{"id":4592,"date":"2021-12-19T19:49:07","date_gmt":"2021-12-19T19:49:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tutoringwithatwist.ca\/?p=4592"},"modified":"2026-04-11T20:15:41","modified_gmt":"2026-04-11T20:15:41","slug":"how-to-teach-writing-skills-for-elementary-students-at-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tutoringwithatwist.ca\/ns\/how-to-teach-writing-skills-for-elementary-students-at-home\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Teach Writing Skills for Elementary Students at Home"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

Children are, by nature, remarkable storytellers. Once they acquire language, they can and will weave the wildest tales for your listening pleasure. As they haven\u2019t yet had their minds moulded by common trends and tropes in popular stories, it\u2019s impossible to predict what plot twist they will throw at you next. And, if you\u2019re able to write them down, there\u2019s no greater joy than the side-splitting laughter brought on by rereading their crazy stories ten years later. It\u2019s even better if you can get them to scribe their own stories as a way of developing writing skills for elementary school.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

For elementary-aged children, \u201cwriting\u201d is a nebulous term. It could mean learning how to print the alphabet, figuring out how to structure plots, or anything in between. No matter where your child is currently, you can help. Students will get writing practice at school, but there is a lot of supplemental work you can do from home.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

One of our academic advisors, Rhiannon<\/a>, has shared her views as an experienced elementary teacher, and we\u2019re thrilled to lend you her advice!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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\"writing<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Good Readers Make Good Writers<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Strong reading skills lead to strong writing skills, so it\u2019s important to read often. Start by reading to your child while they\u2019re young, pointing out each word as you go. This will help them associate combinations of letters with the sounds they make. Encourage them to repeat after you so they can acquire the skills for themselves.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Rhiannon mentions that, \u201cfor a younger or non-reading student, it is so important for parents and families to read to the child daily. When children see their role models reading, they are more likely to want to emulate this behaviour themselves.\u201d She also recommends that \u201celementary students should read for at least thirty minutes each day,\u201d noting that \u201cbeginning or non-readers may have to start somewhere small like ten minutes and gradually add time each day or week.\u201d The more the better!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Once your child is able to read on their own, challenge them with books at or beyond grade level. Help them with active reading<\/strong>. If they come across a word they don\u2019t know, have them look it up in the dictionary. Demonstrate how to take notes about characters and events while reading. Have them point out literary devices like metaphors and personification. And, after they\u2019ve finished a chapter, ask them to summarize it for you. This will aid with their reading comprehension which will make a massive difference in their writing.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

If you\u2019re looking for a place to get started, check out this list of graphic novels for kids<\/a>. And, to keep track of all the books you read, use this awesome visual reading log<\/a> from EveryDay-Reading.com!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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Practice Printing<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Many kids struggle to make their writing neat and legible, but you can help. There are plenty of education resources<\/a> filled with activities to assist students with their writing skills for elementary school, and you can work together on them from home. Even something so simple as spending a little extra time tracing letters every day can make a difference. Just print out some alphabet tracing templates<\/a> and get started!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Even if your child isn\u2019t dyslexic, employing dyslexia learning strategies<\/a> can make learning the alphabet far easier. For example, make sure they are using a different set of pencil strokes to shape the letters \u201cp\u201d and \u201cq\u201d so that they don\u2019t get mixed up. Lead by example\u2014kids are masters of monkey see, monkey do!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Rhiannon says that one of the most important things you can do as a parent is to always encourage your child to write. \u201cI think it is critical, when students are working on reading and writing, that it is practiced consistently at both home and school (and tutoring if applicable). All members of the child\u2019s team should be encouraging their writing, even if it isn\u2019t yet legible, doesn\u2019t make sense, or is not perfectly edited.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

As with any skill, the key is consistency. Have your child practice their printing often so that they develop confidence in their neatness and accuracy. Once they graduate from tracing letters, provide them with exercises requiring them to write words using all the letters of the alphabet to keep things familiar. Spacing between letters matters, and it can take time to get the hang of, but practice makes perfect.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Prepare for Spelling Tests<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Copying words is one thing, but spelling them off the top of your head is another. If your child has spelling tests at school, take an active role in helping them study. This can look like arranging mock spelling tests, asking your child to write a series of sentences which use the spelling test words, or having your child write the words with their definitions.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The goal of a spelling test should not be to see if kids can memorize the way the words are spelled, but to have the kids acquire those words as functional parts of their vocabulary. Explain to your child that, just like a tradesperson has tools to do their job, words are their tools to use while writing. The more they have, the better!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

You don\u2019t need to wait for the teacher to announce a spelling test\u2014you can organize your own spelling tests at home. Check out this great list of elementary vocabulary words<\/a>, sorted by grade level. You can use these as a launching point, but you can throw in whatever you think is worth knowing.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Practice Essential Writing Skills for Elementary School<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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Keep a Daily Writing Log<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Once your child has the skills to spell words and form sentences, turn writing into a habit. Sorry, parents, but you\u2019re on the hook for this one! It is imperative that your child dedicates a few minutes (or more) every day to writing something.<\/em> They could simply detail the events of their day at school, or maybe they could describe something they\u2019re eagerly anticipating. Whatever it is, make sure they have the time to write about it every single day.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

If they\u2019re having a hard time writing something, give them a prompt. You can make this into a game, and it\u2019s lots of fun! Provide the first sentence for them, and have them tell a story with it (this works wonders). Ask them how they would spend a million dollars. Get them to design a mansion using only words. You can also play to their passions, whatever those passions are. If they\u2019re into cars, tell them to describe their dream vehicle. If they like art, have them describe the most beautiful painting they\u2019ve ever seen. The options are endless!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Rhiannon knows the benefits of having her students write about their passions, and she uses the technique often. She notes that, \u201cwith older elementary students, I will show them a list of writing prompts and get them to pick the topic that most interests them. For example, a student may not enjoy writing a report, but they could really love writing their own creative fiction story!\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Answer the Five W\u2019s and H (Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How)<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Wait, I thought Mr. Socks was eating an ice cream cone\u2026 When did he get a hot dog? And how did he suddenly go from climbing Mt. Everest to snorkelling in Hawaii?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

While your child is writing their masterpiece, remind them to answer the five W\u2019s and H. This will ensure that they\u2019re able to effectively get their point across and establish some semblance of sense. Nonsense is hilarious and a treat to read, but your child can still write hilarious nonsense while answering the five W\u2019s and H.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Study the Shape of Stories<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

As your child hones their writing chops, it will be important for them to consider the essential aspects of stories. The five most important ones are the following:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n