Should you correct you dc's "free" writing?

[Tabrett]

I was wondering if compositions your dc did that was not part of school should be corrected? I know CM didn't want a dc to start visualizing incorrect spelling and grammar and you are to erase any spelling mistakes immediately so a dc doesn't get it fixed in their head.

So what do you do when a 7yo dc takes the initiative to make a homemade book with illustrations and every word is spelled incorrect, but phonetic?

I just can't bring myself to tell her everything is wrong!. I praised her and told her how proud I was of her! But how do I prevent all these misspellings from sticking?

Did CM have an opinion when a dc does this? I don't want to crush my dd's desire to write by erasing all the misspellings!

[frankesense]

I'm curious about this too!!

[blessedmomof4]

This is just an opinion, but I think that steady work with studied dictation and copywork will eventually correct those errors. It has for my daughters. Not that they never misspell in their "free writing", but they spell much better than they used to before studied dictation and copywork. My 12 year old did it with Bigger a few years ago and it still stuck. Even though she is not currently doing HOD, she still does copywork on her own, and I know it helps her. I look at her written schoolwork, and I see very few spelling errors. When she proofreads her own work, she usually spots her own errors and fixes them. My youngest has just finished Preparing and there has been much improvement in one year.

[my3sons]

When it comes to something that is special and that is made out of creative inspiration, I think I'd compliment the initiative taken to do so, just like you did. If your dd is writing a note though, making a grocery list, etc. or you happen to be near when she's writing, I'd just jot down the words she missed on a marker board near her, letting her know she can refer to that for help. It's a fine line - encouraging creative writing and encouraging correct writing. In general, it's best to correct errors right away before they become habits, but if the writing is not school-related, and it is directed by the child, I'd just come alongside her the best you can, making sure to try to help her write correctly as best you can, while also trying to be sure not to squelch her love for it. HTH!

In Christ,
Julie

[mrsrandolph]

I would not correct it...HOWEVER, I would hold my child accountable for spelling words they have had previously and KNOW how to spell correctly : )

I might make some mental notes about what the biggest problems were in her composition and address those in school at a later time and not relate it to her "book". Maybe the biggest problem is not leaving spaces between words. Maybe it is forgetting capitals and punctuation. Maybe she isn't carrying over her knowledge of the words she DOES know how to spell.

So, you might make time to address those things later.

[Carrie]

Tabrett,

There are already great answers in this thread, so I'll just one more link that may be of help to you as you ponder. Link: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=7506

Blessings,
Carrie