Re: Homeschooling - written expression

[Guest guest]

Dear Deborah,

I started with writing experience stories with my son when he was about 4 year old.

Sometimes I'd give him a story starter picture, such a boy pulling a wagon with a puppy in it. I'd find pictures just about anywhere: calendars, coloring books, magazine pictures...

Other times the starter might be an experience he had. Here's an example of the progression we would take:

We'd look at the picture together and talk about it.

Then I'd have him list things about it to me.

1. The boy is pulling the wagon.

2. The dog is in the wagon

3. The dog is brown and white

4. The boy has blue shorts and white t shirt.

Initially it was all dictated. I'd just write exactly what he'd say, whether it was grammatically correct or not. I'd write it on a white board. The next day we began editing the story.

I would transpose the story from the white board to a word processor on my computer. I used large font so he could read over my shoulder. I wrote each sentence in a different line (not in paragraph form). The first thing I did was help him correct grammar errors in each individual sentence.

If this took longer than 15 min we saved the work and ended for the day.

Next we would arrange the sentences in a logical order. I taught him to combine sentences and add adjectives to make them longer.

Eg.

The boy is pulling a brown and white dog in a little red wagon.

I tried to limit the writing session to 15 min unless he was really into the story.

I would pose questions to help expand his story.

Like what season is it? How do you know this. Let's write a sentence about that now.

So we would add another sentence to his list of sentences, then I would help him expand the sentences.

It is summer. > It is a hot, summer day>

We would continue editing the story each day until it evolved into something like this:

One hot summer day a little boy got up.

He put on his favorite blue shorts and white t-shirt.

He decided to go out to play in the warm sunshine.

He called his little brown and white puppy.

"Come here Taffy. Let's go for a ride."

He put the squirming little dog into his little red wagon and took him for a nice ride around the block.

We came to these expanded sentences because I would ask my son why did he wear the blue shorts instead of a snow suit.

Answer It was summer.

Mom: Why don't we add this to your story. Where should we put summer into the story?

Mom:Why would he choose the blue shorts instead of his green ones?

Answer: Blue was his favorite.

Mom: OK so let's add that to your story.

Sometimes it might take a whole week or more to refine the story. We kept going until my son loved his new story. Then we printed it out and created a notebook of stories. We included the story starter picture and the final story. Sometimes we would even include the initial list of story idea sentences.

The word processor made editing easy. We didn't have to rewrite anything. I would show him how easy it was to move a sentence from the end to the beginning using drag and drop or copy and paste. He could add or change words easily and efficiently.

In grade 2 I developed a template for my son to use when writing a book report. By this time, I let him do the typing. He just used the template, filled in the blanks and answered the questions. Then erased the prompts from his template and he had a one page book report.

I can't remember when he stopped using the template because he knew exactly what I was looking for and would just start writing the book report on his own.

When it was time to teach writing a 5 paragraph Essay, I used a power point teaching tool another homeschool mom shared with me to teach the mechanics of writing an essay called Bing, Bang Bongo. It too has a template. This tool was valuable to teach my son what was needed to write an effective 5 paragraph essay (like those required in the SATs)

I can't remember when I stopped typing his stories

and had him use the skills I started developing in early childhood. But I know he was an independent writer by about 3rd grade.

I think you could us a similar method to help your 14 year old. Initially sit with her and elicit the type of responses you are looking for in her writing assignment. If you have to type it initially, so be it.

The goal is to get her to learn to think. Once she sees she can write a successful story, even if you put most of the words in her mind by questioning and drawing ideas from her she will grow more confident.

Begin with simple one paragraph stories about things that interest her. Once she begins coming up with ideas and that span more than one topic about the same subject, you can show her that she now has enough content to create a second paragraph.

Teach her to use the word processor's Thesaurus to help expand vocabulary and make the writing more interesting and prevent redundancy. My son was using the Thesaurus in 1st grade. It's easy on a word processor. Just highlight the word, click on thesaurus and let your daughter pick whatever word they think is more interesting than the one they initially choose.

Hope this gives you a starting point.

Email me privately if you are interested in the book report template of the Bing, Bang, Bongo Essay

Blessings,

Tricia

---------------------

Homeschooling - written expression

Posted by: "deborahjoyw" Deborahwas@...

Sun Dec 12, 2010 7:10 PM (PST)

For those of you who are homeschooling, what is the best program you have found to develop written expression? My 14 year old son just stares at the screen.Deborah

[Guest guest]

Tricia,

My son has problems with written expression as well. He can write a two or three

paragraph essay, but only two or three sentences are relavent to the topic. We

requested an assessment for assistive technology at the end of September, it was

just " completed " last week and I got the results Friday. This is what the

evaluator did... He showed up after my son had just completed a book report. He

asked the teacher how long it took him. She said about 12 to 15 minutes. He then

has my son do a second book report on the word processor and it took him 8

minutes. So the evaluator said since the difference is minor he felt my son

didn't require assistive technology. We haven't discussed this at an IEP meeting

yet but there is no way that his evaluation collected enough data to make any

kind of determination.

ne

> From: Tricia <bright4homeschool@...>

> Subject: ( ) Re: Homeschooling - written expression

>

> Date: Monday, December 13, 2010, 12:46 PM

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> Dear Deborah,

> I started with writing experience stories with my son

> when he was about 4 year old.

> Sometimes I'd give him a story starter picture,

> such a boy pulling a wagon with a puppy in it.  I'd

> find pictures just about anywhere: calendars, coloring

> books, magazine pictures...

> Other times the starter might be an experience he

> had.  Here's an example of the progression we would

> take:

> We'd look at the picture together and talk about

> it.

> Then I'd have him list things about it to

> me.

> 1.  The boy is pulling the wagon.

> 2.  The dog is in the wagon

> 3.  The dog is brown and white

> 4.  The boy has blue shorts and white t

> shirt.

>  

> Initially it was all dictated.  I'd just

> write exactly what he'd say, whether it was

> grammatically correct or not.  I'd write it on a

> white board.  The next day we began editing the

> story. 

> I would transpose the story from the white board to a

> word processor on my computer.  I used large font so he

> could read over my shoulder.  I wrote each sentence in

> a different line (not in paragraph form).  The first

> thing I did was help him correct grammar errors in each

> individual sentence.

> If this took longer than 15 min we saved the work and

> ended for the day. 

> Next we would arrange the sentences in a logical

> order.  I taught him to combine sentences and add

> adjectives to make them longer.

> Eg.

> The boy is pulling a brown and white dog in a little

> red wagon.

> I tried to limit the writing session to 15 min unless

> he was really into the story.

> I would pose questions to help expand his story.

> Like what season is it?  How do you know

> this.  Let's write a sentence about that now.

> So we would add another sentence to his list of

> sentences, then I would help him expand the sentences.

> It is summer. > It is a hot, summer day>

>

> We would continue editing the story each day until it

> evolved into something like this:

> One hot summer day a little boy got up.

> He put on his favorite blue shorts and white

> t-shirt.

> He decided to go out to play in the warm

> sunshine.

> He called his little brown and white puppy.

> " Come here Taffy.  Let's go for a

> ride. "

> He put the squirming little dog into his little red

> wagon and took him for a nice ride around the block.

> We came to these expanded sentences because I would

> ask my son why did he wear the blue shorts instead of a snow

> suit. 

> Answer  It was summer. 

> Mom: Why don't we add this to your story. 

> Where should we put summer into the story? 

> Mom:Why would he choose the blue shorts instead of his

> green ones? 

> Answer: Blue was his favorite. 

> Mom: OK so let's add that to your story.

> Sometimes it might take a whole week or more to refine

> the story.  We kept going until my son loved his new

> story.  Then we printed it out and created a notebook

> of stories.  We included the story starter picture and

> the final story.  Sometimes we would even include the

> initial list of story idea sentences.

>  

> The word processor made editing easy.  We

> didn't have to rewrite anything.  I would show him

> how easy it was to move a sentence from the end to the

> beginning using drag and drop or copy and paste.  He

> could add or change words easily and efficiently.

>  

> In grade 2 I developed a template for my son to use

> when writing a book report.  By this time, I let him do

> the typing.  He just used the template, filled in the

> blanks and answered the questions.  Then erased the

> prompts from his template and he had a one page book

> report. 

> I can't remember when he stopped using the

> template because he knew exactly what I was looking for and

> would just start writing the book report on his own.

>  

> When it was time to teach writing a 5 paragraph Essay,

> I used a power point teaching tool another homeschool mom

> shared with me to teach the mechanics of writing an essay

> called Bing, Bang Bongo.  It too has a template. 

> This tool was valuable to teach my son what was needed to

> write an effective 5 paragraph essay (like those

> required in the SATs)

>  

> I can't remember when I stopped typing his stories

>

> and had him use the skills I started developing in

> early childhood.  But I know he was an independent

> writer by about 3rd grade. 

> I think you could us a similar method to help your 14

> year old.  Initially sit with her and elicit the type

> of responses you are looking for in her writing

> assignment.  If you have to type it initially, so be

> it.

> The goal is to get her to learn to think.  Once

> she sees she can write a successful story, even if you put

> most of the words in her mind by questioning and drawing

> ideas from her she will grow more confident.

> Begin with simple one paragraph stories about things

> that interest her.  Once she begins coming up with

> ideas and that span more than one topic about the same

> subject, you can show her that she now has enough content to

> create a second paragraph.

> Teach her to use the word processor's Thesaurus to

> help expand vocabulary and make the writing more interesting

> and prevent redundancy.  My son was using the Thesaurus

> in 1st grade.  It's easy on a word processor. 

> Just highlight the word, click on thesaurus and let your

> daughter pick whatever word they think is more interesting

> than the one they initially choose.

> Hope this gives you a starting point.

>  

> Email me privately if you are interested in the book

> report template of the Bing, Bang, Bongo Essay

> Blessings,

> Tricia

> ---------------------

>

> Homeschooling - written

> expression

> Posted by:

> " deborahjoyw " Deborahwas@...  

>

> Sun Dec 12, 2010

> 7:10 PM (PST)

>

>

> For those of you who are homeschooling, what is the best

> program you have found to develop written expression? My 14

> year old son just stares at the screen.

> Deborah

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[Guest guest]

Hi,

Vegsource has a home school swap list. i've sold and bought items here. It might help you get some things you need. These are used and of course cheaper than new. All different types of curriculum are sold.

Homeschool - Vegsource.com

In a message dated 12/17/2010 11:05:46 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, s_hansen34@... writes:

Tricia,My son has problems with written expression as well. He can write a two or three paragraph essay, but only two or three sentences are relavent to the topic. We requested an assessment for assistive technology at the end of September, it was just "completed" last week and I got the results Friday. This is what the evaluator did... He showed up after my son had just completed a book report. He asked the teacher how long it took him. She said about 12 to 15 minutes. He then has my son do a second book report on the word processor and it took him 8 minutes. So the evaluator said since the difference is minor he felt my son didn't require assistive technology. We haven't discussed this at an IEP meeting yet but there is no way that his evaluation collected enough data to make any kind of determination. ne> From: Tricia <bright4homeschool@...>> Subject: ( ) Re: Homeschooling - written expression> > Date: Monday, December 13, 2010, 12:46 PM> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Dear Deborah, > I started with writing experience stories with my son> when he was about 4 year old.> Sometimes I'd give him a story starter picture,> such a boy pulling a wagon with a puppy in it. I'd> find pictures just about anywhere: calendars, coloring> books, magazine pictures...> Other times the starter might be an experience he> had. Here's an example of the progression we would> take:> We'd look at the picture together and talk about> it.> Then I'd have him list things about it to> me.> 1. The boy is pulling the wagon.> 2. The dog is in the wagon> 3. The dog is brown and white> 4. The boy has blue shorts and white t> shirt.> > Initially it was all dictated. I'd just> write exactly what he'd say, whether it was> grammatically correct or not. I'd write it on a> white board. The next day we began editing the> story. > I would transpose the story from the white board to a> word processor on my computer. I used large font so he> could read over my shoulder. I wrote each sentence in> a different line (not in paragraph form). The first> thing I did was help him correct grammar errors in each> individual sentence. > If this took longer than 15 min we saved the work and> ended for the day. > Next we would arrange the sentences in a logical> order. I taught him to combine sentences and add> adjectives to make them longer.> Eg.> The boy is pulling a brown and white dog in a little> red wagon.> I tried to limit the writing session to 15 min unless> he was really into the story.> I would pose questions to help expand his story.> Like what season is it? How do you know> this. Let's write a sentence about that now.> So we would add another sentence to his list of> sentences, then I would help him expand the sentences.> It is summer. > It is a hot, summer day>> > We would continue editing the story each day until it> evolved into something like this:> One hot summer day a little boy got up.> He put on his favorite blue shorts and white> t-shirt.> He decided to go out to play in the warm> sunshine.> He called his little brown and white puppy.> "Come here Taffy. Let's go for a> ride."> He put the squirming little dog into his little red> wagon and took him for a nice ride around the block.> We came to these expanded sentences because I would> ask my son why did he wear the blue shorts instead of a snow> suit. > Answer It was summer. > Mom: Why don't we add this to your story. > Where should we put summer into the story? > Mom:Why would he choose the blue shorts instead of his> green ones? > Answer: Blue was his favorite. > Mom: OK so let's add that to your story.> Sometimes it might take a whole week or more to refine> the story. We kept going until my son loved his new> story. Then we printed it out and created a notebook> of stories. We included the story starter picture and> the final story. Sometimes we would even include the> initial list of story idea sentences.> > The word processor made editing easy. We> didn't have to rewrite anything. I would show him> how easy it was to move a sentence from the end to the> beginning using drag and drop or copy and paste. He> could add or change words easily and efficiently.> > In grade 2 I developed a template for my son to use> when writing a book report. By this time, I let him do> the typing. He just used the template, filled in the> blanks and answered the questions. Then erased the> prompts from his template and he had a one page book> report. > I can't remember when he stopped using the> template because he knew exactly what I was looking for and> would just start writing the book report on his own.> > When it was time to teach writing a 5 paragraph Essay,> I used a power point teaching tool another homeschool mom> shared with me to teach the mechanics of writing an essay> called Bing, Bang Bongo. It too has a template. > This tool was valuable to teach my son what was needed to> write an effective 5 paragraph essay (like those> required in the SATs)> > I can't remember when I stopped typing his stories> > and had him use the skills I started developing in> early childhood. But I know he was an independent> writer by about 3rd grade. > I think you could us a similar method to help your 14> year old. Initially sit with her and elicit the type> of responses you are looking for in her writing> assignment. If you have to type it initially, so be> it.> The goal is to get her to learn to think. Once> she sees she can write a successful story, even if you put> most of the words in her mind by questioning and drawing> ideas from her she will grow more confident.> Begin with simple one paragraph stories about things> that interest her. Once she begins coming up with> ideas and that span more than one topic about the same> subject, you can show her that she now has enough content to> create a second paragraph.> Teach her to use the word processor's Thesaurus to> help expand vocabulary and make the writing more interesting> and prevent redundancy. My son was using the Thesaurus> in 1st grade. It's easy on a word processor. > Just highlight the word, click on thesaurus and let your> daughter pick whatever word they think is more interesting> than the one they initially choose.> Hope this gives you a starting point.> > Email me privately if you are interested in the book> report template of the Bing, Bang, Bongo Essay> Blessings, > Tricia> ---------------------> > Homeschooling - written> expression > Posted by:> "deborahjoyw" Deborahwas@... > > Sun Dec 12, 2010> 7:10 PM (PST) > > > For those of you who are homeschooling, what is the best> program you have found to develop written expression? My 14> year old son just stares at the screen.> Deborah> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

[Guest guest]

My son had a lot of problems with written expression. It took a lot of work to

get him to catch up to his peers. He stills struggles a bit but can now write

without any help. His teacher said that he has caught up to his peers as far as

output. Check out this site for some of the programs that the schools use. My

son's school used a lot of the ideas from the Landmark program.

http://www.concordspedpac.org/Writing.html

Caroline

>

> For those of you who are homeschooling, what is the best program you have

found to develop written expression? My 14 year old son just stares at the

screen.

> Deborah

>