PachiSusan Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 Today is creative writing and she has been asked to write a paragraph on cleaning the fish tank. You'd think I asked her to write the constitution!!! She writes so well. She just can't seem to ever get started without a big "I can't do it!!!" fuss. Any tips to make her feel comfortable doing them? I have her write an outline so she knows where she's going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PachiSusan Posted January 21, 2013 Author Share Posted January 21, 2013 have no idea why it did this...dup post! LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texasmama Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 Every time I see your dd's picture, I think "Gymboree!". My dd has that same top. :) But I digress...what language arts curriculum are you using? I follow the WTM philosophy that kids not be asked to do much (if any) creative writing, though what you are asking is really academic writing regarding the proper way to clean a fish tank. Is this correct? I use Writing Tales level 2 with my 4th grader, and it is a gentle writing program which does not produce tears or arguments so that has been my 4th grade writing solution. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PachiSusan Posted January 21, 2013 Author Share Posted January 21, 2013 Every time I see your dd's picture, I think "Gymboree!". My dd has that same top. :) But I digress...what language arts curriculum are you using? I follow the WTM philosophy that kids not be asked to do much (if any) creative writing, though what you are asking is really academic writing regarding the proper way to clean a fish tank. Is this correct? I use Writing Tales level 2 with my 4th grader, and it is a gentle writing program which does not produce tears or arguments so that has been my 4th grade writing solution. :) Yep, we're 100% Gymboree here - and she's almost 10!! We've had quite the ride!!! Yes, it is a specific exercise to show progression - something in order. (They don't have a problem with using "you" at this stage of the game) This is what she came up with: ‎"How to Clean A Fish Tank", by Melissa I'd like to show you how to clean your fish tank. First, take the fish brush and move it up and down on the sides of the tank. Not too fast, but not too slow, just calm enough so that the fish know that everything's okay. Next, if you have fish decorations in your tank, you take them out and put them in a sink and wash them, then find places to put them back in the tank. With a big rectangle bucket, put the siphon in the tank and the other end in the bucket. Move the vacuum in the gravel and move it up and down. After that, get new water and put back in as much as it can take. Then, finally, change the filter. These steps listed above will help your fish live longer and be healthier. After all, a happy fish is a happy day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texasmama Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 Well, I'd say it went better than you had anticipated. In my opinion, that is a very acceptable piece of writing for a 4th grader. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mytwomonkeys Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 That is a fabulous job. I'd say she got over the initial barrier, lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudoMom Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 Did you talk her through the steps before she had to write about them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PachiSusan Posted January 22, 2013 Author Share Posted January 22, 2013 Yes. I had her tell me how she would clean rhe tank. Then she wrote them down. Her comment was that if she had Dragon" she could just talk and it would be better. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 Nice job! She wrote a great description of the procedure. I am just not sure why you count this as creative writing. Creative writing is making stuff up. For a reluctant writer, I would start by having her write whatever she wants, instead of giving specific assignments. I have found that my children's writing improved tremendously by just being allowed to write on their own. My son has been writing "novels" for several years, with elaborate fantasy worlds and characters, and his writing is continually improving; he even recognizes himself that his last year's work is inferior to his current writings. With a student who is a good writer, but resists assignments, I would encourage plenty of creative writing and, for formal exercises, let her choose the topics. As in: "I want you to describe a process to me, can you think of something you'd like to write about? " I vividly remember this type of assignment form school; the worst essay topic was "how I clean my shoes" - the best one was "How to cook pudding". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PachiSusan Posted January 22, 2013 Author Share Posted January 22, 2013 Sorry. Semantics. She was creating a paragraph that didn't previously exist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 OP: I added some thoughts to my previous post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PachiSusan Posted January 22, 2013 Author Share Posted January 22, 2013 Regentrude, on phone can't copy. Her topic was of her choice just as you described. Her goal was to write a process - she chose the fish tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKS Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 I see that she managed to complete the assignment, but my first thought when I read your post was that perhaps she didn't think there was all that much to say about cleaning a fish tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PachiSusan Posted January 22, 2013 Author Share Posted January 22, 2013 ^^. I thought so too but she wanted to write on that topic. She chose it. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PachiSusan Posted January 22, 2013 Author Share Posted January 22, 2013 OP: I added some thoughts to my previous post. Reading now. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PachiSusan Posted January 22, 2013 Author Share Posted January 22, 2013 For a reluctant writer, I would start by having her write whatever she wants, instead of giving specific assignments. I have found that my children's writing improved tremendously by just being allowed to write on their own. My son has been writing "novels" for several years, with elaborate fantasy worlds and characters, and his writing is continually improving; he even recognizes himself that his last year's work is inferior to his current writings. With a student who is a good writer, but resists assignments, I would encourage plenty of creative writing and, for formal exercises, let her choose the topics. As in: "I want you to describe a process to me, can you think of something you'd like to write about? " I vividly remember this type of assignment form school; the worst essay topic was "how I clean my shoes" - the best one was "How to cook pudding". I am back on the computer now so I can write more freely. One thing that you should know about me is that we are using a boxed curriculum so they give us the assignments. There are some that are non - negotiable as in we hand them in for grading. Those cannot be changed to the process that you mention because the mechanics and the topic must be as they assign it. However, all the others are up to me. This particular assignment was for her to write a process. The topic was of her choice. She loves her fish, she loves cleaning the tank with Daddy, so it was a perfect topic for her. The struggle wasn't in the topic. It was in the process of writing. I will give her more of a leeway with her "creative" writing as you suggest. She has been writing a "My Little Pony" novella and it's actually a very cute story. I will have her work on it a little bit a day as creative writing. That is a wonderful idea, thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsp Posted January 29, 2013 Share Posted January 29, 2013 This is a great idea! my son has the same issue, and I can see if this works... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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