Welcome to today’s edition of Top 5 Resources. Today’s theme is all about writing. I think writing is one thing many of us struggle to teach. It’s great it you happen to have a kid who just likes to write. But for some reason there seems to be a contingency of homeschoolers who hate writing. And there seems to be a correlating contingency of home schooling mothers who don’t know what to do about getting kids who hate writing to write. So here are some resources to help you out.
If you have a suggestion for the top 5 resources theme, please let me know!
#1. National Novel Writing Month
Unfortunately, National Novel Writing Month is officially over tomorrow. I didn’t hear about it until yesterday but I decided that I liked the idea so much, I am including it for you to file away. I like the approach of just getting stuff down on paper. The site has lots of resources for aspiring young writers as well as a generally community type set up where you can post excerpts, questions and ideas.
One of my favorite features of this website is that the writing prompts are done in such a way so that when you scroll over the number, the prompt pops up without changing screens. They also have several books, great software and other things specifically for writers. This is not a huge site, but I like it nonetheless for its simplicity.
#3. Combine Writing with Children’s Literature
This website is a listing of famous children’s authors and their websites. One project that we’ve used over and over again is to read a book and then write the author a letter. Most children’s authors (or rather their “people”) will send something back be it a book mark, an autographed picture of their character, or even just a letter. Kids are motivated to write because they are likely to get something in return. (I have to admit that if six weeks go by and we get nothing, not even a letter, I often present a coupon for another book of the child’s choice just so that it’s not a disappointing experience.)
#4. The Writing Fix
This website is great for the kid who doesn’t want to write anything. There is an interactive plot generator (input character, setting, etc. and it gives you a plot), tons of other great links, lots of ideas for kids, a mini lesson you can sign up for and helpful commentaries for those of us who have to teach writing.
#5. A Good Writing Program
I find that a good writing program has to include several different aspects. There is a place for journaling and a place for silly and imaginative story telling. There’s also a place for reporting and a place for producing fully polished, grammatically correct, pieces. I think our tendency is towards perfection but if you lay low for awhile and just let your kids enjoy simply communicating in written form, you are likely to find less resistance.