When Did You Last Teach AND Evaluate a Writing Assignment?

But words are things, and a small drop of ink, falling like dew upon a thought, produces that which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think.

-Lord Byron

Over the years, I have discussed many issues with parents about teaching and evaluating their children's writing. I have often joked that I am going to write a book called, "Confessions of a Homeschool Mom: My kids never write!" Parents, in moments of true heartfelt struggles, have shared stories of a year of writing that went ungraded, going through an entire school year without giving a writing assignment and only using workbooks because they don't feel confident evaluating writing. I have only compassion because I have been in the same boat, not with writing, but with high school math.

Teaching Textbooks saved my homeschool reputation. :) It all started when my oldest child, Ally, needed to take Geometry. We had previously used Bob Jones curriculum for Algebra and I felt very confident teaching that math subject. However, I only succeeded in Geometry in high school because the teacher used the exact same proofs on the test that she covered from the text. I have, or had, a wonderful memory so I did well, at least according to test scores. However, I left high school never really understanding proofs. So, one day, I was grading my daughter's work based on the key in the Geometry book and her proof was different from the answer. However, looking at it, I realized that in my limited understanding, it made sense. Confused, I contacted a homeschool father, who was also an engineer and good friend, and asked him about the issue. He had me read the proof, approved it and explained that there was more than one correct path for that proof. I truly panicked. How could I evaluate Ally's math work if I didn't understand it myself? After trying to teach myself Geometry again, scouring the textbook hoping that something had been retained from high school, I sadly gave up. It was not much later when a friend introduced me to Teaching Textbooks which included DVDs where the professor fully mapped out the solutions. Now, I am not promoting Teaching Textbooks beyond my own personal experience, and it saved me at the time. I had to turn over my children's high school mathematical education to someone who was an expert. I was grateful to have the option!  During those days of struggle, I often put off grading Ally's math work. Although it wasn't fair to her, it reminded me of what I considered to be a great weakness in my own education and I didn't want to face it on a daily basis. My procrastination, of course, made the days that I caught up on grading absolutely miserable.

About a year ago, I considered going back to college and getting a degree in mathematics. It still bothers me that a part of my high school education left a gap in my knowledge. After prayer and consideration, I realized that I was just trying to soothe my own pride by proving I could do it. God spoke to me and encouraged me to focus on the gifts He has given me and not on where I feel deficient.

If you're inconsistent with teaching and evaluating writing with your children, it may be from your own fear  or reminder of a personal educational gap. Sadly, your inconsistency may be the way you pass on that gap to your children. None of us go into homeschooling planning on sharing our weaknesses with our children, but for most of us, those weaknesses become glaring as we teach. That's okay. We all have academic weaknesses. That's why I teach writing. Many moms express the relief that they feel from having someone who is actually a writer teaching their children. Removing that stress can be life changing and allow you to focus on those areas that you enjoy teaching and where you excel.

Whether you utilize Classes by Beth, another educational source or teach writing yourself, I strongly urge you to find a way for your children to write consistently. It's also vital for them to receive specific feedback on their writing so they don't develop poor habits that they could carry throughout their lives.  Viewing writing as a life skill and not as a subject in school may help you remember the importance of our children expressing themselves effectively through the written word.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about your children's writing progress or teaching writing.

With God's blessings,

Attitude Reflecton

It's not surprising when homeschool children come to me with weak writing and grammar skills. I'm not saying this because I am cynical about homeschool parents and their ability to teach. Writing is just one of those areas that intimidates many parents and students. I feel the same way about Geometry! Just a few of the reasons why this situation is so common include:
1. Parents don't feel confident teaching about writing. This can result in a parent who simply doesn't teach writing or focuses entirely on grammar because there are workbooks for those skills.
2. Parents don't feel comfortable evaluating their children's writing assignments. In this case, the parents usually give writing assignments, but since they're not graded or evaluated properly, the children don't grow as writers. I receive many emails from some pretty wonderful moms who are stressed out about the writing assignments piling up because they're too intimidated to grade them.
3. Parents attempt to teach writing, but the children's attitudes keep progress from being made. This often occurs when parents express their dislike for writing which gives their children permission to feel the same way. It may be that the parent had a negative experience in the past or never really learned to write well, so the idea is just uncomfortable.
4. Parents work hard to teach and evaluate their children's writing, and they still seem to be lacking in skills. This can happen with any subject. The child may not be developmentally ready to learn how to write (I don't recommend formal writing education until at least 3rd grade). Sometimes children just don't retain what has been taught to them, particularly if they're not interested or not really ready. Even with my high school students, I remind them continually that "learning to learn" is as important as learning and practice skills. I tell them that they are cheating themselves out of an education is they only learn things for the immediate. 

Of each of these scenarios, the most difficult for me to overcome with a student is #3. A lack of knowledge is so much easier to combat than a negative attitude. I call this "Attitude Reflection," which tells you how often I see it. :) I even have a name for it! So, if you really abhor writing, how can you prevent your attitude from being reflected by your child?

• Honesty may not always be the best policy...sometimes not sharing is more helpful. While I am all about being honest with a child, if the honesty doesn't positively affect the child, then what's the point? Is it beneficial for your child to know you despise writing? If you didn't enjoy writing as a child, but can discuss the value of it in your life today, that's a different story. You can express how important writing skills are rather than focusing on how you feel about them personally.
• Evaluate your child's writing in a timely manner. If you put off grading your children's writing, they may assume that it's not important. They probably aren't thinking that math is easier to grade or that you don't  have the energy at the end of the day to edit your children's written work - they just see it still sitting there on the desk. If you don't feel you can evaluate your children's writing, consider using CBB evaluation services. Either way, if you're not going to grade the assignment, it's probably better not to assign the work.
• Model writing as a life skill. Most of us email, text and write in other life situations. If you keep a prayer journal or participate in a Bible study, you're writing. If you create a Christmas letter, you're writing. When you find yourself writing, even if you don't enjoy it, point out to your children how you're using this important tool and why it's so important to be a writer in life.
• Treat writing like driving a car. Most of us can't imagine our children never driving, not using a computer, not having a job or being unable to verbally communicate. Writing is an invaluable life skill. Without this skill, imagine all of the different things that wouldn't exist in our world. It's amazing how many people will put their child in piano, dance or sports, requiring extensive rehearsal and practice. Yet, writing is viewed as a subject in school rather than a life skill.

Still unsure about how to create writers when you don't really enjoy it yourself? Check out my article, How to Grow a Successful Writer, on the CBB website. Just remember that your attitude tremendously affects your children's attitudes. As a teacher, I see the reflections whether they're positive, negative or as in most cases, somewhere in between.

God bless your new year!