Helping Writers at Home

Teachers at Centerfield teach writing using a writing workshop model. This means students have the opportunity to write on a daily basis. They study accomplished authors to learn from experts, they write about important matters, keep their ideas in a writer's notebook, and they share personal pieces and listen to their peer's work. Writing workshop is a dynamic part of the day.

Here are some suggestion when working with your child at home:

* Basic punctuation, spelling, and grammar are learned through practice, trial, and error. If this is a struggle for your child, try editing one sentence, and then letting them edit the next. Use teachable moments, but don’t over-edit to the point of exhaustion or frustration.
*Keep in mind that unedited pieces guide your child’s teacher’s lesson plans. Papers edited by parents don’t show teachers what deficiencies need to be addressed.
*Encourage your child to write for a variety of purposes: grocery lists, diaries, to-do lists, letters to relatives and friends, etc.
* Write in front of your child to model writing as a daily adult habit.
*Keep resources available: dictionary, thesaurus, spell checker, etc.
* Some children are inspired by writing “tools” like special pens, paper, staplers, construction paper, etc.
*Tell stories together! This helps build idea development, creativity, sequencing, vocabulary etc. *Play with words to build vocabulary.
*Encourage your child to read their writing aloud. This will help correct errors and improve writing fluency.
*Check spelling by reading written work backwards.
*Point out your favorite authors and how they make reading enjoyable.
*Allow your child time to think before getting started on a written assignment; take the time to listen to their ideas. This oral rehearsal helps students organize their thoughts, sequence their ideas, and check for missing detail.

Students will make mistakes, but they will also surprise you with creativity and enthusiasm! You will be amazed by your child's progress this year. Most of all enjoy the writing process and celebrate great thinking and unique ideas! Ask and most importantly, LISTEN you your child's writing! If you have any questions regarding writing, please contact your child’s teacher, or me. We are looking forward to a wonderful year of writing!

Coaching Readers

Often children will come to you for help with their reading material. Sometimes the family routine includes reading with each other. When you are tempted to give a child a word, or say the traditional “sound it out”, try some of these strategies instead:

 If a child needs help with one-to-one matching:
o Use your finger to track your words
o Point under the word(s)
o Did it match? Did you have any words left over? Was it just enough words? Try again.

 If the reader needs help dealing with difficult words:
o Why did you pause?
o Back up, try it again…get your mouth ready (for the first sound, and then slide through the word
o What would make sense there?
o Do you know any part of the word?
o What could it be? Does that look right? Does that sound right?
o Think about the story
o What can you do to figure this out?

 If the reader isn’t self-correcting:
o Check it…does that sound right?
o Does that make sense? Try it again.
o Does that look right?
o Was there a tricky part?
o Can you back up and try again?
o I noticed you seem unsure…what are you noticing?
o Do you think you are right?

 If the reader isn’t reading with fluency:
o Can you put your words together and say it quickly?
o Say it as if you are talking
o Look at me. Say it to me as if we’re talking.
o Try it like this – child repeats you while looking at the words.
o Can you read it again and help me really feel what is happening in the story?

 If the reader isn’t thinking about the text:
o Sometimes the picture can help us think about the story.
o So let’s review; what’s happening now?
o What are you thinking?
o Oh no…what do you think will happen next?
o Does that make sense?
o Huh? Let’s go back…