Children's Writing Exercises

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DAY 1: Make a list! How many kinds of animals can you think of? Try to find at least twenty-five animal words. Now use ten in good sentences.

DAY 2: Write a story about an airplane.

DAY 3: Write a paragraph about winter in your area. You can describe weather, the activities or the way it makes you feel. Don't forget to proofread!

DAY 4: Look at your animal list. Count the number of syllables in each word. Which one has the most?

DAY 5: Write about a potato. Write for at least three minutes without stopping.

DAY 1: Grammar Workshop: Parts of Speech 1


Why learn parts of speech? Actually there are lots of reasons. Parts of speech will help you decode new words-your mind treats words differently if you are pondering a noun or a verb, and understanding what those are is part of the process. Parts of speech also help you untangle long and complex sentences, which abound in higher-level reading and writing. The understanding helps you use words correctly so you don't sound like an idiot when you write. All good reasons to learn what seems to be trivia!

This week, let's consider adjectives. Adjectives are describing words. They appeal to the senses and tell how something looks, sounds, feels, tastes, smells and so forth. The color words are adjectives and so are many words that end in a "y," like stuffy, noisy, or pretty. The trick when writing is to use as vivid and specific adjectives as you can. Why say "big" when you can say "gargantuan"? See if you can find the plain vanilla adjectives in the sentences below and substitute in some more vivid and descriptive ones.

1. The store was big.
2. The small horse make a loud noise.
3. The tasty sandwich was made with cheese.
4. How can you listen to that awful music?
5. The cold room gave me shivers.

Day 2: Make a list! Think of words that tell about color. (Not color words, but words that tell about colors!) Write down at least ten.

DAY 3: Choose five of the words from yesterday's list and use them in sentences. Bonus points if the sentences all work together to tell a larger story.

DAY 4: Write three paragraphs about your favorite holiday.

DAY 5: Write about bananas. Write for at least four minutes without stopping.

I'm a Mom, so I know that sometimes a parent needs more than exercises to help their child become a better writer. I'm also an experienced on-line tutor with many programs available to help your child. Here is a sampling, but remember that we can design an individualized program that meets your family's needs. All fees are payable through Paypal or by US check or money order through the US mail. Just drop me an email at reading@allinfoabout.com and we can set up a time to talk online or by phone if you wish.

Feedback on the assignments posted here: $5.00 weekly

You can complete as many assignments as you wish, return them to me through email, and I will provide your student (and you!) with a critique and suggestions for improvement.

Individualized Writing Assignments: $10.00 weekly

If your student is struggling or if he or she needs enrichment, I can design individualized exercises to improve the writing skills. The $10.00 package includes three to five weekly exercises tailored for your student's individual needs emailed on the day of your choice. When you return the responses, I will send off a critique and suggestions to your child.

"Building Children's Writing Skills" class: $25.00

This four-week class offers assignments and exercises on two levels, suitable for nearly any age or stage. It also includes a wealth of information for parents about the development of writing skills and assistance in learning to nurture children's written communication skills. Drop me an email for more information and registration codes.

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