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Reluctant writer
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I have a 10-year-old boy that I pulled out the public school system (Canada) in the middle of grade 4 to permanently homeschool. During that last year in school (gr 4) he was not having a good year in the “writing/composition” area of his academics. His handwriting was atrocious and he was permitted to make copious spelling errors without correction. I have started working with him on copywork, expecting full attention and best effort. He is now starting to appreciate the difference in his work and eventually I believe he will print neatly out of (new) habit.
He is very reluctant to write any stories or narrate on paper. He can tell me lots about many stories he has read. He is a very avid reader…has read Chronicles of Narnia countless times and reads many great living books that I have chosen for him. He just does not enjoy putting his ideas on paper.
How can I help encourage him to want to write? In public school his last writing assignment was to complete a book report on a novel that had no “meat” to it and was just a very silly and non-productive piece of “literature”…if you can call it that. I think he got a bad taste in his mouth from that experience and I am not too sure how to go about undoing that bad taste.
I’d give it time. When did you pull him from school… just now or last year?
I’d work with the oral narrations for a while, and continue with the copywork… eventually I would work on dictation for spelling (Spelling Wisdom would be great for that)… and that is all I’d do for a long time.
CM doesn’t do writing/composition at all until about your son’s age… and only after a good year (or more) of oral naration.
By focusing on copywork, dictation for spelling, reading the good living books (that he already loves, Great!) and oral notation, you are helping him build the skills he needs for writing/composition…. while also giving him time to get over the “bad taste” of his PS writing experience. Do these things, and after a year or so, he will probably be writing better than his old classmates (or at least enjoying the process more.)
Having had reluctant boy writers myself–I think you need to give him some time, first of all. Keep working on the handwriting, spelling, oral narration and consider teaching him to type. Give him some time–you’ll need to prayerfully decide that. Six months? A year? Then begin encouraging written narration. Take it EASY at first and encourage him to just do two sentences, then he could do the rest orally. Gradually build up. Encourage written narrations on books they are excited about at first. He may never love it. But my sons showed significant improvement when I relaxed. Something seemed to happen to make it easier at about age 11-12. Don’t know what it was. As you have noticed, most “writing” that is forced in kids 10 years or younger is pointless junk. Agree with your son that forcing him to do that writing was dumb and you won’t be doing any of that! Do start exposing him to writing in the world around him–essays, editorials, business writing, instruction manuals (ack!) but don’t expect him to DO any of this yet–the point being that adults have to write, a lot, in a variety of situations, and being able to do this is a plus, and something you learn as a teen. Let that “bad taste” dissipate a bit, and then begin again later. I KNOW it seems scary when everyone else’s kids are doing “book reports” at this age, but doing this junk is a waste of time and energy. Save that energy for when you really need it, and work on the fundamentals NOW–that will make actual writing SO MUCH easier if he can write neatly, type, and not need to look up how to spell every other word.
I agree with all this good advice, mostly give him time. I just wanted to touch on typing. I had two reluctant writers both boys. I taught them to type at an early age, the first one at age 6 and the next one at age 8, (I had to let his hands grow). My oldest son actually hated handwriting in itself. Both of my boys have really come a long and I really enjoy their creative writing. I didn’t expect them to actually do creative writing that young when they first typed. I agree with Bookwarm, usually as my sons matured around 11 or 12 they just had more interest in writing. There is plenty of time. It is great that he enjoys reading. I have noticed those who enjoy reading eventually express themselves in writing more naturally. It all comes with time. His copywork is a great start.
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