“There is something delicious about writing the first words of a story. You never quite know where they’ll take you.”
― Beatrix Potter
These days, it can often be challenging to instill a love of writing in our kiddos who are constantly bombarded by games, YouTube, movies, and shows. In fact, many kids (including my own) love to watch OTHER kids play instead of engaging in that enjoyment themselves.
It can often be challenging to have them sit, use their imagination, and start writing their OWN story. Shoot there were many times when I was teaching when a student would even say, “I don’t know what to draw.”
What is happening?!?!
Where are our creators and inventors? Where are our pages of stories of dragons, adventurers, astronauts, monsters, and imaginary creatures?
Even into middle and high school…are our teens writing at a level that will help them excel in college and in life?
Writing is a skill that all children need to acquire and do well at in order succeed in this world. They need to be able to thoughtfully and confidently communicate their thoughts, feelings, and ideas for others to read and understand.
They need guidance, encouragement, and the opportunity to express themselves through writing without being assessed, corrected, or discouraged.
Sadly, the stats today about young people writing are heart-breaking.
"Three-quarters of both 12th and 8th graders lack proficiency in writing, according to the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress. And 40 percent of those who took the ACT writing exam in the high school class of 2016 lacked the reading and writing skills necessary to complete successfully a college-level English composition class, according to the company’s data."
We as parents can change these numbers simply by offering some guidance at home.
How can we encourage and support our kids to start writing and write well?
Tips:
1. Focus on interests
2. Help you child grow and improve on the level he/she is on right now.
3. Journal together daily
4. Draw and dictate
5. Shared pen
Great Name Activities at The Reading Mama blog: https://www.pinterest.com/thisreadingmama/name-activities/
The goal here is to get your kiddo open to and excited about sharing their ideas (which are important and have value) confidently on paper.
-Consistency – they can’t just practice once a week!
-Encouragement – encourage the scribbles, the sounding out, and the creation of a sentence.
-Make it fun and blend into activities
-Offer fun writing materials and tools…silly pe
Resources at The Whole Mama:
Our goal this year at The Whole Mama is to help 100 mamas start homeschooling in 2024!
Will you join our movement of mamas ready to make powerful and positive changes for their children?