Writing Skills for the Ages

Tor also enjoys working with CD-ROM software, including The Berenstain Bears, Reader Rabbit, and the Omaha Public Schools Phonics program. We go to cultural events, and have a membership to the Children's Museum, which we attend every week. Of course, the most important part of all of this is the conversations we have about them, which helps him to express in words his ideas regarding his experiences. There is no replacement for parental conversation!

Tor is also at the "writing" age. We get comfy in a chair, and I ask him to tell me about something he is familiar with. I say, "Tell me a story about going to the zoo. What did you like at the zoo?" and he will mention something. Then I say, "What happened with the (for instance) giraffe?" and he will tell me. I write all of this down on a sheet of paper. "What happened next?" and I write down his answer. "What happened at the end?" and then our story is finished. This is a variation of having them draw a picture and make up a story about it, and just as much fun. To really surprise your little person, pull the story out of the file (which of course you are saving their work in) and re-read it to them. They are amazed that their words say exactly the same thing two weeks later, or even a month later. Surprisingly, their next stories usually go farther out on a limb creatively, and get more and more complex. A word of caution, sometimes a four-year-old's stories are awfully violent-this doesn't mean much at this age, except that the child is four. It's pretty much average. If you don't make a big fuss over it, it tames itself out by five.

For Jasper's part, he is now reading much more complex stories, and primarily mystery novels! Now, for a dyslexic person to be able to read well enough to unravel a mystery, is nothing short of a M.T.H.M. (A Miracle To His Mom). We are now working on writing research papers and essays, and fortunately, there is now a lot more help via the Internet.

For example, http://www.ncte.org/teach/schenker9941.h... gives clear instructions for writing papers. I have found it helpful, instead of keeping notes on loose notecards, to put the notes on those notecards that are spiral-bound. This way, you never lose cards, and your ideas are easily numbered to keep them orderly. Because most children are naturally disorganized, having all their cards bound removes a source of stress for the younger writer.