Activities to encourage kids to write - ideas please

mummy_Jay

Does anyone have any bright ideas of activities to encourage my son to write?

My DS is in year 2, I had parent evening this week and was told how bright he is and that he's one of the top readers in the year but he has a real issue with getting his ideas on paper, to the point the teacher was concerned it will hold him back at the end of the year when they do there KS1 assessment. She showed me some of his work and there was very little there, the writting was terrible in comparison to the writting he does for me when he sits with me to do his homework each week, so i know he can do it. DS said it's cos he doesn't get much time to do his work but this could be more to do with him having a short attention span.

He seems to needs encouragement to write more, sentence structure and how to improve how he forms his letters.

So I would appreciate any ideas you have to help with this.

So far I've convinced him to write a letter to his grandparents, he's doing a sentence a night (I know it's not a lot but he seems to need me to sit with him to do it and with working, dinner and reading each night we're a little short of time, unless I find away to encourage him to do it on his own).

BAILEYS6904

My DS loves writing on post it notes and sticking them round the house for me. He either does me little messages, or plays a treasure hunt. Maybe you could do the first one, write each clue on a post it, and lead him to a prize, and then let him do the next one.

One thing to say is my DS uses quite long words in his speech, and obviuosly uses them to try and write as well, so i dont criticise his spelling, more congratulate him for using them

HTH xx

JustBe_2

When my sons were little I used to buy writing books from Early Learning Center that they could write round the dotted letters or numbers and you could wipe them clean so that they could be used over again.

Even some cheap dot to dot books would help getting him used to holding a pencil and filling in the pictures.

Just keep it fun for him:)

You could even make some up yourself in true MSE fashion.

JustBe

Charlie1978

Things that worked for my daughter was:

A white board - she loves to write and write and rub off and write on it!

Make your own cards - she loves writing me little notes in little cards telling me how much she loves me. Argos do some great little packs as i'm sure other places would too. A little card with a thank you note or and I love you note in keeps the practice up

fernliebee

Baileys idea is good too, as if it were a secret note to you he would have to get used to doing it on his own, so you wouldn't be able to cheat

What about cooking a meal and getting him to write out a menu, set the table up like a restaurant, have candles and flowers etc. Go to the park and write each other a 'treasure list' of things to find, leaves, pine cones etc and whoever finds the most wins.

Gradually wean him off having you there by nipping to the loo and seeing if he can write a few words while you are gone or get him to do his writing practise/ homework while you are making dinner, so you can be in same room but not actually helping him.

LJM

this time of year get him to start writing lists of things he wants for xmas/ a letter to santa/xmas cards for friends, plus you could also involve him in other ways such as getting him to help you by writing shopping lists, its the little things that count and get them started. anyway the teachers at my girls school said they would prefer a few sentances of really good writing/work against pages of nonsence work. im sure he will be fine and it will kick into place

Errata

Is he interested in a sport? How about a fan letter? If he writes to the Queen to wish her a merry Christmas he'll get a reply from one of her ladies in waiting thanking him on her behalf.

Tish_P

If he prefers drawing, perhaps you could combine the two by getting him to write comic books or illustrated storybooks - maybe as moneysaving homemade Christmas presents for doting relatives!

the_cat

Haha, this is all so familiar. My DS was almost the carbon copy, except I had the teacher speech in year 1. They told me he couldn't write at all! Now I knew this was rubbish but I think (in his case due to not having properly decided on whether he was left/right handed) he did find it harder to write than read/do maths. Turns out when questioned that at school once they had told the teacher they had finished their writing, they were able to play or do something else. DS was quite happy to rush through it and do the bare minimum for this reason

Don't worry too much. If he is bright, he will soon catch up and the KS1 test only really benefits the school for stats purposes.It won't affect your childs progress in any way. My DS only got bothered about writing once he was a bit older. Most of the bright boys in his classes in junior school got quite competitive between themselves, him included. He is now studying for his GCSE's and is predicted all A or A*'s

Stick to encouraging him at home to write fun stuff (my kids used to like it if I started off a story with a couple of sentances, then they did a bit, then me etc until we finished it) and definately encourage drawing. Poor pencil control was quite offputting for my DS I think....... and also maybe prompt him a little if you think he is not putting in quite the effort he could at school (gently though obviously!)

Kit_Kat_Kate

Writing with meaning. By this I mean functional writing such as helping with the shopping list is a good one as its one word and you can just focus on spellings and handwriting so not over loading with him having to think about spelling, handwriting, structure, grammar, organisation...

I don't know his level but things getting him to work out what sound items start with, Have a go at spelling items like fish, or copying the word off the old packet. Don't forget the praise. Have fun.

Primrose

Could you persuade him to write a simple daily diary? That might help him to think about the activities he's been involved in and to which he can relate. It would also be fun for him to look back on as he progresses from year to year and see the things he did and how his writing has improved.