Tips For Writing

“Help Your Child Become a Better Writer”

Remember to save your child’s creative stories in a special place

and share with them on special occasions. It is a wonderful

remembrance of those 1st grade years.

Our Motto

“What you write, you can read,

What you read you can write”

 

 

The best way to become a good writer is to WRITE, WRITE, WRITE.

Let your child see you writing every day with your grocery lists, recipe directions,

messages to family members, reminders on the refrigerator, notes in their

lunchbox, e-mails, etc.

 

Encourage your child to write.  As you write to family members and

friends, ask your child to write or draw something especially for them to add

to your letter. Give your child various topics to think about and then sit down

together and write a story.  Give them story starter ideas.  It is always nice to

web the topic and then it is easier to have the thoughts you want to write about

right in front of you.  Cut out pictures from magazines and write a sentence

about that picture.  Getting started is the key and then your child will blossom

with writing.  They tend to fear what to write and how to spell the words.

This comes with practice and experience.

Do not be concerned with the mechanics of writing. Don’t be

concerned about the spelling of words and the grammar in the sentence.

 We use our word wall for basic words.  We invent the spelling and then as we

 progress, we check for correct spelling on our finished copy.  We always start

off with our first draft (sloppy copy as they love).  The teacher is the editor

and we have to sometimes rewrite a story several times to come up with a

finished copy.  We always compare it to writing a book and corrections are

good if they are needed.  We always discuss our thoughts first and see where

we want to go with the topic.  We have a “writing meeting” to encourage creative

thoughts to flow into a good story.  Our stories are usually centered on a theme

in the classroom that we are studying for that month.  But, they can be on any

topic that a child chooses during free creative writing time.

 

A note about correct handwriting in writing  I believe it is very

important for children to use the correct hand grip when they are doing their

manuscript writing.  They need to use the tripod grip on their pencil and have

correct posture to do their very best.  Here is an excellent site to go for

left handed children.

Left Handed Children

Read aloud to your child as often as possible.  Our Book-It Program

is an wonderful way to receive an award for your child reading to you. Their

reading to you is the most excellent way to encourage good fluency and a love

for reading. Reading from varied authors encourages them to compare styles

of writing and also see different illustrators artwork.  Part of the writing

process is also illustrating the story if they wish. Have your child write their

own short book and bring to class and share with their friends.

 

Save your child’s writing in a special writing box.  Sit down at various

times to reread the stories and compare the growth he/she has made. You’ll be

glad that you saved their stories of their early years of writing. 

 

Write to your child.  Put notes in books, lunches, napkins, pencil cases,

book bags, pockets.  They will be so blessed when they find that special note

to them.  Encourage them to do the same thing for others. 

 

Subscribe to children’s magazines.  Children are thrilled to receive their

own mail.  (even e mail) It is a good idea to see which magazines accept student

writings or illustrations.  It would be a thrill for a child to see their own work

published.  Calendar contests are wonderful ways for a budding artist to see

their art shared with others.

 

These are just a few ideas to help your child become a better writer. 

It can open up a wonderful world of their imagination in the printed form.  God

has a special gift in each child and we want to encourage and nurture that gift.

 

A Letter From A Star Student

Dear Mrs. Hayes,

Thank you so much for being such a good teacher and friend to me.

 Even when I wasn’t your official student anymore.  I was still

learning from you by your encouragement and your everyday actions.

I know that you inspired my class, even if we were rag-tag first

graders.  And you inspired so many other students to reach for the

stars and to find them!  As for me, I don’t exactly know what the

future holds, but I know that my stars are up there within reach.

Thank you for giving me a foundation that will keep me steady in

The future.

God bless always!!!

Love,

Ashley Cole

 

Every good gift and every perfect gift

is from above, and cometh down

from the Father of lights.

James 1:17