Writing: The Do's and Don’ts

  Do:

§       Write often.  EVERYDAY!!!

§       Let children see you write.

§       Share the joy of writing.

§       Model revision & editing.

§       Share writing from many sources (including your writing).

§       Let your child know you're eager to see what they write.  

§       Display writing

§       Model use of writing tools (spell checker, thesaurus, dictionary).

§       Encourage/support revisions.

§       Teach punctuation and grammar skills   (Writing conventions)                      

§       Read aloud at EVERY opportunity.

§       Encourage inventive spelling as a way to solve the common writer’s problem of stopping the flow to find out how to spell a word.

§       Respond to content FIRST.

§         Celebrate small victories (because it takes a lifetime to become a writer).

§       Set a positive, risk-free environment where everyone is considered an author.

 

Writing:  The Do’s and Don’ts

    Don’t:

§       Assess or correct everything.

§       Do your child's editing for them

§       Be afraid to share your writing with your child.  It serves as a valuable teaching tool.  DO IT!

§       Worry too much about conventional correctness – yet!

§       Demand revision/editing – model it, though.

§       Forget to read aloud, often, with expression and joy.

§       Overlook the tiny details, the little moments of voice, the new conventions, the special words that show your writer is growing and learning.

§       Forget to point out to your child their writing strengths.

§       Let any excuse in the world keep you from being a writer yourself.

§       Forget to let your child see how much you love books, and writing.

  

Source:  Melissa Caro