“Our mission is to equip teachers and teaching parents with methods and materials which will aid them in training their students to become confident and competent communicators and thinkers.” Partnering with parents and other educators is integral to who we are. IEW provides numerous methods of support to teaching parents as well as parents of students in co-ops or schools. However, some may still ask, “But how can I support my student at home?” They need practical answers. This blog post is designed to do just that: provide practical, actionable suggestions for supporting students during the writing and editing process. Parents are also key in helping their students develop language arts skills.
For some students the process of writing is painful. Thankfully, there are numerous ways for parents to come alongside their students to make the process easier. The first is to provide a setting that is conducive to writing: a desk or table with plenty of paper and pens, a thesaurus, adequate lighting, and minimal distractions. This includes limiting access to AI. While there is a time and place for using AI, it is not during the writing process. Creating such an environment sets up students for success. Another suggestion is to keep spelling lessons separate from writing. When I was in elementary school, if I asked my mom how to spell a word, she would tell me to go look it up in the dictionary. Being too lazy to do that, I would instead choose a different word that I knew how to spell. Since we want students to use vivid vocabulary, be their human dictionary and spell words for them when they ask. Finally, if students reach a point of frustration or their fine motor skills inhibit physical writing, scribe for them. Some students are still strengthening thinking skills; strengthening their fine motor skills can come at another time. By being present and encouraging during the writing process, parents alleviate some of the painful parts.
Once the rough draft is written, parents can continue to support their students in several ways. First, run through the checklist with them. For example, ask the students to point out the -ly adverb in each paragraph and underline it. You are not grading their work; you are ensuring that they do what they check and check what they do. However, what if students are stuck and cannot think of a -ly adverb to add to a paragraph? This leads to my next suggestion: utilize word lists. A Portable Walls™ for Structure and Style® Students provides easily accessible word lists. If students are still struggling, simply give them a couple of appropriate words to choose from. This gets them past the block while still forcing them to make a choice, thus strengthening their skills. Once you and your students have ensured that the checklist is complete, you can become their editor. Remember what editors do: they ensure that the grammar, punctuation, and spelling are correct and return the text to the student with a smile. Editors do not give grammar lectures! When their final drafts are complete, congratulate your students for a job well done. Lastly, if your students are part of a co-op, hybrid, or traditional school, ensure that the final draft and checklist are placed in their backpacks for return to their teachers.
There are many ways parents can nurture competent communicators outside of the writing process. The first and most fun is to read aloud as much as possible. Furnishing their minds with “reliably correct and appropriately sophisticated English language patterns” gives them material to work with when they write. When reading aloud is not possible, audiobooks are another great way to do this. Another powerful practice is memorization. An easy place to start is with Level 1 of our Linguistic Development through Poetry Memorization program—the whole family can enjoy this! During family game nights, include word games. Playing with words cultivates a love and appreciation for them. Finally, take the time to learn IEW’s methodology yourself by watching the training seminar, Teaching Writing: Structure and Style. It will provide you with a complete explanation and demonstration of our methods and techniques so that you can effectively aid your students in their materials. Creating a language-rich home supplies an integral underpinning for writers.
No matter if they are the primary teacher or delivering support at home, parents are essential partners in their students' writing journeys. From creating a language-rich environment conducive to learning to supporting the technical parts of the writing process to providing smiles of encouragement, parents provide the support students need. Together, we are laying the foundation for them to become competent and confident communicators and thinkers.
by Deanne Smith
