Writing With Audra

With any curriculum choice, there are pros and cons. Every teacher knows this. Every teacher also knows that there are many, many ways to teach each and every subject, and hudreds of different philosophies.

As a homeschooling mama, one of my many jobs is to pick curriculum for my kiddos. In researching writing, I came across a lot of different philosophies. Some experts say that in order to write, kids must write constantly- the more the better. Other experts say that writing just to write is nonsense- kids must first know HOW to write.

I think both of those ways can be beneficial, and really you just need to pick something and go with it.

Two years ago I chose a more classical approach- this requires a lot of copywork, narration, and dictation. The idea is that you study and observe and mimic great writers so that when you are ready you will write like a great writer. This is how Benjamin Franklin taught himself to write.

The curriculum is very strict and rigid in its approach- which I like. It doesn't allow for creative writing, but if you have a child who likes to write creatively, you let her write for fun- that isn't a problem at all.

Of course, no matter what course one chooses, there are always doubts. Always. While I do really like the curriculum, and we will definitely stick with it, I sometimes wonder if they are writing enough.

But then one of the kids will do something pretty cool, and completely on their own, like this:

Audra is writing a chapter book- all on her own. But, not just any chapter book. She is being very meticulous about it- she is writing her story first on small pieces of paper and then checking it for grammar and spelling. Then, she is re-writing it with perfect handwriting as carefully as she can. I'm not checking it, because I just want her to enjoy the process of writing. But, she is quite proud of herself and wants to spend hours and hours writing. It's pretty cool, and helps me remember that we're doing alright in this crazy homeshooling journey of ours.