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We are working on writing this summer to prepare my son for RTR using Write With the Best and completing one assignment each week. We are on the first assignment. He has a very hard time arranging words, and I'm wondering what the best way is to help him. Is it okay to give him examples or ideas? Do I need to make sure he changes them into his own words?

I have to drag every word out of him with lots of help, like asking lots of leading questions and giving him lots of prompts. Will this change? How can I help him think for himself?

MJ,

I just wanted to pop-in and tell you that we only schedule WWTB twice weekly in CTC, taking 5 weeks to do one unit (or assignment) very s-l-o-w-l-y. So, if you did plan to use WWTB this summer, I'd plan on working through only a few units to make writing as painless and battle free as possible. We will also use Medieval History-Based Writing Lessons in a 3 lessons a week (bite-sized pieces way) in RTR to make it work for all types of writers.

My best advice is to keep the writing sessions short and sweet (20 min. or less) and don't do any more than one day's assignment in a day at the most (meaning even at that pace it would take 2 weeks to do one WWTB unit). If your son does not enjoy writing, I'd likely give him a summer break and then move toward more writing in the fall within RTR. Whatever you do decide, you will do lots of hand-holding, idea prompting, and guiding to help him in the beginning. The goal is success in writing, even if it requires a lot of help at first. Eventually, the excellent literature, oral and written narrations, and other assignments within RTR will lead him toward ideas for writing on his own.

Blessings,
Carrie