Ten Tips For Improving Teens' Writing

Here are 10 ideas for parents who want to help their middle grade and older students with writing. 

1. Know the assignment. Without fully understanding the details of their homework, it can be hard for kids to start writing. 
2. Plan ahead. Ask your child to list examples that support the thesis or main points.
3. Gather the facts. Strong evidence makes a paper that much better. 
4. Get organized. Review the sequence of ideas in each paragraph.  
5. Lend a hand. Listen and figure out what she's trying to say. Ask how you can help.
6. Read it out loud. By reading aloud what they've written, students are more likely to notice any obvious mistakes. 
7. Start with the strengths. Look for concrete details, clear sentences, and vivid words, and offer encouragement. 
8. Ask for more information. Ask questions to understand what your child is trying to say.
9. Ignore grammar in rough drafts. In the final draft, encourage your child to edit his own work.
10. Respect your child as a writer. What to revise, and how to revise it, should be your child's decision, not yours. 
For more help with writing at all grade levels, please call 610-940-1625. Located in Plymouth Meeting, Key Academics provides in-home academic tutoring and test preparation throughout the Delaware Valley.