Writing Woes - Help!

[Classically Minded]

My dd9 was doing ok at writing up until we started 3rd grade this year. She had some difficulty with WWE 3 dictation but now is doing ok in that. However, in questions and narration after reading - she can't seem to do it anymore. It isn't just the writing curriculum, it is also after she reads her history section or morning reading. She can hardly answer any questions and cries trying to write down a narration or tell me one. This was not a problem with her, so I'm wondering why all the sudden it has become one this year? Is she not comprehending what she is reading or is it too advanced or is she just being lazy? I asked her and she cries and says she doesn't know why she can't remember what she has read. She reads all the time - up to 4 hours a day now, most of her own choosing. So, I know that she is understanding the stories or she wouldn't keep reading the books right? So confused and feeling for her because she broke down on me today crying because every day has been like this for a while with writing. HELP!

 

*To add - we have tried having her record her narration on a recorder and play it back and write it down, but she is having trouble remembering what she read to even come up with a narration in the first place. I try to ask questions to jog her memory but she can't get them either.

[Classically Minded]

Is she becoming more emotional overall?? Have you noticed any signs of puberty (not unheard of at 9) or other physical/emotional/mental growth?

 

Not anymore than she usually is, although she is having an increased problem being easily distracted. She has always been a hyper kid, but lately she can't seem to stay on task and gets distracted a lot! Now that you mention the mental part, we just had a baby 3 months ago and it is her first sibling. She was the center of everything around here but now with her baby brother around, she is having to share the attention. I wonder if that is somehow a part of this? I also had a hard pregnancy being on bed rest and was unable to be there for her a lot during that time - that is when all this started, that is also around when we started 3rd grade though. Hmm...

[8filltheheart]

I would suspect that adjusting to having a baby is a huge part of the problem. Before worrying too much, I would do some simple things to help guage what is going on. I would pre-read what she is reading and take notes and generate questions with pages numbers on my note. Then I would sit with her while she reads and stop her every 3-5 mins and talk about what she has read. It should help you see if she is not comprehending or if perhaps her mind is wandering over longer periods of time b/c she isn't able to focus and retain. If she can do it at 3-5 mins, then gradually up it to about 10 mins, etc. I would also try to make it snuggly, mommy-comfort time. Let her snuggle up to you while she is reading even if you are holding and feeding the baby.

 

I would drop written narrations for now. Work on the memory issue by helping her gradually refocus on what she is reading. Turn writing into something light and fun, whatever that might be. It could be writing fiction, creating a newspaper with little articles on things going on outside around you (weather, animals, plants, whatever), a little research booklet on something that interests her (for example, my 11 yr old is fascinated with planets and moons right now and is getting ready to create her own little book with little chpts (think a few sentences per "chpt" for a 3rd grader) complete with pictures, table of contents, etc). You get the idea.

 

 

[Classically Minded]

Have you been able to get into a schedule with the new baby? Does she know what the schedule is (written out, or the same every.single.day., etc)?

 

It is so amazing that I didn't even think about that, having the new baby and me not being there for her as much, is what could be the problem. Up until you replied, it wasn't even in my thoughts - thank you so much for triggering that for me because this must be a big part of the issue.

 

No, I don't have a schedule unfortunately - it has been pretty chaotic around here and I've been stressed a lot trying to figure out how to do it with the baby. I have no family or help. She has no clue how our day will go (neither do I LOL) and I realize now that she needs that order - it has been haphazard-living around here lately. I will say do this or do that next but it is hardly ever the same each day. So much to think on!!

 

I'm wondering besides spending more time with her and scheduling life - what can I do to help her get back to concentrating more on what she is reading? Is there a curriculum out there we could do for a while that would increase her comprehension and ease the burden right now, something for struggling writers?

[Classically Minded]

I would pre-read what she is reading and take notes and generate questions with pages numbers on my note. Then I would sit with her while she reads and stop her every 3-5 mins and talk about what she has read.

 

I will try this and see how it goes!

[jer2911mom]

Is she getting enough sleep? Does the baby sleep near her and wake her up? Congrats on your new little one!

 

HTH,

Kathy

[Classically Minded]

Is she getting enough sleep? Does the baby sleep near her and wake her up? Congrats on your new little one!

 

HTH,

Kathy

 

I'm lucky because the baby sleeps 12 hours! My dd9 sleeps 10, so no, sleep is not a problem! :laugh:

[Classically Minded]

Just updating this post with what I decided to do. We are putting WWE 3 away and going back and doing WWE 2 again. I feel she needs the extra practice and with the new baby and changes that brings, it will allow her to take a break from the challenging work in WWE 3.