Things You Can Do to Help Your Students to Become a Better Writers

C. Kennedy ~ Literacy Resource Specialist

Write, Too

• • • • • • • Provide writing materials.

Provide a print-rich environment.

Extend their vocabulary.

Write notes.

Write together.

Create a photo album or scrapbook.

Encourage letters.

Remember- Not All Writing Is Pen to Paper, or Fingers on the Keyboard!

Writing is Thinking

You can support your child’s writing skills not only through actual reading/writing activities, but by helping them to become clear and organized thinkers.

• • • • • Ideas Organization Voice Word Choice Conventions

Ideas

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Ideas make up the content of the piece of writing

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Ideas are the heart of the message.

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Free ideas ~ Help your child with selecting an idea or topic that they really care about.

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Writer’s Notebook ~ A tool for students to jot down interesting tidbits.

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Prompt Ideas ~ Urge your child to try different kinds of writing such as narratives, poetry, or expository writing.

Organization

• How a piece is structured or ordered Introduction ~ A statement that hooks the reader.

Middle ~ Statements that include details that are logically organized.

Conclusion ~ An ending that leaves the reader satisfied. • • • • Without organization the thing that happened first would be last All organizational activities take planning. Where to begin, what to do next, and how to make the whole thing come together. Setting the table, putting together on an outfit to wear, or planning a trip are things that we do in our lives.

Voice

• • • • • • Voice is often misunderstood.

The writer’s own special, personal style come through in the words. Voice is said to be the fingerprints of the writer on the page.

Voice is how the writing draws the reader in, speaks to the reader at an emotional level, and creates a bond between reader and writer.

It is the heart and soul of writing. The writer takes risks by revealing the person behind the writing when they use voice.

Word Choice

• • The knack for choosing the “just right” word to get the message across.

Word choice is about the use of rich, colorful, precise language that communicates in a way that moves and enlightens the writer.

• Descriptive Writing ~ Uses strong word choice that clarifies and expands on ideas • Persuasive Writing ~Moves the reader to have a new vision of things • Narrative Writing ~ Creates images in your mind that are real and make the reader feel like they are a part of the writing.

Sentence Fluency

• • • • The rhythm and sound of the writing as it is read aloud.

The words need to sound just right as the writer intended the writing to sound.

Sentences are well built and they move.

Strong sentence fluency contains creative phrasing, parallel construction, alliteration, and word order that allows the reading to be natural.

Conventions

• • • • • Spelling Grammar and Usage Capitalization Paragraph Indentation Punctuation

Presentation

• • • • The way it is put together to make you want to READ it.

Handwriting is neat and legible.

Carefully chosen fonts.

The finished writing makes the writer proud to share it.

Keep It Positive!

• • • • • Be an excited listener. Celebrate even the simplest attempts of beginning writers.

Be a team.

Be the coach- not the writer.

Focus on ideas first- then editing

References

• • Culham R. (2003) .

6+1 Traits of Writing

. New York: Scholastic Professional Books.

Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory. (1998)

Dear Parent, A Handbook for Parents of Six Trait Writing Students.

Portland, Oregon: Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory.