·       Coach – don’t write – for your child.  Question, listen, and talk about writing together.  Students need to do their own drafting, revising, and editing with you at the sidelines.

·        Look first for what is done well in the writing and offer praise.  Writing is a challenging task.  Children need encouragement to be successful.

·        When working with your child, focus on ideas and content first.  Save editing until the ideas are clear, complete, and focused.

·        Listen attentively as your child reads writing to you. 

·        Encourage even the youngest writers to “read” their writing aloud whether it is scribbles, drawings, or strings of letters.  Talk about the story.

·        Read aloud to your children – no matter the age.  Discuss good examples of writing from newspapers, magazines, poetry, descriptions from travel brochures, and instructions on toys, games.  Read from fiction and non-fiction.

·        Let your child SEE you write.

·        Share your own writing with your children.  Ask for their feedback on your effort.

·        Turn off the TV.

·        Visit the library.

·        Read, read, read!  Better readers make better writers!