writing Archives - Marie-Claire Moreau

Feb 18 2017

They communicate like other kids (maybe better?)

I was speaking before a group of would-be homeschool parents in someone’s living room a while back. It was an educated group, impressively well-informed as to the pros and cons of home education. I got the sense there had been quite a bit of research and discussion prior to our getting together. They fired at me one outstanding question after another during the Q&A. I was honored to serve these folks as they considered making important decisions on behalf of their children.

Now, I don’t normally tattle off the playground, but I’d like to use part of my experience that day as a teaching moment. No judgement of any kind, but there was a question that made me want to write this for you.

One of the parents asked a question about homeschoolers and communication skills.

“Do they know how to communicate?”, he asked. Another parent voiced something similar, saying, “How do they actually learn to talk with other people?” Before I even opened my mouth, I totally felt the vibration of the room changing. The thought of homeschoolers being disadvantaged in this way started spreading around the room like a bad stink.

I paused for a second, thinking how to finesse my reply while wondering where their information could have come from. Was there some news article I’d missed? Some research I didn’t know about? Maybe it came from listening to one too many public school advocates. Perhaps they’d encountered a painfully timid child…who’d been homeschooled?

To be honest, I also didn’t see that question coming. I’ve spent a fair amount of time dispelling the socialization myth, and I’m well acquainted with the homeschoolers-are-weird stories, too. But, homeschoolers unable to communicate? This was new to me. It felt like one of those my-word-against-yours moments, the kind nobody ever wins. This was clearly something concerning these parents, but I was feeling like their experiences might be hard to undo.

I decided to start with my standard research schpiel: top scorers in testing, top finishers in college, top, top, top, numbers, numbers, numbers. I continued with some homeschoolers-now-adults stories: happily employed, active voters, community service, good people, good people, good people. And I ended with the world of opportunities allowing homeschoolers to interact with all kinds of people, of all ages, in all corners of the wide, wide world. Surely people would need reasonable communication skills to do all of that, I reasoned.

I could tell they weren’t entirely convinced. A retired teacher said she’d met homeschoolers who were very, very shy. Another person said she’d met a homeschooled child who looked down when he spoke, muttering indistinctly.

I decided to go in a different direction. I deployed an argument in support of human differences, child development and basic logic. I ended up saying something along the lines of what you see below. The parents understood what I was thinking completely, and everyone seemed a lot more comfortable by the end of the meeting.

I’ve outlined my feelings about homeschoolers and communication skills, below. You’re more than welcome to use my notes if you ever need to discuss this yourself.

I began:

Homeschooled kids are just kids
All kids are different
Some kids are more timid and some kids are more outgoing
Some kids are better communicators than others
But, being homeschooled isn’t going to fundamentally change who the child is

Similarly,

Public school kids are just kids, too
All kids are all different
Some kids are more timid and some kids are more outgoing
Some kids are better communicators than others
But, going to public school isn’t going to fundamentally change who the child is

I continued:

Can communication skills be improved?
Probably
Can they be modeled, taught and practiced at home?
Certainly
What about in school?
Of course

I asked:

Do public school kids get called out for being themselves?
Why is anyone concerned when homeschooled kids act like themselves?

I ended:

There are all kinds of communicators
It’s not about the kind of school a child attends, or doesn’t
It’s about a child’s basic personality and some combination of training and practice

Do you agree?

I’ve learned I have to be direct when things are this important. The truth is, and what I hope I emphasized enough to these parents, homeschoolers are actually exceptional communicators. I’ve worked with students across all educational platforms for many years, and though there are great communicators everywhere, hands-down, the best ones are always the homeschoolers. I’m talking mature, confident, articulate students coming out of the homeschool community. Outstanding presenters, debaters, writers, and story-tellers, too.

Listen, I’m not trying to be harsh or unfair. But, ask teachers with formerly homeschooled students in their classrooms and see what they say. Ask college professors to comment on the homeschool graduates in their sections. Ask employers and other professionals what they think. Read the research about homeschoolers outscoring others on the SAT writing portion, too. I’m not making this up — this is definitely a place where homeschoolers have the chance to excel — and they do.

If you think about it, it makes sense that homeschool flexibility and freedom could result in extra time to spend mastering these skills. It also makes sense when you think about the range of people and activities experienced by a typical homeschooled child today. Don’t forget the supportive environment in which children may express themselves without fear of judgement. Why wouldn’t homeschooled kids grow to be confident speakers, skilled writers and comfortable with the English language?

There’s an area for discussion below this post. Have you encountered similar claims about homeschooled students lacking communication skills, and how have you responded? I’d love to hear from you.

Want to know where else homeschoolers shine?

How important is writing for high schoolers going on to college?

Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau is a college professor who traded in her tenure to become a homeschool mom 20+ years ago. A homeschooling pioneer and the founder of many groups and organizations, she works to advance home education, and is an outspoken supporter of education reform coast to coast. Her book, Suddenly Homeschooling: A Quick Start Guide to Legally Homeschool in Two Weeks, is industry-acclaimed as it illustrates how homeschooling can rescue children and families from the public school system, and how anyone can begin homeschooling within a limited time-frame, with no teaching background whatsoever. A writer, a homeschool leader, and a women’s life coach, Marie-Claire mentors in a variety of areas that impact health, education and lifestyle. A conference speaker, she has appeared at FPEA, H.E.R.I., Home Education Council of America, The Luminous Mind, Vintage Homeschool Moms, iHomeschool Network, and many other events. Her articles have appeared in and on Holistic Parenting, CONNECT,Homefires, Homemaking Cottage, Kiwi, Circle of Moms, and hundreds of sites and blogs nationwide. Marie-Claire can be reached at contactmarieclaire@gmail.com.

Jul 22 2014

{Day 2} College Prep High Schooling: Shore Up That Writing

Day 2: Shore Up That Writing

[View the entire series HERE]

You just learned about covering the basics. Those were important.

Now, you’re going to hear about an area that makes an even bigger difference — writing. Writing is very important.

You already understand the advantages of homeschooling: flexibility in scheduling, freedom to choose courses, plenty of time to study whatever you like, and more. Well, guess what? It’s those same advantages that make it easily possible to become a good writer in high school. In fact, with all those great benefits, there’s really no excuse for a homeschooler not to become a good writer.

Writing is important in more ways than students realize. Writing (sometimes called Composition) as an academic subject is one thing, but remember that writing helps across the entire curriculum, making it possible to succeed in all other areas, too. Plus, writing helps create knock-out Freshman Resumes (I’ll tell you about that in the next article), score well on standardized writing tests, write winning scholarship essays, conquer college application essays, and more.

It’s silly not to take advantage of the high school years to learn to write. Many students already do. But if you haven’t been one of them, well…now’s the time.

Not learning to write — and write well – is just harming yourself. Really.

All that being said, not every mom and dad is comfortable teaching writing. Not every student knows exactly where to begin, either. It’s okay. That’s where courses, curriculum and tutors come in. Use them liberally if you must.

Take the high school years to shore up your homeschooler’s writing skills. Here’s why.

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The takeaway from this lesson is to include some quality form of writing instruction you can trust. For at least a couple of years — or, better yet, throughout high school. If you plan on getting into college, that is.

Becoming a good writer takes time, practice and feedback. It isn’t something you can pick up by reading a book and it isn’t something that can be mastered during the last semester of high school, either. Start early, and write often.

Colleges notice.

Next up is Day 3: Standing Out.

Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau is a college professor who traded in her tenure to become a homeschool mom 20+ years ago. A homeschool pioneer and the founder of many groups and organizations, she works to advance home education, and is an outspoken supporter of education reform coast to coast. Her book, Suddenly Homeschooling: A Quick Start Guide to Legally Homeschool in Two Weeks, was industry-acclaimed for illustrating how homeschooling can rescue children and families from the public school system, and how anyone can begin homeschooling within a limited time-frame, with no teaching background whatsoever. A writer, a homeschool leader, and a women’s life coach, Marie-Claire mentors in a variety of areas that impact health, education and lifestyle. A conference speaker, she has appeared at FPEA, H.E.R.I., Home Education Council of America, The Luminous Mind, Vintage Homeschool Moms, iHomeschool Network, and many other events. Her articles have appeared in and on Holistic Parenting, CONNECT,Homefires, Homemaking Cottage, Kiwi, Circle of Moms, and hundreds of sites and blogs nationwide. Marie-Claire can be reached at contactmarieclaire@gmail.com. Her latest book, The Ultimate Guide to Florida Homeschooling, is now available on Amazon.

Apr 24 2014

BIG list of English curriculum

A list of resources to help teach homeschool English / Language Arts.

These areas include vocabulary, spelling, grammar, writing, phonics, reading and more.

{Inclusion does not imply endorsement.}

READING/PHONICS:

The Phonics Road

Eagle’s Wings

Explode the Code

McRuffy Reading and Phonics

Learning Language Arts Through Literature Blue Set

Plaid Phonics / Modern Curriculum Press

All About Reading

Alpha Phonics

Reading Made Easy

Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons

Bob Jones University Press BJU Press

COMPOSITION / WRITING:

Writing Strands

Institute for Excellence in Writing

Cover Story

Brave Writer

One Year Adventure Novel

Writer’s Jungle

Writing With Skill / Writing With Ease

GRAMMAR:

Editor in Chief (Critical Thinking Co.)

Grammar Ace (Sonlight)

The Grammar Key

Grammarlogues

Analytical Grammar

Latin Road to Grammar

Growing With Grammar

SPELLING & VOCABULARY:

Spelling Power

Wordly Wise

Rummy Roots

Spell to Write and Read

English From the Roots Up

Horizons

A Reason for Spelling

All About Spelling

Spelling Wisdom

Saxon Spelling

ALL IN ONE or NONE OF THE ABOVE:

First Language Lessons

Michael Clay Thompson

Learning Language Arts Through Literature

SAXON Grammar and Writing

Elements of Language

Wordsmith

Life Pac (Alpha Omega)

Sing, Spell, Read and Write

Shurley English

Total Language Plus

The Writing Road to Reading (Spalding)

Looking for a BIG list for Math? Find it HERE.

Looking for a BIG list for Science? Find it HERE.

Did I miss one? Leave a COMMENT!

Broken link? Thank you for letting me know.

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Oct 22 2013

Curriculum Quick Picks

I am always running across products I think are worth sharing. These are either brand new, or just new to me. Or, sometimes, they’re names I neglected to include in previous posts.

So, today, I am sharing links to products I think may be worth checking out for your homeschool. Don’t see anything here? Be sure to click on any of the tags you see at the bottom of this post to keep searching for additional ideas.

Curriculum Quick Picks:

Cover Story: Middle School Writing Curriculum (from the makers of One Year Adventure Novel) is a new program for 6th-8th graders. It looks quite thorough plus a whole lot of fun. I wish this existed when my children were in middle school!

Knowledge Quest isn’t new, but this company releases more and more great titles all the time. Connect with them and you’ll receive great freebies from time to time, as well. KQ’s Map Trek is my personal favorite.

Also not new, but certainly noteworthy, are the Trail Guides to Learning created by Linda Fowler and the beloved Debbie Strayer. These take a unit study approach while covering periods in history. How fun to be able to teach and learn this way!

These resources for gifted learners could be just what your family is looking for. Check out both EPGY courses from Stanford University and CTY Online from Johns Hopkins for a complete list of course offerings for your academically gifted student.

I learn something new every time I flip through one of Jill Dixon’s guides. The Diagnostic Prescriptive Assessment can still be found on the pre-owned market, and many others can be sourced on Amazon as well. These aren’t for everybody, but if you have a child in grade K-5 and thinking about testing options or understanding diagnostics, this book could be worth a look.

Moving Beyond the Page delivers science, social studies and language arts in comprehensive curriculum packages available for students ages 4-14. Samples available online show just how this product will delight a hands-on, creative, or gifted learner.

Never having studied Greek, I cannot comment on the accuracy or effectiveness of this product, but several families have recently recommended the Hey Andrew! Teach Me Some Greek system. If you try it, please leave a COMMENT to let my readers know what you thought!

Nov 23 2012

Writing instruction

Parents ask how to get kids to write. Across the board, this seems to be a common struggle among students — homeschooled and non.

In my classes, I am frequently met by students afraid to put pen to paper. Some have never written a good sentence or paragraph all their lives. Many lament having nothing to write about. Even more have no idea where or how to begin. I spend weeks undoing the lies they have told themselves about writing. After several months, they leave with a folder of completed writings and the confidence to try it again on their own. Many say writing has become their favorite subject.

Unless parents take a keen interest in writing or are decent writers themselves (or even if they are), they may not know how to encourage and develop writing in children. Writing instruction isn’t always included in language arts programs designed to help homeschool parents teach. Plus, even with the right tools, ordinary people are untrained in what to look for, and how best to call students out if writing isn’t up to par.

You’ll find comprehensive writing systems on the market. These include:

Writing With Ease

Excellence in Writing

Writing Strands

Time4Writing

and others.

These can be a great addition to the homeschool curriclum. BUT — just like with other products, many students enjoy them and many do not. Using a writing system can be expensive, and switching products mid-year confusing, too. These are a serious investments, both in terms of finances and — more importantly – in how a child views writing from that point forward.

I rarely suggest buying a comprehensive writing system at the very beginning of homeschooling. My experience has shown there is much work that can be done at home — without ever spending a dime – before the need for a comprehensive writing system ever arises. Developing projects at home goes a long way toward getting to know a student and helping develop attitudes about writing for the long-term, too. This may be time-consuming and require more effort than some parents are willing (or have time) to put in, but worth it.

The key to success in writing — I believe – is starting out by finding out what students enjoy. Interests, hobbies, likes and dislikes, PLUS how and where they like to write best are just a couple of factors. Knowing what students like to write with (pen, pencil, markers, even chalk) and on (ruled paper, plain paper, in a journal) are just as important. Factors in the environment affect writing, too. Even paying attention to what students were doing prior to writing can play a part.

In my home, I never used comprehensive writing systems. I observed each of my children to get a feel for their capabilities and preferences, and then assigned writing projects as we moved along. I taught grammar separately, encouraged reading, and provided great writing samples everywhere I could. This method allowed me to tailor the work to every child, encourage good writing habits when I saw them, and teach whatever was missing. I changed circumstances when things weren’t working, and constantly monitored writing in all subject areas. It wasn’t always easy! But, my children have all developed into writers, each blossoming on his own perfect time frame, and several (so far) receiving praise for writing skills in online courses and on college campuses. Best of all, ALL of my kids enjoy writing.

Because writing can be a delicate area, I always advise research and caution before selecting anything for homeschool use. If the system you acquire appears to be a good fit for the child, by all means, use it right away and continue forever. If it isn’t, however, first consider developing an informal system of writing on your own. Have students write short stories, keep a journal, jot notes about what they do during travels, write jokes, translate comics into stories, or even write clues for crossword puzzles — whatever works for them. Introduce a positive feeling about writing and observe how they work — for a long time. THEN make future decisions about how writing will be taught from that point on.

Are your students writers? Why or why not? I’ll continue posting about writing instruction at home. In the meanwhile, why not take a look at how writing is taught (or not) in your home?

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Feb 07 2012

Try It Tuesday: TEACHING WRITING

I’m not sure why, but when it comes to teaching writing at home, the idea scares many parents half to death. Is it because they feel they don’t write well enough to teach it? Could the reason it doesn’t get taught be that language arts products sometimes skimp over the writing process or don’t cover it at all? Do some people just assume that writing happens (magically? through Osmosis?) on its own? Or do folks still believe the antiquated notion that good writing is reserved for the educated elite or gray-haired librarians and English teachers?

Whatever the reason, the teaching of writing confounds many a parent. And because of that, writing may be ignored in homes lacking the tools, instruction or a confident person to guide it.

That’s why this month’s “Try It Tuesday” conversation is all about: TEACHING WRITING.

As a mom who has raised a gaggle of writers so far, I love to share what I have learned about writing instruction. But I continue to learn from each young writer I meet, so my children and my writing students are always my favorite teachers!

Some of my favorite tips to encourage young writers include:

Using Writing Prompts: Writing prompts can help kids get past the chore of figuring out what to write. Sometimes, when given an idea, the writing will come. They don’t work for every child, but are always worth a try!

Let Kids Choose: Sometimes, instead of being given an assignment, kids prefer to choose what things to write about. If this describes your child, allow her to come up with a list of possible things she can write about. Then, use her list all year long, so she’ll never be at a loss for writing ideas she herself has come up with.

Keep in Mind that Writing Comes in Many Forms: Reluctant writers may be allowed to write anything they like. Keep in mind that lists, captions, riddles, lyrics, ads, notes and slogans are all examples of writing. If your child won’t write, short assignments like these will get him writing — even if only a little bit at a time.

Consider Copywork: Copywork is a great way for students to see examples of great writing and learn some of the styles, techniques and tricks used by great writers. Incorporatinge copywork into your homeschooling day has other benefits for your student, too, such as practicing penmanship and learning new material, too!

Shop Wisely: Writing curriculum products exist, but not all are suitable for every student. For the best possible match, select writing products just like you would any other curriculum: by thinking about your goals for the course/student, how that student learns best, and ways the product may or may not fit in with your general homeschooling philosophy.

There are many writing products available for purchase. Here are just a few, with direct links to the author, publisher or distributor:

Writing with Ease & Writing with Skill

Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW)

Writing Strands

Write Shop

Brave Writer

Wordsmith Creative Writing Series

But — tips about teaching writing don’t end here…

Readers want to hear from you — parents who have been there, in the trenches, with your unique students, each who bring to writing their individual writing gifts and challenges…

So, drop whatever you’re doing and join the conversation!

Share your questions, comments, tips and fears about writing instruction at home. Tell readers what products and techniques you love best. Post your articles and blog posts using the Linky, too — can’t wait to see what you have to share! (Grab the button as needed!)

And thanks for stopping by!

[Linky closes in 7 days]

Jul 06 2011

Teaching penmanship and handwriting

When it comes to teaching penmanship and handwriting, homeschoolers have many choices. Whether teaching manuscript first (what some call “printing”) or opting to go with cursive right from the start, the marketplace offers many products that are suitable for home use. Best yet, handwriting workbooks and manuals are still very affordable, making them something that most families can incorporate into all of the preschool through elementary years, and beyond. Even middle and high schoolers can benefit from some of the italics and other methods — plus, adults like them, too!

You’ll find just a few of these titles below. After clicking on each link, research others on your own. Then, decide upon which method is best for you and your students.

Handwriting Without Tears

Getty-Dubay Italic Handwriting

A Reason for Handwriting

D’Nealian Handwriting

Barchowsky Fluent Hand Method

Undecided about teaching cursive? Read this related post.

Apr 10 2011

Copywork and dictation

There is perhaps no better way to learn good writing than to be exposed to good writing. Through copywork and dictation exercises, students see, hear and copy passages in the natural setting of great books and stories. Over time, students come to learn what good writing consists of, and will pattern their own writing on examples of language, structure, style and other aspects of the models they have come to know. As a side benefit, lessons will also be learned within the context of the literature itself.

Typically, copywork begins at the earliest ages, when children copy words, and then sentences, and then longer passages. Several grades later, children begin writing from dictation, and compare their writing to the original passage for correctness.

Some curriculum products offer copywork and dictation exercises built right in. Learning Language Arts Through Literature and Writing with Ease are two such examples, but there are others as well.

Families can also do copywork and dictation entirely on their own. Passages may be chosen from classical literature, poetry, scripture, history books, science books, or any other source of quality writing.

Although copywork and dictation is valuable for every child, it aligns especially well with the learning philosophies of Charlotte Mason, Classical educators, Ruth Beechick and several others. Easy and inexpensive, the outcomes of using copywork and dictation are unmatched.

Some links and articles related to this topic are provided below. Begin with these, and then find others on your own:

Why do copywork and dictation? by Jessie Wise Bauer

Homeschool Interview with Dr. Ruth Beechick

Copywork and dictation in a Charlotte Mason education

Free E-Books from Project Gutenberg