| As a homeschooler, you have opportunities for | | | | master that genre. |
| developing writing skills public school teachers | | | | If you want Trevor to write five-paragraph |
| would envy. You don't have to have Caitlin write | | | | persuasive essays, you should give writing |
| only in English class, as Miss Inky Fingers does. | | | | prompts for five paragraph persuasive essays |
| You can have Caitlin write on topics drawn from | | | | until he masters that genre. Don't throw in an |
| any subject she is studying. Research shows that | | | | assignment requiring science fiction or haiku just |
| writing in all subjects builds writing skill better and | | | | because you're tired of reading five paragraph |
| faster than English-class writing alone. | | | | essays. |
| With your ability to have students write across | | | | Having to write on different topics is variety |
| the curriculum, coupled with intimate knowledge of | | | | enough for beginning writers. Asking students to |
| your student, you start half a lap ahead of the | | | | use different genres before they master one |
| traditional school teachers. | | | | confuses them and hinders learning. |
| However, you may not know how to use your | | | | What genre is best for beginners? The so-called |
| assets to create good expository writing prompts | | | | persuasive essay with its pattern of thesis and |
| for students once they are out of elementary | | | | support is the easiest writing genre to teach and |
| school. | | | | to learn. It is also very adaptable and widely used |
| Here are are three principles to guide you as you | | | | in colleges and businesses. Students won't suffer if |
| prepare writing assignments for middle school and | | | | they never learn any other pattern. |
| high school students. | | | | 3) Encourage critical thinking and practical |
| 1) Promote content learning. | | | | application of imagination. |
| Writing prompts should be more than just a test | | | | From middle school on, channel students' |
| of students' writing skills. A good prompt makes | | | | imagination from mere fantasy to more |
| students reflect on previous learning or learn | | | | pragmatic uses of imagination. Give students |
| something new about the content they are | | | | expository writing prompts into which you have |
| studying. | | | | built opportunities for creativity. |
| You can promote content learning by combining | | | | Students who find imaginative literature repugnant |
| three elements: | | | | are often willing to use their imaginations for |
| - Element A, with which the the student is very | | | | practical writing purposes. They might not want to |
| comfortable | | | | write a fictional story, for example, but readily |
| - Element B, with which the student is familiar, if | | | | use their creativity to decide what information |
| not comfortable. | | | | their nonfiction readers will want. |
| - Element C that makes the student stretch | | | | At least some of your nonfiction writing prompts |
| beyond his or comfort zone. | | | | should give students who enjoy fiction |
| If Joshua's hobby is photography (element A), | | | | opportunities to invent illustrative material. Not only |
| you might ask him to take a photograph that | | | | is that fun, but it is also a skill students can use in |
| captures the atmosphere of a particular scene | | | | many real-life situations. |
| from a novel he has read (element B). The writing | | | | With a homeschool's natural assets and some |
| prompt could ask him write an essay explaining | | | | care in preparing writing assignments, teaching |
| three reasons why he chose that particular image | | | | writing can be pleasant, as well as useful, for you |
| (element C). | | | | and your kids. |
| 2) Require writing in a single genre until students | | | | |