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pumpkinmom
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| Posted: March 08 2013 at 10:57pm | IP Logged
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Here is where we are with writing regarding my two boys. Please help me sort out what to do next if anything. I read The Writer's Jungle a year ago and we have been following this as our writing guide for the past year. We like it and it is going well! We are just stuck at the moment.
My youngest is third grade and he has decided he wants to write (mostly because big brother is doing it and he wants to do everything big brother does). The only writing he does for school is copywork, free writing and making list (this is a favorite). He rarely can write a complete sentence. It really looks like a pile of words. Sometimes it makes sense. Actually I can make heads and tails out of it, but it needs to be arranged better. I've tried to teach him. "A sentence is two parts. The who or what, which is your noun (he understands what a noun is) and the doing which is your verb (he understands a verb somewhat). Be sure to capitalize the first letter of the sentence and put a period at the end." This is my basic teaching to him when he wants to write or I assign freewriting. I try to point this out in his copywork. Is there anything else I can do to help him in writing sentences so that he can be the writer that he wants to be?
Now my oldest is 6th grade and he picked up writing a year ago and all is going fine. He is ready to move beyond free writing and written narrations. He did write up a lab report a few months ago with no problems. Behold & See 5 walked him through it and with some extra help from dad he sailed right through it.
There is a chapter called "The dreaded elementary report" in The Writer's Jungle and I am dreading it, but he is more than ready for it! We have been talking about doing it and I reread how to do it and he has picked his topic and found his research. I just can't seem to go any further. Bravewriter isn't holding my hand enough. I don't have the confidence on how to teach him to research and write a simple one page report. What do I do? Why didn't I pay more attention during my college writing classes? Why didn't I keep my notes from those classes and the papers I wrote? I know I use to write, so why can't I remember how to do it and be able to teach it!  Ok, I've calmed down!Any ideas?
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Cassie
Homeschooling my little patch of Ds-14 and Ds-10
Tending the Pumpkin Patch
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SuzanneG
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| Posted: March 09 2013 at 2:35am | IP Logged
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pumpkinmom wrote:
| Is there anything else I can do to help him in writing sentences so that he can be the writer that he wants to be? |
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-------> this is for your younger child...the 3rd grader
It really sounds like you are doing everything you can at this point!
DON"T do anything more from a "technical standpoint." Pointing out GENTLY an error here or there is just about right.
But, you CAN.....encourage as much of that writing as possble, and instead of YOU reading it, just have HIM read it to you, so you get the full effect of it. And, then PRAISE him LIKE CRAZY! Point out a couple neat words that he used, tell him that something was funny. Say how you can "just picture x,y or z" and you like how he described that cloud as a "pillow". That kind of thing.
Then....pick out ONE little area that you think he could go a bit farther on...and ask him if he may want to write more about that. If yes, then start it all over again. If no, fine. He did a great job. That's it.
If he DOES write more, you could show him where "that section" would be inserted into his first writing and ask him if he wants to do that. If yes, then show him where it may go and ask if he would want to cut apart the page and re-paste it to include the new writing.
etc...etc...etc...
*********************************
Do you see how you are NOW focusing on HIM and the CONTENT of what he is writing??? And, doing what Bravewriter calls finding your writer's voice? As adults we focus on the punctation and spelling....but we have to get out of that and help develop a WRITER. We're trying to create WRITER's, not EDITORS. Both would be GREAT, of course.....but all the technical things will come with time. Focusing on helping them WRITE what's inside them is the first step.
And, really it's AMAZING that a 3rd grade boy wants to DO THIS!!!! So TOTALLY RUN WITH IT! It's great!
Technical, editing aspects come with slight amounts of copywork and dictation and reading good material for the next 20 years.
******** More on the 6th grader tomorrow. Gotta get to bed!
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Suzanne in ID
Wife to Pete
Mom of 7 (Girls - 14, 12, 11, 9, 7 and Boys - 4, 1)
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SuzanneG
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| Posted: March 22 2013 at 2:06am | IP Logged
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pumpkinmom wrote:
Now my oldest is 6th grade and he picked up writing a year ago and all is going fine. He is ready to move beyond free writing and written narrations. He did write up a lab report a few months ago with no problems. Behold & See 5 walked him through it and with some extra help from dad he sailed right through it.
There is a chapter called "The dreaded elementary report" in The Writer's Jungle and I am dreading it, but he is more than ready for it! We have been talking about doing it and I reread how to do it and he has picked his topic and found his research. I just can't seem to go any further. Bravewriter isn't holding my hand enough. I don't have the confidence on how to teach him to research and write a simple one page report. |
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I know this has been awhile, but I'd love to "do" this with you if you want to. I just finished up a KidsWrite Basic class with my 10 yo and I'm reviewing all my Brave Writer things these days! The class was very helpful....I felt totally overwhelmed with THREE!  beginning writers all at about the same place! And, never having gone through it before, I needed some direction and some space set aside to really focus on it and break it down into tiny chunks with ONE CHILD!
So, you have the ONE child, but sounds like you're totally overwhelmed with the whole process, like me! So, deep breath! This CAN be done! You already have a capable writer, so you're miles ahead already!
Since he has the research and the information, can you read the CHAPTER of TOPIC FUNNEL, ch 6, pg 67?
That would be the next step, it sounds like. REALLY, getting specific on WHAT he is going to write about. Then....set him off on a "freewrite" so-to-speak.
Don't worry about ANYTHING else, except getting that pen moving across the paper.
Does he have a topic? Yes, you said.
What is the question that he can write about?
The chapter uses this example:
Instead of Rock Climbing   (too broad and overwhelming)
use....
What is exciting about bouldering at my rock climbing gym?
Do you have time to read chapter 6 and then come back and we can brainstorm this if you're confused by your son's specific topic/example.
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Suzanne in ID
Wife to Pete
Mom of 7 (Girls - 14, 12, 11, 9, 7 and Boys - 4, 1)
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pumpkinmom
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| Posted: April 18 2013 at 3:56pm | IP Logged
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Suzanne, I never got back to you on this!! Thank you for taking the time to help. You have helped me! We have put off a report with my oldest for the moment and he has been working on a creative writing venture and doing a weekly written narration. I think this is enough for him and so my "dreaded elementary report" has been pushed aside. I may talk to you when it comes up again.
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Cassie
Homeschooling my little patch of Ds-14 and Ds-10
Tending the Pumpkin Patch
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SuzanneG
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| Posted: April 18 2013 at 11:55pm | IP Logged
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Great, Cassie! Yes, come back when you need to brainstorm "the next thing".....and I'll do the same! Have fun!
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Suzanne in ID
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Mom of 7 (Girls - 14, 12, 11, 9, 7 and Boys - 4, 1)
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4Real Forums : Language Arts Come Alive
Topic: Questions on writing using Bravewriter
