How to get her to read and write?

[unschoolinmom]

How do you start showing a child how to write sentences and stories? Dd hates literature and language arts of all kinds. She prefers math and science and building things. I want to work on her reading and writing skills. Any suggestions for veteran hs'ers?

She's almost 7 btw.

[moominmamma]

Does she have grandparents who might appreciate getting a scrapbook at Christmas that shows off photos of her engineering creations and science explorations? You could photograph things she's created, experiences she's had, and then work with her to create captions for the photos. She might be willing to narrate her descriptions ... then you write down what she's said and insert it in the scrapbook. She'd be participating in the process of writing, but without being overwhelmed by the expectation of doing it herself, it would be writing about something she's naturally drawn to and enthusiastic about, and it would also be a way of showing off to her grandparents (and you implicitly valuing) the things she's good at. If you're lucky it might be enjoyable enough to make and give that she'll be happy to make an annual tradition of it. And each time around she might be willing to participate a little more.

My mathy-sciencey 7yo recently created a PowerPoint presentation describing how we built our earth oven. She used photos as the spine, but she had to think about what order to put them in and what she wanted to say about each one to make the whole presentation hold together in a coherent way. ("Oh yeah. People might not know what cob is. I should do a slide to explain that, and put it in at the beginning. I'll need pictures of straw, water, clay and sand. Where's the camera?") It wasn't fiction, but it was storytelling all the same. Partly photographic, partly in text, and with a large dash of software technology thrown in. She loved that!

Just a couple of ideas.

Miranda

[greenthumb3]

I don't understand why you want her to do something you say she hates.
What's wrong with her pursuing what she likes and is interested in?
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[Piglet68]

Quick answer: she'll read and write when she is ready. Pushing the issue will likely delay that and create resistance.

[unschoolinmom]

That's the thing. She's angry because she's not and is blaming me for not "teaching her". She wants to be like her friends and no matter how much I tell her she doesn't have to be, she really doesn't care.

I did figure out a method. Everytime dh comes home from work, she "tucks him in" and then reads from her favorite Fancy Nancy book. He "goes to sleep" and she's happy. Now she wants to read more.

The writing I'm concerned about as she's still mixing letters and numbers around, as well as reading them reversed and do not know if I need to get her tested for dyslexia or not.

[Iucounu]

Sounds like she might have a learning disability. I'd have her tested.

[4evermom]

I don't think reversing letters is outside the realm of normal for a 6 yo, especially one that isn't in school really working at it. But I might be concerned if she really is trying consistently and still not getting it.

I divorce writing stories from handwriting for ds. He'll dictate stories or dictate letters. Because he wasn't interested in handwriting, I tried to make fun things available that used the same type of dexterity so that he'd be developing that and more ready to write without frustration when he did want to try. He doesn't like to draw but if your dd does, that will be helpful for handwriting. Using a chalkboard was helpful for my ds because part of his frustration stems from a touch of perfectionism. With the chalkboard, he can rub out any lines he doesn't like so he's more open to trying. I also bought him a book of mazes thinking that would help him develop that dexterity but he just does them with his eyes most of the time. Right now, he is more interested in writing to communicate but via the computer (in game chats) so he is again working on writing and spelling but handwriting is still a separate issue.

Maybe your dd would like to dictate something, have you write it, then she could trace it? Would she like those workbooks with the letters that need tracing? There is some site where you can print them. I printed some out on the off chance that they'd appeal to ds (they didn't at the time but he did a couple more recently). Some kids really enjoy workbooks though mine is not one of them.

[SundayCrepes]

Since she likes science experiments, why not exploit that. For basic handwriting, you could do experiments where she has to label the jars or plants or whatever. For actual writing skills, you could have her write reports. You could apply the same idea to math and building projects. Have her make a blueprint for a building then write out the instructions on how to build it.

[yllek]

Does she have her own space to write? Maybe she can have a caddy with lots of cool papers and pens.

Is she still needing to work on fine motor skills, hand strength and letter formation? If any of those areas are difficult for her, writing won't be much fun.

Instead of focusing on sentences and stories, can you interest her in writing different types of useful print? A previous poster mentioned labels. What about reminder notes, shopping lists, wish lists, door signs, messages, a meal ticket (like pretending to be a waitress before meals), greeting cards?

Can you help her to create very simple books? My very reluctant writer loves to make comic books. I turned a reading comprehension/narration exercise into an art and writing project. After I read a chapter about a planet, he summarized the facts that he remembered, I wrote down what he said, he painted and labeled the planet, and I had all the pages bound at the office supply store. His book now sits proudly in the astronomy section of our home library. We have his other books sitting in our bookshelves too.

I also agree that it is very helpful to separate the skill of physically writing from the skills involved with expressive language. Some kids can manage to put these things together at 6, but many aren't that successful at this until later.

[rumi]

Hey that is terrific the way she reads to her dad.

I tried to encourage my dd to write when she was 6. She would write shopping lists without a fuss (even if just one or two items) but not anything that seemed like writing practice. Though I agree with the pp that if you had her tell you something and you wrote it down and asked her to copy it or trace it, that might seem interesting.

DD is 7 now, still gets some letters backwards on ocassion, but I see it reducing and think that will correct itself pretty soon. Just to make sure she didn't forget how to write the letters we would play hangman and secret coded message games, make labels for things - even if she is just writing a few words at a time, it keeps her in practice. Her handwriting has slowly and steadily improved as well.

She also makes greeting cards, which generally involves a bit of writing - at least the to and from names and a happy birthday. We also got into the habit of putting name and date on things.

In short - she will write if there is a purpose, and we had to be creative and resourceful to come up with real things that involved writing. e.g., I try to plan shopping trips well ahead of time so that she can make the shopping list. I also make an effort to write more on paper and not always on computer.

We keep a diary - she dictates and I write. now she has started doing a bit more of the writing.

We also started getting pen pals and that has motivated her as well. Last night she stunned me by spotaneously grabbing a sheet of paper and writing a full page letter to one of her pen pals, only asking me for spellings.