| Teaching Teens |
Using Great Topics to Teach WritingDespite all the articles I wrote to teach kids to write, the children often teach me more than I teach them. Thanks to my son, I learned another powerful lesson, one that makes me a better teacher while helping him become a better writer. Here's what happened.Last week, my son's lesson was writing a biographical sketch in five paragraphs. We had recently been studying the Roman Empire, and I hoped that he would write on one of the church's founding fathers - not only would this reinforce those lessons, but he would also have the chance to delve more deeply into books which we hadn't had time to read earlier. Despite my excitement, I could see he was less than eager. He was clearly not interested in the topic which I found so fascinating. Once we talked about baseball, that all changed. He had been reading about the life of Derek Jeter, and wanted to learn more. When I suggested that he write his biography on Jeter, his whole attitude changed - suddenly, he couldn't wait to get started! He already knew of three sources for more information, and couldn't wait to get started. That settled it - Derek Jeter it would be. Over the past week, he has been hard at work researching Mr. Jeter's life and collecting information. Today's assignment was to narrow the facts down to three, keeping his paper from becoming a full book. From this point, he will work on an effective outline and begin to write. He is much happier and more enthusiastic about his assignment, since he is writing about a topic that interests him. This keeps him motivated, and his writing is most effective when he has the freedom to choose a topic. He'll learn more, and retain more, this way. By letting your kids choose their own topics, they take ownership of their project. Give it a try - it makes a huge difference! Your children will learn more and be happier about it; you'll be thrilled with the results. ----------------------------------- © Kerry Beck, 2008 You have permission to reprint this article, as long as you don’t make any changes and include the bio below. ----------------------------------- Kerry Beck helps teachers and homeschool moms with a lesson on writing a biographical sketch. She has a free mini-course to show you how to teach writing at Teaching Writing. 10:55 PM - Jul. 27, 2008 - post comment
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Description Teaching Teens Blog is designed to encourage parents who are raising teenagers. Not only will we address academics, but also practical life skills, spiritual issues and entrepreneurial ideas for teens. Home User Profile Archives Recent Entries - Rekindle the Christmas Spirit with Your Teens - Twelve Days of Christmas and How to Celebrate It - Holiday Family Traditions for YOUR Family - Many Faces of Christmas Around the World - Turkey Cookies - Cool Tradition |