Homeschool English Evaluation
My 13 yr old son can recite to me things he has learned or read but when I ask him to write a paper on it, he freezes up and the knowledge simply never makes it on the paper. It's like his brain knows it but it stays there. I have tried several different methods of writing and he knows them all but somehow the writing aspect doesn't come through. Please advise me on your ideas or thoughts.
Thanks, Melba
Hi Melba!
Boys often seem to have trouble getting thoughts on paper - I think it has something to do with them usually being not as verbal as girls, in general.
Try teaching him to write as a separate subject, apart from his reading. In other words, evaluate his other subjects verbally or with tests, like you are doing. And when you teach him to write, don't require him to do it with his other subjects just yet, until he gets more comfortable with writing in general.
Have you tried to teach him typing? Sometimes that little bit of technology can help.
I have heard good things about Write Shop, Write at Home, Brave Writer, and Institute for Excellence in Writing.
You might enjoy a few other articles about writing than could help you:
Perfect English Evaluation?
High School English: A "Grouch Free" Guide to Grading"
God Bless you Lee. You are amazing, Why? Because you answer questions that homeschoolers are always asking and can never really get a good answer. But you give us so much more then an answer, you give us hope, suggestions, and encouragement.
Bless you and family,
Melba
Comments 1
Good idea to teach it as a separate subject. One thing I do with my younger (elementary) boys is have them write in a journal every day. I look at what they write, but I do not make any remarks about misspellings, punctuation, etc. in their journals. I just take note of what they need to work on and cover it in a separate English lesson. I'm one of those moms who tends to see all the mistakes jumping out at me on the page and it is hard for me not to say things like, "Okay, you need a comma here, this needs to be capitalized, and this needs to be worded better, etc." By doing it the way I do now, they feel free to write without worry that I'm going to point out all the errors and I sneak in the lesson elsewhere. I do remind them to do their best when they are writing in their journals and to remember the lessons we have been working on. When my kids hit middle school, they tend to take correction better and I can go over their papers in the usual way. I still try to be careful to praise too and not just be critical of their errors. That's been a hard one for me, because I am really fussy about writing.
By accepting you will be accessing a service provided by a third-party external to https://www.homehighschoolhelp.com/
More Encouraging Posts
-
![[Free Book] Leaving Our Mark on the World](//www.homehighschoolhelp.com/images/easyblog_articles/2734/b2ap3_large_leaving-our-mark-on-the-world__square02-1400x400.jpg)
[Free Book] Leaving Our Mark on the World
Learning outside the box can maximize college admission and scholarships! Find out how in my annual yearbook! Grab this free book and you will learn tips for earning scholarships, test preparation, college planning, and homeschool success.
… Read MoreLeaving Our Mark on the World, my 4th Annual Yearbook of Top Homeschooling Articles, will give you tips and tricks for:
- How Homeschoolers Earn
-
[Free Class] Course Description Harvest Party!
… Read MoreYou have spent years planting the seeds of a high school education. You have watched it grow and seen your children thrive under your careful care. Now is the time to gather the harvest, and create homeschool records that demonstrate the sum of all your hard work. We celebrate Thanksgiving yearly, thankful for a bountiful harvest and blessings from God.
-
Seven Reasons to Study History
… Read MoreWhen I was in school, we learned about the world in seemingly unrelated snippets. My teachers called the subject Social Studies .
- We might start the year studying Chinese culture.
- Then we'd study the Pilgrims because it was getting close to Thanksgiving.
- Then we'd take a break to study the Plains Indians and build miniature teepees.
Social Studies remains a core
-
Subject Tests for Ivy League Admission
Gearing up for Ivy League admission is one of the toughest challenge for high school students, whether they are homeschooled or not. Ivy admission requires excellence in all areas, exceeding requirements - and a healthy dose of luck.
Please note that as of January 2021, The College Board has discontinued SAT Subject Tests® and SAT® essay .
by Author
… Read MoreStart the
![[Free Book] Leaving Our Mark on the World](http://www.homehighschoolhelp.com/images/easyblog_articles/2734/b2ap3_large_leaving-our-mark-on-the-world__square02-1400x400.jpg)
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
- 27
- 28
- 29
- 30
- 31
- 32
- 33
- 34
- 35
- 36
- 37
- 38
- 39
- 40
- 41
- 42
- 43
- 44
- 45
- 46
- 47
- 48
- 49