How Do I Teach Writing?
Some Ideas on How to Set up a Language Arts/Writing Program

A good language arts program is one that keeps the students challenged, is easily assessed by the child and the parent, is age and interest appropriate, and is repetitive enough that the students learn the material. Razzle Dazzle Learning Company's materials will make teaching language arts and writing something parents and students will look forward to.

1. Students should be writing every day on more than one assignment. Here are some suggestions for daily, weekly, and long term writing assignments.
   1. A daily bell product such as Daily Dazzle that includes grammar, parts of speech, punctuation, editing, antonyms, synonyms, homonyms, writing, and much more.
   2. A weekly creative writing story that is fun and interesting for the students and easily assessed by the student and parent, like the ones found in Creative Writing By Razzle Dazzle. It should be assigned on Monday, a rough draft due on Wednesday and the final paper due on Friday.
   3. A weekly letter, written about a book the student reads daily, incorporating the elements of literature to show reading comprehension as well as give extra writing practice. This lesson is available in Expository Writing by Razzle Dazzle.
   4. A long term research paper based on something the students are studying in social studies, science, or math so the program is integrated. Expository Writing by Razzle Dazzle has complete, student directed and easily assessed lessons on the complete process for writing a research paper.
   5. A project to go with the research paper.
2. The entire language arts/writing experience should be interesting, fun, and stress free for the parent and the child. How can that be accomplished?
   1. Make sure the student understands what the expectations are before they start the assignments.
   2. Provide interesting and fun lessons that guide the student through the assignment instead of lessons where the parents have to be the guide
   3. Have students self assess assignments before they are turned in.
   4. Give positive feedback.
3. Have a good dictionary and thesaurus readily available. Even though we have the Internet, it is important for students to learn how to use the dictionary and thesaurus.