Writing @ Home

Home-based writing should be enjoyable, real and frequent.

• Make the writing an authentic part of everyday life. Avoid making it overly instructional. Give a quick response to requests for help rather than subjecting children to a lengthy ordeal of explanations or looking up words or information. This can be done later so the flow of writing is not interrupted.

• Don’t be overly concerned with grammar and spelling. Pointing out children’s shortcomings will discourage them from writing. Keep a dictionary close to hand and let your children see you using it to check a word in your own writing. Your attitude to spelling and grammar will naturally influence theirs without your having to make correctness a bugbear that takes away the pleasure from their writing.\
• Always have writing materials available – pens, pencils, coloured markers, paper and staplers. Visit stationery shops to find attractive paper clips, stickers, notebooks and blank cards. The family writing kit should include envelopes, postage stamps and scissors. When shopping with your children, look out for items to add to the collection.

Acknowledgement: “Write Soon!” by Timothy Rasinski and Nancy Padak in The Reading Teacher, April 2009