Writing Parent Support

Supporting readers at home, adults can:

Emerging Writers:

• Read aloud to your child on a regular basis. Reading provides the foundation for writing and builds vocabulary.
• Encourage developmental spelling.
• Encourage your child to label things in their room or around your house.
• Encourage your child to add pictures and a few words to thank-you notes or cards.
• Demonstrate the many ways you use writing.
• Write a story together.

Fluent Writers:

• Read chapter books aloud to your child. Reading provides a model of story structure.
• Introduce your child to new authors and genres.
• Read a poem once a week.
• Play word games such as Junior Scrabble, Yahtzee, or informational word games with similes and word alliteration.
• Provide blank books for a personal journal. stationery, or writing materials.
• Be a supportive audience for your child and display your child's artwork and writing.
• Talk about root words, prefixes, and suffixes that help children see the patterns of English spelling.

Adolescent/Young Adult Writers:

• Read young adult and adult novels aloud to your child and discuss them. Talk about point of view and author style.
• Discuss the writers decisions and choices.
• Do crossword puzzles together.
• Encourage your child to send editorials or contribute to blogs.
• Ask your child to share his or her writing with you.
• Have your child collect family stories and make them into a book as a gift.