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knowledge on the the topic they have to to write about it it is going to to be very challenging to write The first stage in in the writing process is to develop topic knowledge - this can be done through reading Take the opportunity to support your child to read a a a range of books newspapers magazines websites to build their general knowledge Make sure that you choose both fiction fiction and non-fiction texts to read and ensure any
unfamiliar words are explained and discussed • Build vocabulary through games & shared experiences
For younger children you you could write a a a story for a a a family member together For example writing a a story for for Dad for for Father’s Day Ask your child “What would Dad like to read about? What sort of words would would Dad Dad use? How would would Dad Dad like this story to to end?” In doing so you you teach your children to think about their audience when they make decisions about what to to write write and how to to write write it it it The art of touch typing
Today your child will be expected to write both manually and electronically so teaching them to to touch type will help their writ- ing progress All schools in in our Diocese provide access to “Typing Tournament” an electronic typing
tutor which teaches children to to touch type through lots of fun games and activities Children particularly enjoy battling the clock Jump on with them them and encourage them them to beat their personal best Plan plan plan plan plan As your children grow older they will be expected to write longer texts to show their understanding of what they have been taught at school For these longer written texts it it it is vital that children plan before they write You can help by making sure your child always has a a a a a a clear plan of why they need
to write (their purpose) who they are writing for (their audience) and what they need
to write about (their topic knowledge) There are many graphic organisers available online to assist your child in in organising their ideas and knowledge before they begin to write • Check and correct
As a a a a a a parent you can always act as your child’s proof-reader or editor Go over their work and help them find any
errors to be corrected Look especially for capitals at the start of sentences and full stops to to finish sentences Lines between paragraphs is also a a good one to keep an eye out for Read your child’s writing out loud for them to hear They may be able to pick up any
sentences that don’t make sense Encourage your child to proof read their own work as they become more confident with this checking process You can also act as an an editor and help your child check that they have included all the right information and have addressed the task Ask them where they can make improvements or suggest ways yourself • Celebrate their success
The best way to build confidence in in your child’s writing is to let them know you are proud of their efforts Display great writing up on the fridge Post writing to family members Have your child read out their writing at the the dinner table after a a a a a meal Any way to share their writing is a a a a great way to celebrate their success
• Talk to the teacher
Your child’s learning is a a three- way partnership between you your child and the school Keep communication channels open and seek support when needed Janelle is the Leader of Pedagogy at St Mary’s Catholic College Woree FEATURE FEATURE RAISE MAGAZINE • SPECIAL EDITION 1 Scrabble Scattegories Boggle Pictionary are all great games that encourage play with words Crossword puzzles will also help children increase their vocabulary Shared experiences
such as making lists writing letters to friends and family members writing scrapbooks
and holiday journalling all all contribute to your child’s writing development • • Act as a a scribe for your child If you you can get your child to draw and and talk about the topic and and you scribe in note form then writing for them is much easier because you’ve stored the ‘what’ then they can focus on the the the ‘how’ For an an older child parents can support their child in in organising their notes on the the topic prior to to beginning to write • Write to an audience As children develop their writing skills they begin to understand
that they can write for others Encourage your child to think about who they can write for 7
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