Enriching Education: Encourage a Young Writer Day

 

 

April 10th, 2022 is National Encourage a Young Writer Day and Brainly, the world’s largest online learning platform and homework help community, is here to help you walk your developing author through the processes of writing their perfect story! 

 

According to the Institute for Child Success, the development of foundational early writing skills can promote higher-level skills such as organizing, planning and revising. With schools experiencing a higher volume of digital learning since 2020, many middle- and high-school students found themselves strengthening their computer skills in place of their traditional pencil and paper work. 

 

A study by education authority Ofsted has found children, globally, continue to struggle with basic writing and speech skills in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

Platforms such as Brainly offer the opportunity to work hand in hand with your young writer and utilize assets (such as a digital “English” classwork section) to provide parents and students access to:

• Unique, age appropriate prompts
• Step-by-step instructions to the writing process
• How to find your writing style

But how do you encourage your young writers to take the time for creative writing outside of school work? 

Here are some must-try tips inspired by author and parent advocate, Amanda Morin. 

1. Make a Journal Jar - Create 10 - 15 writing prompts with your child (for example “If you could do anything next summer, what would you choose?” or “What is your dream university and why?”). When you’re ready to sit down and write, let your child choose a topic at random! 
    
2. Answer Pre-Written Questions and Prompts - Brainly.com offers a myriad of questions and prompts inspired by what is happening in your student’s current English classes! Choose five questions for your writer to respond to - and if they feel confident, share them on the platform for others to read! 

A great prompt to start with is: “Write about a time when you made a difference in someone’s life, perhaps by helping them at a difficult time.”

3. Practice for the SATs - Using this writing time with your student is a great way to slide in some additional SAT practice prompts! The writing and language section of the SATs account for 35 points – Utilize this extra time to build up SAT prep! 
    
4. Utilize Photos - Photos and stories go hand in hand. By allowing your child to find a photo that inspires them, they will be more likely to write about what they think is happening in the photo and feel a creative connection.
    
5. Write a “Convince Me” Letter - Has your child been asking about a later curfew or higher allowance? Ask them to write a letter convincing you why the adjustment should be put into place. This will ensure your writer is putting additional thought into their writing!