Writing well requires organizing one’s thoughts before committing them to paper. Once you start writing, you need to make ongoing decisions. How should the letters be formed? How should a word be spelled? Which form of the word is used? Where does a new paragraph begin? Which words will create effective imagery? It can be exhausting!

Writing on a regular basis helps children learn: they need to think about their ideas, organize them in a meaningful way, and create a finished product that shares information with readers. Moreover, the act of writing can help transport knowledge to the brain. Have you ever had a teacher ask your child to write spelling words five times each week? Physically writing the word creates a bond with the brain to help reinforce learning. Interestingly, the pressure against the paper determines the strength of the bond, and typing on a keyboard does not promote the same kind of learning. Paper and pencil or chalk and chalkboard are the best modes for that transmission to occur.

Today’s Task

Ask your child to keep a journal about what he or she learns each day. A fun notebook and a fancy pen may make the task easier and less intimidating.