Posted by MaryM on 9:21 Sep 13
In Reply to: Back again (so soon, too!), this time with writing problems (long, sorry) posted by Sydney in NJ
Your post reminded me of my ds at that age! I can sympathize. When I was looking for the magic pill to fix writing I stumbled upon Julie Bogart's :The Writer's Jungle. It's billed as a "survival manual" and for me it was. SHe does an excellent job of outlining what Mom can do to help reluctant writers. It IS writtern for the parent and not the child so don;t expect something you can put in front of you dc and voila - he writes! Instead it offers spsecific ways to develop and train a writer. Exccellent advice written in an engaing and lively maner. I even read it with my ds at times. This would be my suggestion for your first line strategy. (It covers letting your child dictate stories or writing assignments so he learns that if he speaks well he can write well! Plus much, much, much more....)
Our second discovery was a book by Margot Davidson from Hillside Publications called Lingua Mater. What a welcome writing program this is! SHe says to use it for 7th grade but my 10-11 y/o found it just the ticket to get him doing writing on his own with little assistance. She uses beautiful artwork to spur ideas as well as classic writings (Greatest Speeches, writings etc.) and poetry. It is a step by step approach that has the child completely progressively more difficult writings each 4 day week. It covers narration, expository and persuasion in prose (and some poetry). Each weekly lesson also has grammar included. I cannot say enough good about this book!!
Finally, Julie Bogart told me that age has a lot to do with the ability to write. Maturation WILL yoield a writer with proper guidance but you can't make it happen sooner than necessary. And, at the risk of getting rotten tomatoes thrown at me, boys seem to develop these writing abilities more reluctantly and a bit later than girls - that is just my observation, mind you.
So, good luck! Your ds will no doubt be a terrific writer in time and with his won style!