10 Strategies to Encourage Writing
Is writing learnable? Absolutely. Andrew Bennett says, “Great writers aren’t great first-drafters. They’re great rewriters.” Writing skills are learned, which is good news because the National Association of Colleges and Employers ranks oral and written communication skills as the fourth most desired competency sought by employers in new hires. Effective writing will help your child succeed in school and in the workplace. Below are strategies for becoming a better writer. The first five will foster an enjoyment for writing, and the latter five are steps for jumpstarting school writing projects.
Like any improvement, start with attitude. Believe it's possible to improve.
1) Connect writing to your child’s interests
One of my cousins has little passion for math, but he loves science fiction and has ideas for several novels he’d like to write. Whether it be animals, fairy tales, video games, trucks, sports, your child has an interest in something. Encourage them to draw pictures and write about their interests (like elephants or zoo animals) to help you learn more or to share it with their friends. The key is to make writing fun, not a chore. Like with reading, frequent practice with writing will help foster skills and a more confident attitude towards writing.
