more responsibility for correcting his own work. I am also seeing his sentences improve - slowly but surely.