Parents, You Can Help with Writing Homework

I wrote this column about a year ago for parents who hear those dreaded words, "I have to write this paper by tomorrow." Don't panic. Instead, sit and help your child organize his thoughts, then walk away. Allow your child the space and time to put something meaningful on paper. Here are my suggestions -

Homework HELP!

“Do you have any homework?” asks the parent, expecting to hear about a page of multiplication, a book to read, even a science report due in a week. But nothing strikes as much terror into a parent’s heart as hearing this response, “Yeah, I have to write this thing by Monday.”

Most parents offer initial encouragement with, “Well, don’t let it go,” or “Why don’t you get started now,” or “Oh, that sounds like fun.” But they’re actually thinking, “I hope you know what to do because I won’t, or “Don’t ask me for help, because I can’t.” But you can help, you really can.

With all of the time constraints, many teachers ask students to write at home. Don’t dread these assignments. Relax and try some of the following strategies to make the experience pleasant for everyone in your home.

Start by inviting your child to tell you everything he/she understands about the writing assignment. If the teacher has provided a written description, read through that information with your son or daughter. Jot a simple list of these items:

The kind of writing: (this might be informational, story, persuasive piece, poem, personal narrative, etc.)

Topic: (what’s the writing about? Is it fictional or factual?)

Audience: (who is the intended reader? Is it the teacher? the class? someone else?)

Purpose: (Is the writing supposed to entertain? inform? persuade? show
understanding of what the child has learned?)

Any other expectations, such as length, use of references, or special formats.

After the list is created, talk. Ask your child questions about his/her ideas for the writing. Remember, this is NOT an assignment for you the parent. You are not to be spoon-feeding or writing the piece for your child. The kindest and most effective support you can offer is guidance and encouragement. No more.

Through discussion, your child can bounce ideas around on these kinds of considerations:

Focus. What’s the main idea or storyline that your child would like to write? Have your son or daughter jot his/her focus down. This works as a great reminder to keep on track through the entire piece.

Style: Is the teacher expectation to use formal textbook language or entertaining language that is more playful and relaxed?

Details: Before your child begins the first draft, ask him to think about 3-4 specific scenes or details he wants to include.
Again, it’s helpful if the child jots down a few key words, not sentences, to remind himself of these.

If you can assist your child in some of this preliminary planning, the writing experience will be so much more enjoyable. Writing is really 92% thinking and 8% writing. Once a writer knows what he/she wants to say, the words flow.

Once the first draft is complete, DO NOT sit down and point out every spelling or punctuation error that you can find. First of all, you want to pass responsibility for this job to your child. Second, the teacher would like to evaluate student writing based on your child’s skills and understandings.

Instead, first celebrate any and all strengths you can find in your child’s writing with statements like these:

You have a clear focus of what you’re writing about.
I like this detail – it paints a clear picture.
Your writing is interesting and easy to read.
Your lead caught my attention.

Again, invite your child to reread his/her piece and check for periods at the end of each sentence.

Encourage your child to circle five words that she thinks might be misspelled and help her locate those five words in the dictionary.

Ask your child if his writing should be one long paragraph, or if he wants to break it into 3-4 smaller paragraphs.

And, don’t worry if in the final rewrite the writing is not perfect. Your child is learning – taking baby steps - one day at a time to become a stronger writer. It is important for you to provide a framework for thinking, offer invitations for your child to say what he or she knows or imagines, and to make spelling and punctuation corrections based on his/her understandings.

Writing is self-expression. If we are too critical or controlling of a child’s writing, it could have devastating results. Encourage, support, guide and celebrate and sit back and watch your child gain confidence and enjoy the journey.