Help with Writing Skills

I really like the Handwriting Without Tears program, although we're just in the first grade book...it might be worth checking out the older books to see if it would be any help. It's more of a penmanship program, but it might offer just practice and ideas.

1 mom found this helpful

Have you checked with your school? They may offer something over the summer. One of our bookstores in the area also has flyers for a writing camp over the summer also. I would also ask the teacher what websites you could use. You may also be able to access what websites they use through school. I hope this helps you.
L.

Writing skills come along with reading skills. If a child reads alot discuss the book with them. If you find that your student expresses himself very well verbally, sometimes they lose their train of thought because they cannot get it down on paper fast enough. You might try a small tape recorder, "Dragon" self typing computer software program, or other device that will help him to hold his train of thought.
However, if descriptive expression is what you are looking for, then I suggest you ask your student to write about something very simple, may a special tree in your back yard or on your block....then ask your student to describe it in its environment, the grandeur of its massive branches, leaf formation, etc.
I thinking reading more books will be the best way to teach your student to express himself better, and taking time to talk to him/her about it.
E.

Try to get him to express himself to you verbally first. Maybe when you ask him how his day was, he can tell you from the beginning to the end of his entire day. You can encourage him by your response to him. Keep that up for a few days. As time progresses, when you ask him how his days was, you can have him tell you first, then ask him to write about it. As he begins to write about what he likes, it will come natural to him eventually. Its all about self expression. Hope this helps. Good luck! :)

Edit:
Sorry for misunderstanding your question. (I thought you meant handwriting, not writing.)

I see you are from Blue Bell - I used to live there and love that area! My older son was in 4th grade there. One thing that teachers understood and allowed when I was there is for you to "script" for your son. Sit down and type for him while he's telling you the story. Then go through it and help him edit. I did that with my older son til partway through 7th grade, and then it's like a lightbulb went on, and now he's a good writer.

I have read that boys take longer than girls to be good writers unless they have a particular talent at it.

Hope this is a little helpful.
D.

Handwriting Without Tears by Jan Olsen. Wonderful, and I mean it!

D.

Hi, 2boys:
Get an English book for English composition for a 4th grader on
Amazon.com if they have one.
Good luck.
D.

have your son read a chapter of a book every day. and after he gets done reading that chapter have him tell you about that chapter. and then have him write it down on paper. this will help him put thoughts and ideas on paper and to write better sentences and paragraphs!!!

My daughter is very good at writing and what help her was reading all kind of books, she never took any special class but always loved to read and that is how she became so good at writing.

I'm a devoted fan of Susan Wise Bauer and Michael Clay Thompson - http://www.welltrainedmind.com/store/language-arts/writin... and http://www.rfwp.com/mct.php
SWB's thoughts on writing instruction can be heard here - http://www.welltrainedmind.com/store/elementary-grades-mp...

Reading and practice; that's the key. But go easy; he's only in 4th grade.
If you want to connect to writing you can read "Writing Down the Bones" by Natalie Goldfield or Goldman or whatever. That was fantastic, but that's for an adult. Some of the exercises in there might be useful. But still, in 4th grade, he needs to get out there and have some experiences. He's really not at the age to be reflecting on life's wisdom or preparing for a memoir. Really, the more he reads and the more he writes just for practice the better he will get. And let him read age-appropriate science fiction and fantasy; great ways to develop the imagination.
I'm a huge fan of science fiction and fantasy, but although there is a LOT of excellent stuff out there for teens and pre-teens, you should check it out first because a surprising amount of it is very sexualized.
I can recommend the following series for reading to him a chapter a night, or letting him read a chapter a night: Harry Potter; The Dark is Rising Series by Susan Cooper; the Narnia books by C.S. Lewis, the Redwall books by Brian Jacques. Anything by Roald Dahl.

You can always ask your son's teacher. I'd bet they have some information.

This was a terrific program. My kids did the seminar as well as the video course when I was homeschooling. They have books and resources so perhaps you can find something that will work for your son.

http://www.excellenceinwriting.com/

I am here to tell you that a good reader does not a writer make! My son reads more than most adults I know-voraciously and for hours at a time. And he HATES to write...painful for him to say the least. He is an extremely bright kid-in the GATE program and a good student. But yet-hates like heck to write. So I don't have advice but will be watching your answers. I almost signed him up for a kids creative writing camp but decided against it...he is in 3rd grade so I am holding out some hope he can change before I do that as he will probably hate me forever if I sign him for that.