Does sitting down with your child to edit his writing strike terror in your heart? Do you have visions that resemble something close to a dog fight? Editing your child’s writing does not have to be an emotionally charged event. Actually, I believe you can create a nurturing environment that creates a love of learning. Here are a few of the things I’ve learned over the years to aide in the editing process:
1) Be aware of differing writing personalities.
Your child’s writing will look and sound different than your own writing. Be sure not to impose your writing personality on your child. Allow his personality to shine through. I think this can be the most challenging aspect of the editing process, but it’s well worth the pay off. Your child wants to know his thoughts and feelings that come through in his writing have intrinsic value. As your child ages and matures, so will his writing personality and style. Guide him into the writer he is destined to become.
2) Be sensitive.
Put yourself in the place of your child. Remember, he worked diligently and poured himself into his writing. Immediately pointing out each mistake or being insensitive will not provide incentive for him to become a better writer. This leads into number 3.
3) Praise, praise, praise.
Always find something positive to say about your child’s writing. In fact, make it a priority to say one positive thing for every mistake that needs correcting. You want to ensure your child feels encouraged to keep trying and that he will succeed.
4) Keep spelling separate.
I have a child who struggles with spelling. She gets discouraged when she sees red all over her writing and most of it is from misspelled words. Instead of spending time on all the spelling mistakes during the editing process, I make note of words that are misspelled and work them into her spelling lesson.
5) Limit the focus.
If there are multiple mistakes, choose to tackle one mistake at a time – perhaps one a day. If you cover too much material, it will be overwhelming and little of it will be retained. At the end of the school year, if your child only has 12 papers in his portfolio, but they are well-written and well-thought-out, then it’s worth the time it takes to go through the editing process slowly.
Writing can be a difficult yet rewarding skill to learn. You can turn the editing process into a haven where you correct and guide your child into becoming a wonderful writer. Now, go, edit and inspire your child.
Ruthanne has been homeschooling for just over a decade. She’s passionate about many things ~ the Lord, her principal and students (mother to four boys and a girl), photography, baking and really good coffee. You can find her blogging at www.eclecticwhatnot.com where she shares a few random thoughts and loads of pictures.
All great ideas, Ruthanne! Another thing I like to have my students do while writing is to underline words that they aren’t sure of the spelling and then move on. They can check spelling once they’ve got their ideas down on paper. Some students have a really hard time completing a sentence when they don’t know how to spell a particular word. Knowing they can go back and fix it later helps them keep their continuity.
Emily @ The Pilot’s Wife´s last blog ..10 on the 10th: Booklist
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Ruthanne, This is a wonderful article. I taught writing for 7 years in public schools, and I can affirm all you’re saying here. In the homeschool setting we have even more chance to be positive and give our children the one on one feedback that can help them grow as writers. You are totally right that we should focus on one aspect at a time. Otherwise, the writing task is overwhelming. In the beginning it may be as simple as complete sentences. Then it may be varied sentence types. Then you may move on to descriptive words.
And thank you for saying that spelling is a separate thing. Important, yes, but a different mental task from writing. Spelling can always be edited. And it’s better to misspell a “$10 word” than to correctly spell a dozen boring words (out of fear of making a mistake on that $10 word).
Jimmie´s last blog ..Transportation in American Art
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Thanks for your comments, Emily and Jimmie! They are greatly appreciated.
Ruthanne´s last blog ..{Slightly} Incoherent
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I think #1 is my most difficult area. I have to remind myself that my boys are just starting out and do not have all the experience that I do with writing.
Great article, Ruthanne! Thanks for the reminder. I should print it and tack it to our wall. Writing is a struggle subject for us.
Marsha´s last blog ..I Heart Faces: Pets Only
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Excellent advice and much needed. My 6YO is learning to write short sentences and paragraphs and we’ve struggled at times. As a writer myself, it’s hard to not impose my style on him. I want him to spell words correctly, but I also want to be careful to encourage rather than discourage him. I also want to instill in him a teachable spirit and to accept constructive criticism, something at which I do not excel.
Antique Mommy´s last blog ..Fake And Sparkly – Still Not A Bad Thing
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Of all the subjects we teach. writing is the hardest to access and teach. But as a English writing professor once told me – “One only way to good writing is through lots and lots of bad writing.” So encourage them to keep writing!
Ada
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