Writing Assignments for Homeschool Kids

Are your children starting to complain about having to complete the same writing assignments each week? Many homeschool parents have a hard time providing variety. Essays have long been regarded as the central exercise for the craft of writing. But there are lots of subjects to write about and lots of ways to write, all of which have something to teach. Children can benefit from journals, book reports, letters, creative writing and even research papers.

Journals

Journaling gives your student a chance to express themselves freely when writing. You can make specific journal assignments where students write about what they are learning, or you can let them write about whatever subject and topic they want. Journals tend to be less intimidating than formal essays or research papers. They can help students relax and find security with their writing skills. When you assign a journal assignment be sure your child takes it seriously. Read your child's school journal periodically to see how their writing is improving. You might try writing responses to the kid's journal entries!

Book Reports

Book reports not only provide writing exercise, they allow parents to monitor their child's reading comprehension and whether they understand the components of whatever type of text they're reporting on. And there are many different ways to do a book report, so you can assign several throughout the year without repetition. You can assign a traditional essay in which the child describes the plot and characters, or ask your student to write the report from the perspective of one of the characters. You could assign a journal/scrapbook from a character's perspective. Both of these exercises allow the child to be creative and stretch their brain. Another form is a 'bag book report,' in which students gather objects that somehow relate to the story they have read. Have your child present their report to you and explain the various components of their bag report. With a bag book report your the child should also write a book report to practice their writing skills. Their report could focus on the objects and how they relate to the story.

Letters

Many homeschool parents overlook the value of letter writing. Letters are used every day in both the personal and professional aspects of adulthood. Teaching your child the components of a business letter will be a big help when they want to enter the workforce. Don't forget to also teach them how to write an effective cover letter for job applications and interviews. Being able to write a succinct and memorable cover letter could make the difference between landing their dream job and not being hired.

Creative Writing

Creative writing is vital for a balanced understanding of writing. Allowing a child to think and write freely will help them develop other important life and academic skills. And there are many kinds: poetry, short stories and even plays. There are many creative writing websites for children to visit and many cities offer creative writing workshops periodically throughout the year. These resources should help you when working with your child on their creative writing assignments. One of the greatest aspects of creative writing is that it can be related to virtually any topic you have been teaching your child. This means you can combine subjects and lessons to create a single assignment instead of overloading your child with work.

Research Papers

Unfortunately, many children look on research papers with the same dislike as they view their essay assignments. You need to help your student see that research papers can be fun. It all depends on the topic! You can research anything. Some college math professors even require their students to write research papers! Since a child can conduct research on just about any topic, let them have fun and choose a topic on their own. This will help keep the assignment interesting and engaging. When assigning a research paper, be sure to talk about plagiarism and the proper documentation of quotations and outside materials. These are important skills to know for college and the workplace.