Excerpted from Cindy’s UPCOMING book re-release, Language Arts the Easy Way. Yep! You read right! Our best-selling book is being revamped RIGHT NOW and will be available very soon in its revised and expanded format! Keep posted! Until then, join us for our Talk-a-Latte Online Seminar Series, Language Arts the Easy Way, that begins in just one week. Sign up here!
Frustrated with homeschooling? Frustrated with your young writer? Frustrated with teaching your child to write? Maybe you are not frustrated, but you just wonder if–wondering if they are doing ENOUGH? Wondering if they are on track? Wondering if you can truly trust copywork…notebooking…narration… and creating books to train your young writer? Oh beloved friend, this may very well be one of the most important chapters that you will ever read. God has established a specific way in which our children learn. His way WORKS! His way is truly easy! His way does not change!
One of the most liberating things that we can do as homeschool parents is get to know and understand what God’s way of homeschooling and teaching writing looks like and how it works. The benefits are beyond words–but, that is just GOD! Once we truly understand the process of learning, we can relax and enjoy teaching our children. We can find fun ways to teach difficult concepts. We can slow down to enjoy each and every step along the writing journey, knowing that they WILL get there! So, ready to dig in? What do we need to remember about the process of writing? Let me just share a few things that are vital for us to remember…
Keep in Mind…
- Keep in mind that the process of writing is bit-by-bit! Scripture calls it “precept-upon-precept… line-upon-line… here-a-little… there-a-little.” The process of writing takes TIME. It does not happen in a day… week… month…year… or even a couple of years. Rather, it is a life-long process. A process that happens bit-by-bit! Enjoy each step. Always remember that they WILL get it! It is just bit-by-bit!
- Remember that the process of writing is SLOW. We live in a culture that wants everything fast, instant, and immediate. Think of the rat race that we live in. Everything is FAST–one hour print (actually now we are moving to digital cameras for even FASTER access to pictures)…ten minute oil changes (and let it take 11 minutes!)…microwave meals. Just think about it. Even our appliances are all geared for a FAST pace–microwaves…dishwashers…slow cookers (NOW don’t be fooled by the name! We use these as we are running out the door so our healthy meals are ready to serve at the end of the day.)…bread machines…computers. AND… Think about COMPUTERS–laptops… internet (instant connections!)… wireless (for instant access–anywhere)… eMail (to instantly communicate)… eZines (instantly receive each issue of your favorite magazine or newsletter)… auto-responders (to instantly KNOW that our orders and correspondence went through)… shopping carts (to instantly order)…auto-processing of orders/credit cards (to know instantly that your order is in and on its way)… eBooks (to instantly receive our products so we don’t have to wait for the dreaded USPO to deliver)…Instant Messenger (for those that find that email is too slow). Even when we are IN person, well, we aren’t–we have drive-thru’s for everything–food… cleaners… pharmacies… oil changes… and… please gasp with me–FUNERAL HOMES! We are on a fast track. No wonder we have such a difficult time waiting for our children to learn. It is no wonder that we struggle as we wait for the “process of learning” to bring fruit! Sure. We can use these amazing resources above. But, we must always remember that WHERE IT COUNTS, we must slow down and enjoy the process along the way! Nothing is this more true than as our children learn. If we can slow down and enjoy the process, we will find that writing will become easy and fun! Slow down. Enjoy the process of learning. Enjoy the process of wri ting.
- Don’t forget that God will faithfully lead you each step of the way. God will never, ever leave you alone in this journey. He is there RIGHT NOW! As I look back over the last 16 years of homeschooling, I can see that God has faithfully led me each step of the way. He has gently shown me exactly what was necessary to teach my children naturally all along our journey. He will do the same for you! His only requirement is that we hear and obey Him each step of the way. Then, it all is amazing!
- Know that the process of writing is worth the wait! Wait patiently for the fruit. It is SO worth it! Sure it takes time, but the fruit is priceless! What about your young writer? Are you expecting an immediate product? Are you merely reaching for the immediate product that “schools” expect? Regardless of the child’s interests or delights or even the affinities of their heart, schools want an immediate product. In fact, they want an immediate product regardless of the costs, frustrations, or ramifications. This approach destroys the love of writing! Much too often, it also destroys the student along the way! I am heartbroken that “school” takes away the natural writer in all of us. I believe that we all have that gift deep within, but “school” and its inferior writing methods, as it is, pushes it away. Even “school” at home! Rather, than this, why not reach for real fruit! Why not wait out the whole process and reach for the best? It is worth it!
So…WHAT Does the Process Look Like?
Where is MY Child?
We did not begin to teach writing to our children by assigning them to write essays or papers on topics. The first lessons in writing began with the first little reading times when they were babies! Today, both of our children have written books for years and continue to write professionally. How do you get there?
First, begin by reading to them as infants (or as soon as possible–it is never too late!). Reading widely and regularly is the foundation of all great writers. If there is one thing to do (and do A LOT!) regardless of your teaching style or methods, reading is that ONE THING! Begin with simple picture books and your Bible. As they grow older, make reading a part of your daily life. The effects are immeasurable!
As they begin to show readiness for handwriting, buy them notebooks and supplies to begin making notebooks and homemade books. Beginning to keep copywork and other information in their very own notebooks trains the young student in skills that are necessary to write (and learn) for life. By making materials available for them to access freely, children are easily addicted to writing.
My son authored his first book completely on his own at only 11 years old–AND during Christmas break! It began years ago as he developed an interest in our United States Military. As matter of fact, it took 5 years of reading, studying, asking questions of those in the military, watching video footage of the wars, and making the topic “his own” before my son’s delight flowed into a product of his own. We are including some samples of his book in this book and on the CD so you may see its process, but do not expect your second grader to have a similar product–IT TAKES YEARS!
It not only takes years, but it takes reading and studying so widely that they see a hole that only they can fill! It takes years of collecting information…asking questions that demand that they seek for answers…and digging deeper than is possible with just mere nodding acquaintances that are common to most curriculum or approaches.
My son came to me that year at Christmas and said, “Mom, have you ever noticed (the answer is NO if you are wondering as you read this!) that there is not one book that has a complete, chronological history of the Marines…I find bits here and there…someone needs to write a book with all of it in it…I guess that it will just have to be me!”
YES! I about fell out! It was just a dream that I had once let cross my mind. Which mother does not DREAM of their child taking initiative to write a book of their very own? I never dreamed that he would actually SAY it, much less MEAN it! And, never would I have expected for him to DO IT.
Now, let’s go back…
Did you notice anything? He began that book during his Christmas Break. Yes, you read correctly! He had time off from regular duties and extra time on his hands. His activity of choice was to write a book. Did you read that part in the first of the book about our struggles??? Well, it was more an aversion to the pencil! Matthew detested his school lessons. Lessons would drag on hours for lessons which could be finished easily in just 5-10 minutes. His work was half-hearted… messy… careless… and we were both in tears! Flash forward…this same child was busily writing a book during his Christmas vacation. He even excitedly told me that he thought that he had a gift in writing! (Woohoo! What EVERY homeschool mom would love to hear!)
What caused the transition? I believe it was seeking for GOD’S process of learning. Finding the old paths that could make the process sure and easy. Slowing down, just to go the pace of my child. Getting to know him–his strengths, weaknesses, abilities, and interests. Allowing him to get to KNOW his topic, while letting his writing just flow from the abundance!
Instead of bringing school home, we have opted to bring a lifestyle of learning into our home. We have gone back to the old paths that have been used by the very best writers throughout history. We have allowed the children the time needed to develop interests that are resulting into a delight that simply MUST pour out through their pens. We are equipping them through our daily disciplines with the skills bit-by-bit that they will need to pour out those delights whether on paper or in their play or as they share with others.
So, What About You?
So…where are you today? Frustrated? Wondering if they are doing ENOUGH? Wondering if they are on track? God has established a specific way in which our children learn. His way WORKS! His way is truly easy. His way does not change. My challenge is for you to just try things HIS WAY! Allow all the time that is necessary for your children to develop real interests. Allow time for them to learn bit-by-bit. Give all the time that is necessary for the process of learning to yield its fruit–a writer who delights in writing for God’s Glory! You will love what God will do through your young writer!
Need More Help???
Well, we have it on the way!
First, we kick off 10 weeks of our new online seminar series, Language Arts the Easy Way, next Monday! Need more help? Don’t miss this study! Sign up here today so you don’t miss even one session: http://www.talk-a-latte.com/newstudies.html
Also, get ready for the re-release of Cindy’s best-selling book, Language Arts the Easy Way. Talk about a revised and revamped book! This one is going to blow you away! Have it already? We even have a deal for you. Just keep posted. We will release it very, very soon!
