The ability to write clearly and coherently is a skill that your child needs throughout her school career. Beginning at a very early age, her teachers will expect her to write sentences, then paragraphs and finally as she matures, research papers. Writing well takes practice. Take the time to learn how to use children's books to develop your child's writing skills.
Step 1
Write down what you want your child to achieve. Consider his age, skill level and strengths. If he is just beginning to write sentences, list goals such as using proper punctuation and organizing his thoughts. Help your slightly older child learn how to organize a paragraph, use descriptive words and persuade the reader. As she progresses, teach her the basics of essay writing to prepare her for later school activities.
Step 2
Select a children's book to use. Pick a book slightly above his grade level and one that has good sentence structure and quality writing, recommends Connie Campbell Dierking and Susan Anderson-McElveen, authors of the book "Teaching Writing Skills With Children's Literature." Read the book to your child and discuss the book. Explain the historical context and the writer's purpose for writing the book.
Step 3
Pick a skill to target each time you read a book. Plan on spending one to two weeks on each book, depending on how many times a week your work together. Begin by teaching your child to brainstorm what he would like to write about. Dierking and Anderson-McElveen recognize brainstorming as the first step in writing. Have your child write a short list of memories from the book, his favorite part of the book or how the book relates to his life. Tell your child not to worry about neatness when he brainstorms.
Step 4
Draw on her ideas for sentences or a short story by teaching her to organize her work, recommends Ruth Culham, author of the book, "Using Picture Books to Teach Writing With the Traits." Tell your child to organize her thoughts chronologically on a piece of paper. Go over her thoughts and ideas with her and tell her to similarly structure her story's organization to the sample book. Ask her to begin writing her story while understanding the first writing will be in rough form.
Step 5
Compare her first sentences with some of the sentences from the book. Teach her how to read her story out loud and how to listen to the flow of her sentences, recommends Temple University. Instruct her to read slowly to identify which sentences do not sound "right" and teach her how to fix them. Help her use proper transition words between sentences. Look at the original book and show her the transition words the author used.
Step 6
Ask your child to write a final draft of her sentences or story. Have her read the story to the entire family or share it at school. Encourage her efforts. Pick the next book you will use. Vary them between fiction and non-fiction to teach your child the different writing styles necessary for each genre.
Tips and Warnings
- Schedule a time at least three times a week to work on writing. Make sure your child is seated comfortably and the area is distraction free. Pick books that will hold your child's interest. Read aloud frequently to your child to help him hear what good writing sounds like.
- Be patient and encouraging. Provide constructive criticism.
Things You'll Need
- Children's books
- Paper
- Writing utensil
References
- National Center for Education Statistics: Writing
- "Teaching Writing Skills with Children's Literature"; Connie Campbell Dierking, Susan Anderson-McElveen; 1998
- "Using Picture Books to Teach Writing With the Traits"; Ruth Culham; 2004
- Temple University Writing Center: Achieving "Flow" in Academic Writing
- Scholastic: Fact & Fiction: Read Aloud
