Write On!

Writing is a HUGE part of literacy—we know that, right?  Some believe writing has become a lost art. When is the last time you wrote a letter? It’s true, we write differently today than we did in the past.  Yet, it’s no less important.  We write to communicate our thoughts and ideas.  This blog, for example, is a form of writing that didn’t even exist five years ago.

So how do we get our kids to write?  I think first we need to examine the writing that most of us do in our daily lives.  We send emails.  We write grant proposals.  We write reports.  We write minutes from meetings we attend.  Creative writing is one aspect of writing, but there is also a technical side to much of the writing we do for our jobs or at home.  Ultimately, we want children to be able to write creatively as well as to communicate effectively.

Technical writing can be encouraged by asking children to help write your grocery list.  What about having your child send an email to a family member?  Want to combine technical and creative writing? Ask your child to create an “ad” spelling out the pros of something they might be petitioning for, such as a new game system.  I had a colleague who told me that her daughter put together a Power Point presentation outlining why she should be allowed to attend her high school homecoming dance—complete with background information and research!

If you want to encourage creative writing there are several interactive websites where kids can create comic strips online.   These sites encourage writing, reading and storytelling.  One of my sons has used www.toondoo.com for class assignments. It’s pretty cool, but a bit edgier than www.makebeliefscomix.com  Check  them out to decide if they are appropriate for your children.

What are some ways you encourage your children to write?  Texting is the easy answer – what other ways do your children exercise their writing skills, other than using their thumbs?