Email: Reports from the front and a question!
Julie,
I have been reading the Brave Writer Manual (The Writer’s Jungle) and LOVE IT. I really like the easy approach you give us to teach our kids. I’m still waiting for the October book to come into my library to start the Arrow program, so I’ll keep you posted on how that goes.
The charter requires everything that the state requires but my rep is also a college Language Arts teacher. She wants Daniel writing long book reports, essays, and paragraphs when completing school work. My son, up until Brave Writer “hated” anything that required writing. He would cringe when constantly reminded that he needed to be able to write an essay for the state tests in April. Even writing the answers to questions in our history book required my writing the answers he dictated to me and then he would copy them.
Yesterday, we went on a nature walk, in between the rain storms, and collected flowers he wanted to put in a vase and do a writing project on. We started with using the five senses and listing descriptive words. When he finished that I asked him to write one sentence (no worries about spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc.) and to my surprise he wrote two very good sentences. He was so proud reading them to us when his dad came home from work. When he was done, I congratulated him and let him know that he could be done for the day. To my surprise he asked if he could write more. Of course I said yes.
Julie, thank you for this great easy to understand writing program. We are very blessed to have found you.
Ann
Thanks Ann! It’s always such good news to know that kids discover the power and pride of selecting words to represent their inner experience. You’re doing a great job!
—
Julie,
It’s wonderful to see you up and blogging again. You’re blog has encouraged me greatly these past couple years. I started a blog a couple years ago, because of your encouragement. Writing in it occasionally, my essay like entries reflect upon what I am learning on my journey. Rereading my blog, I notice how much of your philosophy on life (not just writing) has helped me flesh out the things I struggled with through my 19years of home educating. You have also made me realize the importance of example in my life to inspire others. The purpose I have for my blog is to impart to my children as they go through their journey of parenting. Your blog is one of two I come back to, continually. I just want to say thank you for inspiring me to inspire others. : )
May God shower you with many blessings today!
Diane
Wonderful to hear from you Diane. I’m thrilled that my blog has encouraged you, but even more thrilled to know that you are writing your own! That’s what it’s all about.
—
Hi Julie-
Thanks for sharing at PEACH tonight and for signing your “autograph” on Stefanie’s writing book. 🙂 That will be inspiring for her! I have been using your TWJ (The Writer’s Jungle) electronic since Sept. and we ordered various older electronic Arrows to jive with our TOG readings this year,too. At any rate, as I told you, it has been going really well. Stef is happier and not as reluctant anymore. She likes the freewriting. Would you recommend our next step to be just keep doing what we are doing? [buy other Arrows as needed]. I wasn’t sure if doing the Kidswrite Basic would be doing more of the same but with a larger audience and seeing the other kids’ writing with the teacher interaction? Since she is 10, do we just keep going until she gets to middle/high school and use your other essay writing classes, etc? Just wondered your thoughts,
Cindy
Hi Cindy.
You’re doing all the right things. Glad she is growing and relaxing. Your understanding of KWB is accurate. It’s a great place to get feedback, to see other student writing and to ask your in-depth questions about becoming your daughter’s most effective writing coach and ally. If you want an experience that is similar in terms of level, but that uses the tools of TWJ for a different product, I suggest taking a look at the Just So Stories course. It starts on November 2 and gives your daughter a chance to apply her newly found enthusiasm and skills to a specific writing project. This course is not offered again this year and the instructor is our longest-term writing teacher. In other words, she’s fabulous.
In fact, I hope lots of families sign up for JSS as it will close soon. Your kids get to write stories about animals that make use of Rudyard Kipling’s delightful use of language. You’ll love the process and the results.
