We’re in full writing mode with our students right now, and we know (firsthand!) teaching writing isn’t easy, especially if you’re a homeschool family covering all the bases. Here are three quick helps to buoy you up–a Q & A, wisdom from an author, and an invitation.
1. Question and Answer
QUESTION: What are good things to say to my children to help them with their fiction stories? (A question we received yesterday afternoon from a homeschool mom!)
ANSWER:
Don’t stress about saying the “right thing.” Instead, focus on being a real reader. As a reader, what are your thoughts? Are you intrigued? Confused? What questions do you have? This kind of feedback is more valuable than an “textbook” answer because it will help your child write like writers do–for their audience.
If your child is “stuck” in their fiction story and can’t think of what should happen next, the best answer is TROUBLE. The good stories are the ones where characters suffer. (Yes, it is sad, but true.) We’ve found TROUBLE to be the best way for stories to get “unstuck” and moving again.
2. Wisdom From an Author
Full Disclosure: neither of us have ever read a Stephen King novel (whimps!) but his nonfiction book On Writing is one of our FAVORITES. This quote about how to become a writer is obvious but just SORT OF obvious. We so often make teaching writing much harder than it needs to be.
If you do nothing else this week, just let your kids read and write a lot!
3. Invitation
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, remember we have ways to help you cover the writing part! Our Writer’s Box units have all the lesson plans you need for a school year’s worth of writing and are ready for you to download ANYTIME you need them. Use them as a supplement to what you’re already doing or as your whole writing program.
We love being on your team!
