Posted in Language

"Torn"...that's the only way to describe how I feel about teaching writing. 

I'm in two minds about how to go about facilitating the process of learning to write.   Let me tell you, teaching reading was a BREEZE compared to this. 

I'm feeling the pressure from bureaucrats (who insist it is their job to watch over our shoulders) to do more writing with Ethan as he would not compare well if they merely held up his writing sample next to his schooled peers' writing samples.  My head tells me this is possibly a good thing.  I would like to see more writing too.  And people do look at your child's literacy skills an an indicator of how well you are homeschooling your child.  In fact as homeschooling mummas don't we all sometimes wonder (even if it's just a niggling deep down fleeting moment)  if our students' literacy skills are an indicator of how well we are doing our job.  I know I have had had these thoughts..."Once they are reading and writing I will know for sure that I can do this homeschooling thing," until then I will be prone to wonder....and by then, I'm sure I'll find something else to be unsure about. 

As a result we've been doing writing daily.  Some writing lessons are good and I am pleased with the result and I think Ethan is too.  But usually by the next day I'm met with great reluctance.  Yes he'll do the task but if I could see inside of his head I would surely see him counting out the words he would have to write and considering ways to be more efficient with his sentence length. 

We're also working separately on all the different sub strands of writing - grammar, spelling, handwriting, textual structure etc.  When I don't require my little student to combine all of these things into a written piece he is as happy as a pig in mud...okay he tolerates it.  It's school and it must be endured so he can get to the really good stuff...reading aloud, science experiments and such.  

My heart is telling me that imposed artificial writing situations are not productive to producing an enthusiastic or successful writer.  I know the seed for these things is within my child as he's done many narrations that show that he enjoys communicating his thoughts, that he can sequence them well and articulate his thoughts in well constructed, occasionally quite mature, sentences.  Just don't ask him to transfer these thoughts from his head down through his hands.  A lot of words get lost in that translation!!

To me it seems like these contrived writing sessions work in a similar way to a baby being prematurely propped up to walk.  They can not do it without support.  The first time you hold bub up and walk their legs along, they might think it's a wonderful game but after a few times they intentionally drop their little legs out from under them.  They do not yet have the internal motivation to try it for long and they certainly can not do it successfully alone.  Yes they do have some of the many skills required for the job but putting them all together is the trick.  Over time, and not always with others looking on, they test out their skills, until one day they take off walking.  I think writing is a bit like this.  There does seem to be some sort of personal timetable at play.

Now I wouldn't go as far as saying that it's best to leave writing to develop by itself.  I do think it's important to teach specific skills.  It doesn't have to be taught through a textbook.  The teaching could happen through incidental discussions but I do think it needs that nudge and a little facilitating on our side.  Just like neglected babies will not learn to sit, walk or talk without the proper conditions.  My thoughts are that writing doesn't just happen because you exist.  I do think a nudge in the right environment can be helpful.   

However, dragging my child to the writing "finishing line" is not going to do the job either.  That would be like "helping" a butterfly out of its cocoon. 

I know.  On paper...or is that page...the solution seems so simple.  Step back.  Wait for writing to happen while nudging those important skills along.  Toss out those dreadful contrived writing sessions and then delude myself that the homeschool officials will be fine with my new position on writing.  And smile nicely at all the other naysayers.

My heart knows this is the answer but my head is chicken.  My heart does not fear.  It knows the way to go and the right things to do.   It's my head that makes life more complicated than it needs to be.  It's the source of insecurities and imagined fears. 

Who will win this battle of wills between the head and the heart?? 

My heart needs to strike the winning blow to the head...gosh that sounds painful...but it probably will be.