I'm pretty sure I know what the answer is, but I'm going to ask it anyway...
Tina M
Hello fellow travelers,
Okay, so my daughter (11) is a prolific writer. She writes poetry, she writes short stories, she makes medical records forms, and she writes plays. My question is this. When she is sharing her work do I in anyway suggest that she write with punctuation? Or do I trust that punctuation will happen when she is ready? I love it that she is so engaged to writing (reading, too), and I love it when she shares w/me. Thoughts?
Warm Regards,
Tina
in Florida
Okay, so my daughter (11) is a prolific writer. She writes poetry, she writes short stories, she makes medical records forms, and she writes plays. My question is this. When she is sharing her work do I in anyway suggest that she write with punctuation? Or do I trust that punctuation will happen when she is ready? I love it that she is so engaged to writing (reading, too), and I love it when she shares w/me. Thoughts?
Warm Regards,
Tina
in Florida
Meredith
"Tina M" <tmcadams81670@...> wrote:
It really depends on her - does she Want that kind of information and feedback, or will it get in her way in the moment? I periodically offer my daughter (10) comments about things like punctuation, and will even go through, with her permission, and punctuate a piece of her writing so that it's easier for me to read - she Wants her work to be readable! but I don't make a big deal about it, and I drop the subject if she seems to be getting annoyed.
Sometimes when she writes she's really conscious of using punctuation, other times she's more interested in getting all the stuff down in print. She understands about drafts and editing - she does similar things when she draws, sketching in a rough form and then going over it darker when she's found lines she likes. She has also seen me write and draw, and I've talked with her a little about the fact that revising is something writers and artists do regularly - so she doesn't get hung up thinking something is "wrong". But like I said, sometimes she doesn't want any kind of "this would help" feedback - she just wants me to read it and smile. Usually, that happens when she's still working on a draft, but not always, so I try to offer any comments with a lot of attention to her reaction so I can stop if that's not helpful to her in the moment.
---Meredith
>When she is sharing her work do I in anyway suggest that she write with punctuation? Or do I trust that punctuation will happen when she is ready?****************
It really depends on her - does she Want that kind of information and feedback, or will it get in her way in the moment? I periodically offer my daughter (10) comments about things like punctuation, and will even go through, with her permission, and punctuate a piece of her writing so that it's easier for me to read - she Wants her work to be readable! but I don't make a big deal about it, and I drop the subject if she seems to be getting annoyed.
Sometimes when she writes she's really conscious of using punctuation, other times she's more interested in getting all the stuff down in print. She understands about drafts and editing - she does similar things when she draws, sketching in a rough form and then going over it darker when she's found lines she likes. She has also seen me write and draw, and I've talked with her a little about the fact that revising is something writers and artists do regularly - so she doesn't get hung up thinking something is "wrong". But like I said, sometimes she doesn't want any kind of "this would help" feedback - she just wants me to read it and smile. Usually, that happens when she's still working on a draft, but not always, so I try to offer any comments with a lot of attention to her reaction so I can stop if that's not helpful to her in the moment.
---Meredith
Joyce Fetteroll
On Apr 19, 2012, at 1:15 PM, Tina M wrote:
It's very likely when she brings something she's saying "Look at this cool thing I accomplished!" and not "Could you critique this for me?" ;-)
If she wants punctuation and grammar help she'll ask specifically because those are the questions she's exploring then.
*But* as Meredith pointed out, grammar and punctuation serve practical purposes. So if something's honestly confusing you, mention it as you would to a friend. Like "I'm not getting this part." Or "I think a period here would help make it clear these are two separate things you're talking about."
So make it about you and your understanding rather than about her and her lack of knowledge.
Joyce
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> When she is sharing her work do I in anyway suggest that she write withIt depends. What does she want?
> punctuation? Or do I trust that punctuation will happen when she is ready?
It's very likely when she brings something she's saying "Look at this cool thing I accomplished!" and not "Could you critique this for me?" ;-)
If she wants punctuation and grammar help she'll ask specifically because those are the questions she's exploring then.
*But* as Meredith pointed out, grammar and punctuation serve practical purposes. So if something's honestly confusing you, mention it as you would to a friend. Like "I'm not getting this part." Or "I think a period here would help make it clear these are two separate things you're talking about."
So make it about you and your understanding rather than about her and her lack of knowledge.
Joyce
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Tina M
Thank you both for some great insight. My initial reaction was to critique, but I didn't want to squash her creativity. I like the perspective of me asking for help reading her stuff. Thanks!
Tina
in South Florida
Tina
in South Florida
--- In [email protected], Joyce Fetteroll <jfetteroll@...> wrote:
>
>
> On Apr 19, 2012, at 1:15 PM, Tina M wrote:
>
> > When she is sharing her work do I in anyway suggest that she write with
> > punctuation? Or do I trust that punctuation will happen when she is ready?
>
> It depends. What does she want?
>
> It's very likely when she brings something she's saying "Look at this cool thing I accomplished!" and not "Could you critique this for me?" ;-)
>
> If she wants punctuation and grammar help she'll ask specifically because those are the questions she's exploring then.
>
> *But* as Meredith pointed out, grammar and punctuation serve practical purposes. So if something's honestly confusing you, mention it as you would to a friend. Like "I'm not getting this part." Or "I think a period here would help make it clear these are two separate things you're talking about."
>
> So make it about you and your understanding rather than about her and her lack of knowledge.
>
> Joyce
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>