I am feeling frustrated and at a loss with my 6 yr old, 1st grade son when it comes to writing. Not handwriting, but writing things like stories, notes, letters etc... He doesn't write really at all. He will copy things if I write them, but he is very resistant to invented spelling and putting down his own thoughts on paper. I'm lucky if I can get him to write a sentence or two with much coaxing and helping him sound out words. And I just don't know what to do. He reads well, and he is finally able to do our spelling curriculum (we are using A Reason for Spelling, and he could spell the words for this week which included words like glad and sand). But I don't know what to do to encourage him to write. I know that education isn't a competition, but I know he is behind his peers. Though we plan to continue homeschooling, you never know what will happen, and I don't want him to be behind if he does go to "school" someday. And I'm so lost with what to do. I don't know how to encourage him to write more, since it is a struggle as is. I do make him write daily, in limited amounts because it isn't like making him sit and write for an hour a day is going to help things. Anyway, I came on here to ask for advice and encouragement. I know my son is a smart kid, and I know he will get it someday...for some reason, this area, just makes me feel like a failure as a homeschooler.
(waving hand in the air) Pick me, pick me!!!! I, too, had one of those boys. :lol: I had to get creative with things he wrote. 1- He was always very inquisitive, so we would make up scientific experiments to answer his questions. (which flies farther? a notebook paper airplane or one made from cardstock?) He would be responsible for keeping track of the data on a chart and labeling his findings. 2- If he came to me saying, "Mom, I need some more shampoo." I'd say, "Looks like you need to make a shopping list." He'd be responsible for writing down the things he needed and sometimes I'd have him write the things I needed as well. These are just a couple ideas, but the possibilities are endless when it comes to real-world needs to write. Hope this helps.
I don't think he's behind. My 7 year old isn't really a writer either. It might be easier on him to let him dictate to you, so he doesn't have to think about his thoughts and figure out how to get them down on paper at the same time. Then have him copy what he dictated after you write them down. With mine we started out with just a few words and have slowly increased it to a couple sentences a day. He has definitely improved a lot over the past year and he doesn't complain too much about writing anymore.
At age 6 this is NOT a problem at all! A sentence or two of copywork should be plenty, maybe a poem couplet where you leave off the last word and let him come up with the missing word that rhymes... Boys especially can be very resistant to writing down original thoughts, but with little encouragements like Brooke and KatH said, they'll come along eventually. NOT to worry!
Copywork is a useful tool for beginning writers. It sounds like he may be resistant to writing when he can't spell everything correctly. I like using Write About Me for that age. It gives a child blanks to fill in at first and increases to having the child write more later in the book. It makes a great keepsake too. I also like Writing Strands 1. This would be good for getting the creative process going if he is resistant to that part of it. It involves no writing, but it guides the parent to help the child's creative process in order to prepare him for later writing skills. From someone who encouraged inventive spelling - I wish I didn't. My son is a visual guy and guessing at spelling made it much more difficult to learn correct spelling. If your son is resistant I would be his scribe. Have him dictate stories, letters, or sentences to you and you can write them down for him. You can even incorporate those dictated sentences into later copywork so he is writing down what he dictated.
That reminds me of what one second-grade teacher did every morning with her class, when I was working in public school. They would start a paragraph on the board with a sentence or two about the day, then add two or three sentences the kids in the class would dictate. Then the kids copied this boardwork to make their "class journal". Something on the order of: "Today is (day of the week, month, and date). It is a (weather description) day. Susie has a new beagle puppy named Rover. John's big sister Kristin got married on Saturday. Tyler went fishing with his dad and brother." The theory was that they learned to write the words that were in their oral vocabularies, and it was more meaningful for reading comprehension because they made it themselves rather than copying it out of a book. I have no clue how well it actually worked (or not) in practice...
I have a 7 and an 8 year old and neither of them can write a creative story. It has gotten better though, if I give them the right prompt they can usually give me one or two good sentences before resorting to "fillers" such as: I like sandwiches, they are yummy, and really really good.
My kids were apparently the exception. They didn't start writing creatively until close to middle school. But, they didn't make up stories around play till around that time. If he has a creative mind, let him dictate his stories to you, if not start with "baby" steps based on his maturity level. At 6, the most my son could handle was filling in a blank per sentence when given a work bank. At the same age, I could give my daughter a word, and she could usually make a sentence. I only gave a couple, because she still found it very stressful. I didn't start focusing on writing until middle school. Go with you mother instinct and knowledge on what he can handle, not what you feel like others - such as educators and other homeschoolers - expect. I have wondered at times about my approach to writing, but as time has passes, I get more at more confident that they will be where they need to to handle college and adulthood.
Does he like to make pictures? Get him a book with drawing paper at the top and lines down below. Have him draw a picture, and then dictate a sentence or two about what is happening. You can either write his words down on the page, or have him copy what you write. That way, he's just "telling" you about the picture, not "writing" about it. Eventually, you can get him to write on his own, even if it's just a few sentences at first.
PLEASE don't push him. Some kids aren't even ready to read at this age. It may truly be too difficult for him now. I don't know of any schools that make children write stories or anything at this age. Even if he is reading, it may be hard to keep all those details of spelling straight when he is trying to put his thoughts down. Relax, if you push too hard it will most likely have the opposite effect.
I WISH my 6 year old son was as far along as yours is. He's just starting to read. He went from no where to somewhere really fast though. It will happen soon enough I'm sure
You aren't a failure! 6 is very young to be writing creatively. Does he make up stories when he plays? If not, you will probably have a hard time with the "creative" part. As adults, coming up with the words for a simple thank you note or story seems easy, but it actually requires alot of exposure to good examples. I would agree with the suggestion to be his scribe. I did this with my youngest who is now 12. She hated writing. I think, for her, it was the physical act of writing so she learned to type at about age 6 or 7 (she still has sloppy penmanship.) All of a sudden, at about age 9 she started taking notes and keeping a journal. Now she's an excellent and very creative writer and she's thinking about writing as a career. Best wishes!
Thank you everyone for your advice and encouragement. We are just going to keep plugging along, since he is making progress, and I will try not to worry about what the rest of the world is doing. We have a good motivator today to do some writing-- Jacob lost his first tooth this morning and I suggested he write a letter to the tooth fairy to leave tonight...
Same. I'm very laid back when it comes to writing. My biggest success with my kids came because of back-to-school sales. At one point, 80 page notebooks were 5c each (that was 2-3 years ago now). We bought 100 for $5. This year they were 10-20c, I don't remember, but we grabbed another batch. In addition to various schoolwork notebooks, I gave my kids several; one for a "journal", one for just because. They draw and write in them incessantly. Another good idea I heard/read somewhere - I read of a mother of several kids who used "bedtime notebooks". (This would probably work better for you in another year or so but anyway.) The kid would write a message to the mom and put it in a previously designated spot; the mom would respond. An ongoing letter, just between the two of them. I do that more with my oldest, the two boys aren't very interested, but...it's there if they want it. But overall, I wouldn't stress. I think the fine motor precision in kids isn't even developed until something like 7 or 8. Before that, their bodies are literally not ready to write.
Sounds like everyone else has said what I would say and so I just want you to know that this is my first year homeschooling (3rd and 1st) and was a primary teacher and reading teacher. After researching and beginning our home school journey I now feel public school pushes creative writing too soon. Therefore, with my first grader I am not doing it at all (handwriting, yes, creative writing, no). I just want to give her confidence in her reading skills and listen to rich stories before expecting her to write them- so we do lots of read alouds to expose her to creative writing. There have been a few times when she wants to write letters to friends and I encourage that, but I am holding off until maybe 3/4 of the school year or even waiting until early 2nd grade for writing. I had to work with first graders who were 'behind' in writing or were not interested- the main reason- they weren't ready and were still working on reading skills. Really we expect a lot from these little guys- reading and writing at the same time and so many rules to remember!! Anyways, you are in no way to blame, he will come into this own on his time!
Hi! I am a Mom who just decided to homeschool and I am also a student. I am just my student teaching semester away from being certified to teach 1st-6th grade. I've come into contact with LOTS of little reluctant writers like yours! Sometimes it is a confidence issue and sometimes they just REALLY don't like to write! Either way, I did some research on this subject. Have you tried googling "Strategies for Reluctant Writers"? I think you will find some really good ideas if you do. Letting kids use "fun tools" to write (like a personal whiteboard, let them write with crayons, etc.), or using pictures and descriptive words to get their ideas flowing really helps. Also, if you let them write about things they are super-interested in that helps a lot, too. Have you talked to him about his writing? Asked him why he doesn't like to write? Sometimes they will tell you they don't believe they are good at it, or they aren't very good spellers and this is the reason they don't like to write. It might just give you some insight into the problem. Maybe he has trouble coming up with writing ideas. That's where working on describing things and then putting those things into sentances can come into play. You AREN'T a horrible homeschooler! Lots of kids are reluctant writers. The main problem with it is that they will write a LOT throughout their lifetime, and you don't want them to hate it! As far as skills, most of them do just fine. Love and Smiles, Chala
