Writing is a recursive process that spirals upward.
Thinking, writing and reading are inseparable activities that intertwine with each other. Consider this: if you can think it, you can write it. If you can write it, you can read it. Writing is communication, and helping your child communicate through language is the most important academic skill you can teach and model.
Immerse young children in language. Six year olds know a few thousand words by the time they start school, and those kids with better vocabulary already have an advantage over their less literate peers when it comes to writing.
To facilitate the use and love of language, play language games together, read daily, and practice writing.
Focus on content first, then grammar and spelling. Your first inclination may be to correct every error in your son’s writing. That can be a daunting task for you and overwhelming to your child.
First, look at the overall content and ask yourself these questions:
After content comes grammar and usage, which includes punctuation, capitalization, and spelling. Focus on the most prevalent errors first by looking for repetitious mistakes, or making the error over and over.
Does your daughter misspell the word “said” every time she writes it? Focus on that word until she gets it right. If the capitalization of titles trips up your child, work on that skill by comparing written titles to the titles on the front of his or her favorite books. Not sure where the commas go? Again, isolate the single skill and continue to work on it until it’s mastered.
Your child will experience a huge sense of satisfaction when eliminating multiple errors at a time, and he or she will be more receptive to correcting mistakes made less often.
Yo-Yo Ma did not become a great pianist by playing his piano occasionally, and your son or daughter will not become a good writer by writing only once in while.
Encourage writing opportunities at every turn. Get in the practice of writing notes to each other by keeping a supply of brightly colored self-sticking notes in interesting shapes on hand. Start a dialogue journal. Have your child write thank you notes.
Even a simple three-paragraph thank you letter to grandparents follows a familiar beginning, middle and end organization. After the greeting have your child write a thank you paragraph that mentions the gift. In the second paragraph, talk about how the gift reminds you of something from the past or makes you look ahead to the future. In the third paragraph, says thanks again and wrap it up.
The more your daughter practices her writing skills, the more natural and fluent she will become in organizing her thoughts.