Michael F. Stokes School

The three R's - reading, 'riting and 'rithmetic - have not always gotten equal attention in school, but that's changing. New programs and tests, like the revised writing-oriented SAT, stress that children need to know how to express themselves clearly and creatively.

While your children will learn how to write well in school, the best place for them to practice their skills and develop a love for writing is at home. Here are some ways to make writing part of their home lives, both during the school year and in the summertime:

• Add writing to your list. Making time for your children to write is as important as making time for reading.
• Have the tools on hand. While it's important to always have school supplies available at home, sometimes all it takes to get children interested in putting pen to paper is letting them choose a fun pen and a special notebook, or giving them their own special time on library or home computer word processing programs.
• Write in front of them. Children learn what they experience. Make sure they see you writing - whether it's a letter to a friend, a thank you note, a journal entry, or a letter to the editor. Ask them to add a few lines or even write their own.
• Praise their work. Make a big deal of their writing successes. When they've written something creative, fun or thought-provoking, send copies to their grandparents and put the original on the refrigerator or bulletin board for everyone to admire.
• Make a book. If your children enjoy photography, have them collect some favorite pictures and write captions for them, or have them write short stories that tie them together. Help them make title pages (featuring their name in big letters as the authors), add a few staples, and they've made a book.
• E-mails are OK. IMs aren't really writing. This technologically-savvy generation writes more than ever, thanks to computer instant messages (IMs) and e-mails. In fact, the accepted use of symbols and lack of proper grammar may not help children's efforts at creative writing. While IMs are quick and fun, they do nothing to help children become better writers. E-mails are better because they allow time and space for children to express themselves. Encourage them to send e-mails to you or to other relatives.
• Pay attention to song lyrics. If your children enjoy music, look up the lyrics of their favorite songs. Talk about what the song writer was saying and encourage them to try writing their own lyrics about things that are meaningful to them.
• Use the Web. Check out Writing Fix For Kids, a wonderful Internet site geared for children and chock full of writing games and ideas.

Another suggestion is that when you're reading a story or watching a movie together, pause and ask your child a "what if" question-i.e., "What if the Mom came home while the Cat in the Hat was still in the house? Tell me everything you think would happen then." Then ask your child to write about it.

Writing is more than a school subject; it's an essential life skill. People who know how to clearly express their opinions, ideas, creativity, and knowledge have a real edge. With your help, your children will be among them.