Writing Homework Help

Writing homework can be a big struggle for many students. This can also mean big headaches for parents as they try to figure out a way to get through the assignment. I’ve spent a couple weeks trying to figure out where the root of the struggle might be for some kids. They may say they “hate writing” or that they have “nothing to write about.” They may also choose to write about something so simple because they feel it is the easier way to get the assignment done correctly. A student might choose to write about cats because they know how to spell cat. They might fill the page with 3 word sentences that sound like a robot. These are all just excuses and easy ways to get out of the assignment.

If the homework stated: Tell an adult about a sea creature.
I know without a doubt, students could go on and on about any number of topics. Their talking would be full of details. The expressions on their faces would be engaging.

However, when kids look at a blank homework sheet it is a different experience. Why?

For this homework help strategy I decided to go with what works….Talk about it!

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Homework Given: Student must write a response to a prompt.
Goal: To get the student to match the level of speaking vocabulary into the writing.
Strategy: Talk it out

Have a conversation with the student at the start of the assignment. Read the prompt/topic together. Then talk about possible ideas.

I like to jot down the topic and ideas on a piece of paper as the student is talking. I draw little pictures about what the child is talking about. It is easy to get more details that might be missing with simple questions like: What does it look like? Where does it live? What does it eat?

I also ask more open-ended questions to get more elaborate responses. Why did you choose this animal? Tell me about a time when you saw this creature?

This picture shows the responses given by a kindergarten boy about his favorite sea creature.

He decided he wanted to tell me about an eel. He told me about how it looks, and how the fin on his back helps him swim. He told me that some eels could sting you. There are also eels that light up in the dark water. He went on to say that he loves to see the eels at the zoo.

Within a few minutes he was able to pick a topic and give me over 4 details. For a beginning writer (5 to 6 years old), this is awesome!! At this age I am not as concerned with spelling. My focus is helping the child get his thoughts onto paper. Each picture is basically a detail sentence. As he starts to write, he checks off each picture as he writes about the detail.

When he is done, he rereads his paragraph to make sure it makes sense. This also helps me understand what the misspelled words are. His sentences are written with his voice. He used words in his talking paragraph that he doesn’t know how to spell. Instead of picking easier sentences to write, he must use inventive spelling to get his ideas across to the reader. Examples of these words are shape, sting, and light.

His paragraph states:

I like the eel. It has a shape on his back. It could sting you. They light up. I like to see eels at the zoo.

Important Note: There are NO eraser marks on his writing. I did not ask him to change anything! These are his ideas and how he wants to put them on his paper. I am not worried about his spelling. I praise him for getting his thoughts on the paper. I applaud him for the use of capital letters and punctuation where it was appropriate.
I am so proud of this young man!! He is growing leaps and bounds in his writing.

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Help your little talker become a writer. Let thoughts become written sentences. Turn a graphic of spoken ideas into a map for completing a writing assignment.

A little confidence can go a long way!

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