I HAVE NO IDEAS
Most writing exercises require the student to come up with ideas and write them down. In elementary school, my son was a reluctant writer because he could not come up with ideas to write. His sisters, on the other hand, could write lengthy fiction stories all day long in elementary school. He needed a different approach to writing because writing is a skill and skills need continuous practice to grow.
DICTATION VIRTUES
Dictation teaches listening skills, penmanship, spelling, vocabulary, grammar, syntax, memory skills, and accuracy. When my son read the completed passages back to me, he also practiced oration skills. Dictation allowed him to write without creating ideas. I clearly remember dictation exercises up through the 5th grade in the seventies, so it seemed like an option worth pursuing.
DICTATION METHOD
The exercise began with me reading one sentence at a time out loud at a speed that allowed him to write neatly. I spelled out the words that he did not know. He had a cursive letter guide as a reference. When he completed a sentence, he would read it back to me. I would also check his spelling and punctuation. As his skills improved, the length of the passages increased. The exercises took about 10 – 15 minutes a day.
DICTATION RESOURCES
I chose passages from a wide variety of sources to provide interest and content lessons. My favorite source for the early elementary years was Emma Serl’s Language Primary and Intermediate Lessons books. I also used Bible verses. In the later elementary years, I dictated the conclusions for lab reports.
AFTER THE DICTATION YEARS
Starting in the 5th grade we used Writing with Skill by Susan Wise Bauer. This curriculum was perfect for a student who has a hard time coming up with writing ideas. Students analyze interesting passages and write based on facts in the passages. The analytical approach avoids the need for students to create ideas but still reinforces writing skills.
MY SON’S SUCCESS IN WRITING
Starting the writing journey with dictation was not a detriment to future success in writing. I admit the journey was hard for him, but he managed to gain writing skills throughout high school. An Elegant Essay course that my English major daughter beefed up for him and his friends in the 10th grade helped him practice essay structure, outlining, and thinking logically. In 11th grade, he was able to get an “A” in an English 111course at the community college. The college course was not easy, but he worked very hard, getting help when needed. Writing comes easy to some students while it does not for others. With diligent practice and good instruction, the skills can be learned by a reluctant writer. My son is evidence that a reluctant writer can develop into a good writer. He still hates it, but he can do a good job now.
Musing: a period of reflection or thought. As such this post reflects my thoughts, opinions, and experiences on the topic. The choice to home school and the methods you choose are yours to determine.