We are not teaching them the right techniques to accomplish the task we require them to complete. It's the plain and simple truth. And it's unfortunate. One of my reasons for this is because it's something we've all been doing for years, and maybe not even well, and we've formulated this hypothesis that if we can do it easily, they should be able to get it easily. Why do we think this? Probably because we just need a lightbulb moment. Our kids need proper, clear training in order to do anything. We all do. This means we must take the time and give attention to teaching the skills for writing a paragraph or an essay before we assign a 2000 word paper : ^ )
How can we do this? What tools are available to us that can help us break the steps down into an easy to understand format? I have an answer that may be just what you're looking for.
Create Better Writers is a company that has created materials that will help your student become a better writer. These products have easy to follow steps for you and your student.
As members of the Schoolhouse Review Crew, we received 3 of Create Better Writers products: How To Teach the Paragraph, How To Teach the Five Paragraph Essay, & The Home School Writing Action Plan. The following is a breakdown of each. You will see that using these can guide you to help your child become a better writer.
Create Better Writers offers one simple trick to students that will help them master the paragraph.
That plan includes the fundamentals of a paragraph.:
Create Better Writers states "The teacher is given everything needed to help students master essay writing. Students will be able to organize their ideas, then format and write a five-paragraph essay in about an hour. Every student will be prepared for any class, district, or state writing test." (Create Better Writers)
Below you can see the table of contents and a sample page. Your student is given everything she needs to learn great techniques for writing an awesome essasy.
Part 1 is a summary of all the steps you and your student will be taking. It's a guide to help you know where you are and where you are going.
Part 2 is pacing charts. These charts will help you set the right pace for your student.
And Part 3 is the road map. This section "points out
key aspects of each section and provides sample worksheets and lesson plans". It will help you implement the plan using the curriculum you have.
With The Home School Writing Action Plan your student will learn:
- How to write Strong Essays
- How to write a Research Report
- How to Write Great Stories
- How to Write Intelligent Descriptive Sentences
- Have a Well Developed Vocabulary
- Be Completely Prepared for the SAT/ACT Writing College Exam
Below are two pages of this magnificent book. You can click them to enlarge.