You may have heard your son or daughter tell you about the changes we made today to the way homework writing is going to be checked and assessed.
I would first like to share with you that writing homework is typically a choice assignment, meaning that students may choose what to write about each assignment. What is not a choice is whether or not to writing as homework. They do need to write!
Students may write in a lot of ways-fiction, essays, reports, poetry, etc. To support your young writer, please provide a quiet, comfortable place in the house for your child to write. My own daughter writes in my bedroom, it seems to provide her with a fresh perspective. Second, remember NOT to use your pen all over the journal. Writing can be messy and sloppy, but if your son or daughter is feeling like a story is unfolding please let that messy, sloppy thing happen!
Third, I had been playing with the idea of requiring a page total versus a nightly total for writing. Students are required to write 2.5 pages per week for the week. They may write all in one night, spaced over several nights, or on whatever nights work for them. Therefore, if Tuesday night is a busy sports night then writers would be able to skip that night. Once students have completed their page limit for the week they will simply need to share it with me in class during writing workshop.
How students record their writing:
- Record the date in the margin and either the initial H (home) or S (school).
- Without the recorded date with the letter H students will not receive credit for the homework writing.
We are writing at school AND at home to build stamina as writers, to see that writing never really ends, to practice the craft, and personalize the experience to the writer. Your kids were so excited about the changes we made today! I am, too!
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