Show 1 Writing methods methods- methods Can our youth improve improve I Can Little Johnny read readI I and write I Americans have heard hearda l a I great deal of debate during I the past few years regarding I ding our educational systems I and whether they are teaching Johnny these I skills While the majority of responsibility falls on the school there are many things parents can do to insure that Johnny will willbe willbe be a better writer It has been known that parents and teachers wor- wor working working king together are the best i means for assuring that children will develop the necessary writing skills The development of these i skills are different in every child so parents should I watch their child for the I proper time to begin these I skills Parents are also re re- re reminded I minded that writing skill I develops slowly and much I patience is needed i The first suggestion forwarded by the National Council of Teachers of English for help in the home is for parents to build a climate of words They encourage parents and children to go places and see things and then talk taik about the experiences The Council points out that the basis for good writing is good talk and younger children grow into stronger control of langu langu- age when these experiences ces are available The second suggestion is for children to see their parents write often The Councils Council's pamphlet points out that if children never see their parents write they come to think writing is only done in school Let your children see you write notes to friends or per per- perhaps haps stories to share with the children Even read aloud what has been written and ask for sug sug- suggestions They stress that making corrections in your writing impresses upon the child that this is a normal part of writing The third area parents can fulfill in the home is to help your children write Talk through their their ideas with them and help them discover what they want to say A parents parent's most valuable role is that of helper not critic Parents should also provide a suitable place for forthe forthe the child to write a place with adequate space and sufficient light They should encourage writing and should encourage at ot- ot other her family members to give gifts associated with writing Such things as aspens aspens pens pencils a desk lamp and pads of paper or even evena a booklet for a diary or daily journal All help prompt the child to write write- write Parents should encourage age the childs child's child s attempts to write but they should not demand his efforts Adults need to be patient but frequency of writing is important Praise for a achild's achild's childs child's efforts is also im im- im important Forget the errors the child may make and emphasize the success For every error the child makes there are dozens of things he or she has done wen well Letters from friends and relatives should be treated as special events Urge these individuals to write special notes to the child no matter how brief This will enforce the childs child's desire to write in return Children should also be encouraged to write away for Information free samples and travel broc- broc brochures brochures hures There is also a need for parents to involve their child in various writing activities such as making grocery lists writing notes to friends and helping plan trips by writing for information Parents are the first role models that children have said Jerry Chap Chap- Chapman man Roosevelt elemen elemen- elementary tary principal Ile He said that whether its it's religion writing or other activities the teacher has an easier task when the parents have stressed the activity in the home When the teacher says lets let's write it isn't as much of a shock if they have former experiences said Chapman He said they encourage parents to have their children write to relatives This gives a purpose to writing said Chapman Support of the childs child's efforts is important but that support should not stop atop when the child enters school and teachers take takeover takeover over Parents are first en en- en encouraged to ask to see the childs child's writing They are also encouraged to have their child keep all their writing Chapman said when papers come home from school parents should review them If parents not notice CA letters tha that t are a improperly formed they should help the child with them Jerry said Ile He ex ex- ex explained that this doesn't mean making the child write the letter many times but to have them use it in words Praise of the childs child's work was also stressed by the the Council They encourage parents to be very positive about the childs child's writing The willingness to write is fragile states the pam pam- I Your toward the childs child's efforts is vital to strengthening the writing habit Jerry encourages pa- pa parents parents rents to display their childs child's work on walls or refrigerators to show they are proud He said this should be done even if there are mistakes The English Teachers Council stresses that parents should be primarily in- in interested interested in the the content of the writing and not the mechanics of expression They point out that it is easy for adults to spot and faulty word usage Perfection in these areas escapes most adults They stress that what matters most in writing is word sentences and ideas Again parents are encouraged to be patient The Council also stressed sed that parents should take an interest in the school atmosphere and find out whether their children are given writing instruction and practice on ona ona a regular basis Parents are encouraged to play an active role in their childs child's writing de de- de development This means at home and in the schools The Council encourages parents to work with local PTAs PTA's and the school board to make writing a avery avery very high priority By becoming an active participant in your childs child's education the Council points out that you will serve not only your child but other children as well Remember said Chapman that writing is isa isa a skill and it must be de de- de developed He said the poor writers we see today are the result of not spending enough time Chapman stressed that those early contacts with writing will affect the childs child's performance performance mance through his entire educational experience Its a skill like art and music said Chapman The more time you put into it the Letter better y you u do Although we know much about Socrates and his say ings nothing survives of his writings Much of the In in- in information formation we have about his life and teachings comes from the writings of others of his time I |