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Learning to write

The ability to express thoughts in writing is a vital and valuable skill

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Originally published in Today's Parent November 2008

My friend Lenore’s son, then 11, was finding it a struggle to write reports and stories, even though he was a good reader with a solid grasp of spelling and grammar. She wondered if I could help. When I talked to Neil and realized his challenge was in organizing his thoughts, I was able to show him an easy approach to outlining that I’ve frequently used. He loved it.

Neil’s not alone. At this age, the expectations on reports and creative writing are higher: Teachers are looking for written work that is more organized, with a logical flow, yet many children find this difficult.

Sandy Moore of Guelph, Ont., is home-schooling her two children (Matthew, 12, and Alisa, eight) and works with other home-schooling parents to offer writing programs. “I think the most important thing is to start by helping them find a connection to what it is they are writing about,” she says.

For example, if your child is asked to write a book report on a novel that really doesn’t grab him, spend a little time talking with him to see if there are some aspects of the book that did foster this kind of connection. Did any of the characters remind him of someone he knows? Could he see himself doing some of the things the main character did? Once you find the connection, you have a starting point for the writing.

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