I have a 9 ds who is not an eager writer, shall we say. I think two of Marcia's comments on the writing CDs that Lampstand sells are really good relating to this -- that we need to make sure our kids have enough information in their heads to write something, and that we need to help them pre-write these ideas down before they start "writing."

My question is that on one assignment (on the daily life of a monk), I don't think he had enough ideas. How do I reconcile the helpful process that the TOG writing component offers in outlining the process, with the situation that my son just doesn't know enough yet about what he was asked to write about? Do I focus on helping him gain more info and not worry about the pre-writing, or do more prewriting bit by bit, week by week, to see if over the course of the unit he learns enough to write?

Thanks,
Hilary

Hi Hilary,
Since it's so early in the year, I'd suggest that you take the prewriting that he believes he has finished, and go over it with him with the book in hand, showing him how he can add more facts.

That said, my top suggestion would be to back him up one or two levels. Take a look at the assignments in level 3 and see if they seem more manageable to him. Since he is just 9, you have plenty of time to instill lots of good writing habits.

Blessings,

We did this same writing assignment last week. I knew looking at the assignment of the duties of a monk that my 9 ds (also not an eager writer) would not have enough information to write a good description. So, I searched on the internet and printed out some information on the topic of a monk's daily duties. I gave this to him and my 7 dd (who IS a very eager writer) and they were able to follow the writing process to complete the assignment more easily. If you have concern that he doesn't have enough information, see if you can find some for him. Google and print, or find it in his resource books for him. That way the lack of information doesn't hinder the writing process.

Does that help??
AD

Thanks for your suggestions. It is so encouraging to know that there are others in similar situations!

Thanks,
Hilary