After your children are writing sentences, teach them about paragraphs. Paragraphs are the key to organized writing. Each paragraph should contain one main idea or thought, and a topic sentence that sums up that thought in a nutshell. The paragraph should also contain supporting sentences that explain or supplement the leading idea in the topic sentence.
Here is how you could do this with your children:
1) Tell your students to write a rough draft composition (about one or two pages long). Emphasize that their work will be rewritten after they learn a new writing technique. This composition can be about a book read, an experience, a trip or perhaps even be an original piece of fiction. (See more ideas in the Easy Homeschooling books Easy Homeschooling
2) Next—perhaps the next day—have your children circle, highlight, underline or bold (if using a word processor) the sentences that are most important. These are the topic sentences. In a handwritten one page essay, there should be approximately two to five topic sentences. You could use a different colored highlighter or pencil for each paragraph.
3) Then, the supporting sentences need to be gathered together with each topic sentence. Have your students highlight or circle the supporting sentences and then draw arrows or lines to the circled topic sentence, which may also be highlighted. Change colors for each paragraph.
4) Rewrite into paragraphs, placing each topic sentence with its supporting sentences. Topic sentences can be anywhere in the paragraph, but are usually at the beginning.
5) Organize the paragraphs by thinking what topic should come first, second and so on. Rewrite.
After doing this exercise a few times, your children’s writing will become far more organized—even their first drafts!
Homeschooling with Literature
Literature SchoolEven some elite colleges employ literature-based learning. Their tools are the Great Books; their principal technique, discussion. The Literature School is not only a successful school, it is the ideal multi-grade family school. Books can be read aloud together, with each child processing the information on his own level. The youngest child can narrate, the middle-aged child can write, the high schooler can report—after doing additional research about the topic, era or personality. Processing will create more lasting knowledge. I have found this easiest by requiring a written summary of the day’s reading.
Easy Journaling Tips
Journaling is a stress free learning technique. My children who journaled seemed to have much more pleasure in—and success at—writing. (I have included samples of our children’s writing in Easy Homeschooling Companion. Easy Homeschooling)
