Now that you have learned about the writing traits, you are ready to help your child become a better writer. To learn more about what you can do at home choose from the ideas in the table below.

How do I help my child revise a paper?

One way to help your child to become a better writer is to help them revise papers they are writing at home. Often it is best to wait a couple of days after writing a paper before revising it. Sometimes you can better see a paper's strengths and weaknesses after you have set it aside for a while. Now that you have learned about the rubrics, use the characteristics in the rubrics to offer your child specific details about how to improve a trait in his writing. Follow these simple steps to help your child revise a paper:

1. Both you and your child should read the paper aloud first, then silently.
2. After reading it aloud, go back to the rubric for the specific trait you are working on.
3. Only revise one trait at a time.
4. Reread the writing and choose a couple of places to work on that are connected with the rubric. If you select too many things to change, both you and your child may become frustrated and discouraged. Focus on the areas that need the most significant work to improve the piece. You do not have to correct every mistake.
5. Use specific language to help your child revise his writing. Saying, "Add details" is not enough. Instead you might pick a spot that needs more detail and ask your child to tell you more about that part. Then, help your child to select the most important parts to add. No matter what trait you are working on be specific!

What activities can I do at home to support writing?

1. Read! Read! Read! Read together. Read separately. Enjoy books. Share with your child what you love about a book, and have them share with you. Ask your child about what he or she is reading. Reading and writing go hand in hand. The more you read, the better writer you become.
2. Write each other notes. Have your child leave you a note in the morning. Leave your child a note in his lunchbox or on the table each day.
3. Write lists together. Have your child help you make to-do lists, grocery lists, etc.
4. Make sure you have plenty of writing materials and resources at home that everyone has access to such as: pens, pencils, paper, markers, stationery, post-it notes, dictionaries, a thesaurus, a writing handbook.
5. Create a family journal. Write about family vacations, special accomplishments, significant events, holidays, special memories, difficult experiences, etc.
6. Create a photo album or scrabook. Make labels or captions to practice word choice and ideas.
7. Encourage your child to write letters to friends, family, a pen pal, or even a famous person.
8. Start a tradition of using a new vocabulary word every week in your family. Each week someone new could choose the word. See how many times you can use the word in family conversations.
9. Share your writing with each other. Be excited to listen to and make comments about your child's writing. Don't be afraid to share something you have written with your child.
10. Value reading and writing. If your child sees that it is important to you, it will become important to them.

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