getting them to write
Chris
Does anyone have any suggestions for getting my kids to write? I
hear so much about kids writing a lot...like little stories and
things, and mine don't and won't try. My daughter, 10, writes
letters to her penpals, but that's it. My son, 7, can write words,
but prefers to just draw. Should I not worry about this, or should
I make them DO it??
Thanks
Chris in MN,USA
hear so much about kids writing a lot...like little stories and
things, and mine don't and won't try. My daughter, 10, writes
letters to her penpals, but that's it. My son, 7, can write words,
but prefers to just draw. Should I not worry about this, or should
I make them DO it??
Thanks
Chris in MN,USA
[email protected]
In a message dated 11/16/02 6:26:34 PM, arenzano@... writes:
<< Should I not worry about this, or should
I make them DO it?? >>
If you make them do it, that can easily get them NOT to write.
Ten is young to be writing stories. Seven is young to write anything.
My kids have done most of their writing on on-line role-playing games which
work with text messages. LOTS of writing. And a kind of writing which never
happens in school, which is real-time writing which gets a response and
changes what someone else does, right then. Whether what they're doing is
"REAL" or not, it's as real as football, and safer.
Sandra
<< Should I not worry about this, or should
I make them DO it?? >>
If you make them do it, that can easily get them NOT to write.
Ten is young to be writing stories. Seven is young to write anything.
My kids have done most of their writing on on-line role-playing games which
work with text messages. LOTS of writing. And a kind of writing which never
happens in school, which is real-time writing which gets a response and
changes what someone else does, right then. Whether what they're doing is
"REAL" or not, it's as real as football, and safer.
Sandra
[email protected]
In a message dated 11/16/2002 6:32:37 PM Pacific Standard Time,
SandraDodd@... writes:
address'?
Thanks,
Renee
RENEE BARNEY & COMPANY, certified public accountant 650-358-4040
Business and Individual Tax *** Financial Coaching *** Small Business
Accounting
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
SandraDodd@... writes:
> My kids have done most of their writing on on-line role-playing games whichI have not heard of this type of online games - could you pass on a few
> work with text messages. LOTS of writing.
address'?
Thanks,
Renee
RENEE BARNEY & COMPANY, certified public accountant 650-358-4040
Business and Individual Tax *** Financial Coaching *** Small Business
Accounting
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Tia Leschke
> Does anyone have any suggestions for getting my kids to write? IMy son has to write at least a little to stay on the public program he's on
> hear so much about kids writing a lot...like little stories and
> things, and mine don't and won't try. My daughter, 10, writes
> letters to her penpals, but that's it. My son, 7, can write words,
> but prefers to just draw. Should I not worry about this, or should
> I make them DO it??
and keep the computer. So the other night he wrote a short essay on why he
doesn't like reading or writing. Basically he'd rather express himself by
doing than writing. (I thought he expressed himself quite well.) <g>
Tia
[email protected]
In a message dated 11/16/02 8:17:42 PM, Petra1128b@... writes:
<< I have not heard of this type of online games - could you pass on a few
address'? >>
Kirby says there are some out on the internet. They're called MUDs and he
doesn't know why. And on AOL there is AON (Alliance of Nations) which people
get into by applying, learning rules, and being accepted in. That one might
be too fast and rough for younger players (maybe not; not sure). AON is like
a complex set of parallel D&D worlds. They involve chatrooms, instant
messages, private chat rooms, online dice, and reporting the results of
battles to specific record keepers in each world.
There are others which have some action and some writing. For those you buy
a disk or download a program, and buy into the game ($10 a month for some?
less for some?) and I'm not knowing the names right now; sorry.
Kirby's getting ready to go to work (he came down once to talk to me but he
needs to leave within moments) and Marty's still asleep. Maybe others here
can contribute??
Sandra
<< I have not heard of this type of online games - could you pass on a few
address'? >>
Kirby says there are some out on the internet. They're called MUDs and he
doesn't know why. And on AOL there is AON (Alliance of Nations) which people
get into by applying, learning rules, and being accepted in. That one might
be too fast and rough for younger players (maybe not; not sure). AON is like
a complex set of parallel D&D worlds. They involve chatrooms, instant
messages, private chat rooms, online dice, and reporting the results of
battles to specific record keepers in each world.
There are others which have some action and some writing. For those you buy
a disk or download a program, and buy into the game ($10 a month for some?
less for some?) and I'm not knowing the names right now; sorry.
Kirby's getting ready to go to work (he came down once to talk to me but he
needs to leave within moments) and Marty's still asleep. Maybe others here
can contribute??
Sandra
[email protected]
In a message dated 11/16/02 8:26:34 PM Eastern Standard Time,
arenzano@... writes:
Making them do it is a sure way for them to hate writing and NOT do it for
pleasure.
Drawing is a great way to develop early writing skills, writing letters to a
pen pal IS writing, real writing.
Elissa
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
arenzano@... writes:
> Should I not worry about this, or shouldYou should not worry.
> I make them DO it??
>
Making them do it is a sure way for them to hate writing and NOT do it for
pleasure.
Drawing is a great way to develop early writing skills, writing letters to a
pen pal IS writing, real writing.
Elissa
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 11/17/02 10:43:34 AM Pacific Standard Time,
Earthmomma67@... writes:
He is ambidextrous and uses both hands. In school he was being forced to
pick one and his writing is very poor so is his drawing, I think a lot of it
comes from the pressure he was put under to pick a hand. Now he does what he
wants with what ever hand sometimes he eats right sometimes he eats left,
doesn't matter to me, and when he is ready to try the pens, paper, pencils,
marker and all are all where he can get them.
Heidi
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Earthmomma67@... writes:
> > Should I not worry about this, or shouldmy son hasn't really touched a pencil or pen now that we started unschooling.
> > I make them DO it??
>
He is ambidextrous and uses both hands. In school he was being forced to
pick one and his writing is very poor so is his drawing, I think a lot of it
comes from the pressure he was put under to pick a hand. Now he does what he
wants with what ever hand sometimes he eats right sometimes he eats left,
doesn't matter to me, and when he is ready to try the pens, paper, pencils,
marker and all are all where he can get them.
Heidi
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Tia Leschke
>I think it stands for multi user dungeons and probably comes somehow from
> Kirby says there are some out on the internet. They're called MUDs and he
> doesn't know why.
D&D.
Tia
Alan & Brenda Leonard
11/17/02 03:15:
like your daughter's, is fairly practical -- lists, letters and such. I
rarely meet children who can't think up little stories in their play, and
most children learn the mechanics of writing, too. But is it necessary that
they use these two skills together?
As for your son, good for him, being able to write words at 7. Most of the
boys in my son's scout troop are 7 and still struggling to write. If he's
drawing a lot, he's probably getting some really good fine motor skill
development out of that, too.
I don't think making them write is necessarily going to encourage an
interest in it. My 6 year old son's writing has gotten better lately mainly
from his desire to be helpful. He writes things on the grocery list for me
when my hands are all messy in the kitchen. That's about it for him.
brenda
> Does anyone have any suggestions for getting my kids to write? IHow many little stories and things do you write yourself? My own writing,
> hear so much about kids writing a lot...like little stories and
> things, and mine don't and won't try. My daughter, 10, writes
> letters to her penpals, but that's it. My son, 7, can write words,
> but prefers to just draw.
like your daughter's, is fairly practical -- lists, letters and such. I
rarely meet children who can't think up little stories in their play, and
most children learn the mechanics of writing, too. But is it necessary that
they use these two skills together?
As for your son, good for him, being able to write words at 7. Most of the
boys in my son's scout troop are 7 and still struggling to write. If he's
drawing a lot, he's probably getting some really good fine motor skill
development out of that, too.
I don't think making them write is necessarily going to encourage an
interest in it. My 6 year old son's writing has gotten better lately mainly
from his desire to be helpful. He writes things on the grocery list for me
when my hands are all messy in the kitchen. That's about it for him.
brenda
[email protected]
Sandra,
Thanks for the ideas.
Renee
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Thanks for the ideas.
Renee
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Fetteroll
on 11/17/02 1:16 PM, SandraDodd@... at SandraDodd@... wrote:
Multi User Dungeon.
Joyce
> They're called MUDs and heOh! Oh! I know! I know! Pick me!
> doesn't know why.
Multi User Dungeon.
Joyce
susan marie
some thoughts on writing..
*email and instant messenger
*storytelling software .. they write the story and then use clip art to
decorate. All three of my kids love this, even the four year old likes
to have his sister help him with stories.
* keep a journal BUT.. make it cool looking, get lots of colored pens,
and they don't have to WRITE in it.. they can draw, doodle, paste
pictures, photos, ticket stubs, anything they want, and let them share,
and be really interested when they do.
* put on puppet shows or act out stories.. still storytelling and be the
audience.
* what did you do today? this is non-fiction writing, just orally. Same
sort of thought process. and listen to this too.
Let them learn how to use language, document what they do, share what
they do with others, and they will learn to write as they *need* to
write.
8 yo dd likes to write stories and keep a journal. She also uses her
dolls to act out recent experiences.. it's her way of processing.
12 yo dd is currently working on a script, for a play that is about
honoring nature, and already has one booking to perform it at an
environmental fair in the spring. She's also currently recruiting kids
to be in it.
4 yo loves to tell what he did, participate in discussions, and so on.
writing is communication and storytelling. Start with the purpose rather
than the process. I don't ever make them write, except thank-you notes,
and they often use drawing or email or e-cards to do that.
hth,
susan
*email and instant messenger
*storytelling software .. they write the story and then use clip art to
decorate. All three of my kids love this, even the four year old likes
to have his sister help him with stories.
* keep a journal BUT.. make it cool looking, get lots of colored pens,
and they don't have to WRITE in it.. they can draw, doodle, paste
pictures, photos, ticket stubs, anything they want, and let them share,
and be really interested when they do.
* put on puppet shows or act out stories.. still storytelling and be the
audience.
* what did you do today? this is non-fiction writing, just orally. Same
sort of thought process. and listen to this too.
Let them learn how to use language, document what they do, share what
they do with others, and they will learn to write as they *need* to
write.
8 yo dd likes to write stories and keep a journal. She also uses her
dolls to act out recent experiences.. it's her way of processing.
12 yo dd is currently working on a script, for a play that is about
honoring nature, and already has one booking to perform it at an
environmental fair in the spring. She's also currently recruiting kids
to be in it.
4 yo loves to tell what he did, participate in discussions, and so on.
writing is communication and storytelling. Start with the purpose rather
than the process. I don't ever make them write, except thank-you notes,
and they often use drawing or email or e-cards to do that.
hth,
susan
On Sunday, November 17, 2002, at 04:02 PM, Alan & Brenda Leonard wrote:
> 11/17/02 03:15:
>
> > Does anyone have any suggestions for getting my kids to write? I
> > hear so much about kids writing a lot...like little stories and
> > things, and mine don't and won't try. My daughter, 10, writes
> > letters to her penpals, but that's it. My son, 7, can write words,
> > but prefers to just draw.
>
> How many little stories and things do you write yourself? My own
> writing,
> like your daughter's, is fairly practical -- lists, letters and such. I
> rarely meet children who can't think up little stories in their play,
> and
> most children learn the mechanics of writing, too. But is it necessary
> that
> they use these two skills together?
>
> As for your son, good for him, being able to write words at 7. Most of
> the
> boys in my son's scout troop are 7 and still struggling to write. If
> he's
> drawing a lot, he's probably getting some really good fine motor skill
> development out of that, too.
>
> I don't think making them write is necessarily going to encourage an
> interest in it. My 6 year old son's writing has gotten better lately
> mainly
> from his desire to be helpful. He writes things on the grocery list
> for me
> when my hands are all messy in the kitchen. That's about it for him.
>
> brenda
>
>
> ~~~~ Don't forget! If you change topics, change the subject line! ~~~~
>
> If you have questions, concerns or problems with this list, please
> email the moderator, Joyce Fetteroll (fetteroll@...), or the
> list owner, Helen Hegener (HEM-Editor@...).
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, click on the following link or address
> an email to:
> [email protected]
>
> Visit the Unschooling website: http://www.unschooling.com
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
peace,
Susan
"Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which
we arrive at that goal."
-- Martin Luther King, Jr.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
homenlovinit
MUDs are Multi User Dungeons.
We like to play Dark Ages of Camelot. It is around $50 for the CD
and then about $10 a month like Sandra said.
Gaming Joyfully,
Lara
We like to play Dark Ages of Camelot. It is around $50 for the CD
and then about $10 a month like Sandra said.
Gaming Joyfully,
Lara
--- In Unschooling-dotcom@y..., SandraDodd@a... wrote:
>
> Kirby says there are some out on the internet. They're called MUDs
and he doesn't know why.<<
[email protected]
Chris, I know exactly how you feel. My older son (10) refuses to write,
unless he absolutely has to! Then he doesn't do it well enough for most to be
able to read it. My youngest son (9), he is ok with writing, but doesn't like
having to do it much. My dd (oldest 11), she loves to write but only to
penpals, or when she wants to copy some info. down that she finds interesting.
Shellie
P.s. I would also like to know is it still unschooling if you try to motivate
your children?
unless he absolutely has to! Then he doesn't do it well enough for most to be
able to read it. My youngest son (9), he is ok with writing, but doesn't like
having to do it much. My dd (oldest 11), she loves to write but only to
penpals, or when she wants to copy some info. down that she finds interesting.
Shellie
P.s. I would also like to know is it still unschooling if you try to motivate
your children?
[email protected]
About the writing......what if they don't like even writing that way either?
Is writing something I should be worring about at the ages of 9 and 10? The
nine year old wants to continue homeschooling, no matter what, but the 10
isn't sure if he wants to continue or not. If he does want to go back to ps,
what do I do to get him more ready for it? He knows how to write, and spells
pretty well also. Should I even worry about it?
Shellie
Is writing something I should be worring about at the ages of 9 and 10? The
nine year old wants to continue homeschooling, no matter what, but the 10
isn't sure if he wants to continue or not. If he does want to go back to ps,
what do I do to get him more ready for it? He knows how to write, and spells
pretty well also. Should I even worry about it?
Shellie
[email protected]
Susan, my 11 yr old dd is also writing a "movie". She has recruited all of
her friends that live around us to be in this movie. She has done well with
it, all she wants from me is some help with scripts, and maybe some ideas
about props, and other "movie" things. It is great when kids use their
imagination for things like this. Have you ever thought of sending your dd's
play to triggerstreet.com? The guy from "K-Pax", he started the site for ppl
to be able to share their scripts, plays, poems and such. You may or may not
be "discovered" there, but your "peers" will critique your work, it will be
available for others to read your work, it is something that I am considering
having Caila put her "movie" there.
Shellie
Also, if your dd would like to email my dd, please let me know and I will
give you her email addie.
her friends that live around us to be in this movie. She has done well with
it, all she wants from me is some help with scripts, and maybe some ideas
about props, and other "movie" things. It is great when kids use their
imagination for things like this. Have you ever thought of sending your dd's
play to triggerstreet.com? The guy from "K-Pax", he started the site for ppl
to be able to share their scripts, plays, poems and such. You may or may not
be "discovered" there, but your "peers" will critique your work, it will be
available for others to read your work, it is something that I am considering
having Caila put her "movie" there.
Shellie
Also, if your dd would like to email my dd, please let me know and I will
give you her email addie.
[email protected]
In a message dated 11/23/02 11:17:29 AM, Chelsnmikey@... writes:
<< P.s. I would also like to know is it still unschooling if you try to
motivate
your children? >>
"Motivate" meaning shame and threaten?
A nine year old who doesn't like to write is not risking his future happiness
or liklihood of reproducing. If you make more of a deal about something than
it actually is, you do school-style damage.
What IS he doing? You're telling us what he's not doing. Maybe he knows all
KINDS of stuff that most nine year olds don't know or can't do. Look for
those things instead of his "failings," and soon you won't see him as a
failure in any way.
Sandra
<< P.s. I would also like to know is it still unschooling if you try to
motivate
your children? >>
"Motivate" meaning shame and threaten?
A nine year old who doesn't like to write is not risking his future happiness
or liklihood of reproducing. If you make more of a deal about something than
it actually is, you do school-style damage.
What IS he doing? You're telling us what he's not doing. Maybe he knows all
KINDS of stuff that most nine year olds don't know or can't do. Look for
those things instead of his "failings," and soon you won't see him as a
failure in any way.
Sandra
Kelli Traaseth
I wouldn't worry, my mom has been on me about my 9ds, saying he isn't writing enough.
I really believe that at his age it isn't something to worry about. He knows how to write all his letters, print and cursive. He can read. When he has a reason to write, he'll write. Some people aren't writers, some are. My son can wire things and build things and figure out things that I have no clue about, I never had to do those things. And I'm OK, so really, each to his own, I think anyway!
Take Care,
Kelli
Chelsnmikey@... wrote:About the writing......what if they don't like even writing that way either?
Is writing something I should be worring about at the ages of 9 and 10? The
nine year old wants to continue homeschooling, no matter what, but the 10
isn't sure if he wants to continue or not. If he does want to go back to ps,
what do I do to get him more ready for it? He knows how to write, and spells
pretty well also. Should I even worry about it?
Shellie
~~~~ Don't forget! If you change topics, change the subject line! ~~~~
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
I really believe that at his age it isn't something to worry about. He knows how to write all his letters, print and cursive. He can read. When he has a reason to write, he'll write. Some people aren't writers, some are. My son can wire things and build things and figure out things that I have no clue about, I never had to do those things. And I'm OK, so really, each to his own, I think anyway!
Take Care,
Kelli
Chelsnmikey@... wrote:About the writing......what if they don't like even writing that way either?
Is writing something I should be worring about at the ages of 9 and 10? The
nine year old wants to continue homeschooling, no matter what, but the 10
isn't sure if he wants to continue or not. If he does want to go back to ps,
what do I do to get him more ready for it? He knows how to write, and spells
pretty well also. Should I even worry about it?
Shellie
~~~~ Don't forget! If you change topics, change the subject line! ~~~~
If you have questions, concerns or problems with this list, please email the moderator, Joyce Fetteroll (fetteroll@...), or the list owner, Helen Hegener (HEM-Editor@...).
To unsubscribe from this group, click on the following link or address an email to:
[email protected]
Visit the Unschooling website: http://www.unschooling.com
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
---------------------------------
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Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]