250. Reading Aloud: Why Teach Writing Mechanics with Living Literature?
Aug 14, 2024
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Julie, a writing education expert from Brave Writer, discusses the transformative power of living literature in teaching writing mechanics. She outlines a six-step process for engaging children, from reading aloud to free writing. Julie shares how literature fosters a love for language and self-expression while easing the anxiety often tied to writing challenges. With examples tailored for various age groups, she emphasizes the importance of positive feedback and innovative approaches in nurturing young writers.
Living literature enhances writing mechanics by immersing students in emotionally resonant texts that inspire originality and self-expression.
Reading aloud to children develops their fluency and appreciation for complex language, crucial for refining their own writing skills.
Engaging students through observation and guided questions transforms reading into a dynamic process that cultivates critical writing understanding.
Deep dives
The Concept of Living Literature
Living literature refers to high-quality, well-written books that engage readers on an emotional and intellectual level. It emphasizes the importance of literature that resonates with readers, fostering a sense of connection to the characters and ideas presented. Notably, these works can include both fiction and nonfiction, such as the powerful narrative in 'Braiding Sweetgrass', which highlights the value of beautifully crafted writing. Engaging with living literature enriches the reader's imagination and vocabulary, serving as a foundation for developing writing skills.
Integrating Writing Mechanics with Literature
Teaching the mechanics of writing through living literature aligns with the goal of nurturing original self-expression in students. Mechanics encapsulate grammar, punctuation, and style, yet they should enhance rather than overshadow a child's voice. This teaching method contrasts with traditional education, which often emphasizes mechanical accuracy and adherence to rules, potentially stifling creativity. By using engaging texts, educators can better support students' self-expression, ensuring that mechanics serve as a tool for conveying ideas rather than becoming the focal point.
The Role of Reading Aloud
Reading aloud to children is crucial for tuning their ears to the rhythms and patterns of high-quality language. This practice fosters fluency in expressive writing by immersing students in the nuances of language that spoken communication utilizes. For example, when engaging in a conversation, much is conveyed through inflection and expression, elements often lost in written form. By experiencing literature read aloud, children develop an appreciation for the complexities of written language, which is essential for refining their own writing skills.
Investigating Writing Through Observation
Encouraging children to actively observe the text enhances their understanding of writing mechanics and quality. Through guided questions during reading, students can identify elements like punctuation, literary devices, and stylistic choices. This strategy transforms reading into a dynamic conversation about writing, helping children to articulate their observations and insights. Engaging with texts in this manner cultivates a critical eye for writing, encouraging learners to appreciate the artistry involved in effective communication.
Building Confidence in Writing Skills
To nurture proficient writing skills, it is essential to address the anxiety often associated with writing, termed 'peril'. Many students feel overwhelmed by feedback that primarily highlights errors rather than encouraging their efforts. Methods such as copywork, dictation, and reverse dictation serve to reinforce mechanics in a supportive and engaging way. These practices allow students to build their writing fluency while maintaining a focus on their unique voices, ultimately leading to a more confident approach to writing.
What’s living literature? What does it have to do with teaching your kids grammar and spelling? Today’s episode is a recording of Julie’s webinar where she explains the heart of Brave Writer’s approach to teaching writing.
Julie explains how immersion in rich, powerful literature is the best way to teach your child writing mechanics. She outlines the Brave Writer process in six steps: Parent reads aloud; student reads to themselves; student keenly observes what they read and asks investigative questions; student tests what they know through copywork and dictation; student corrects their own work; and student free writes.
With specific examples and colorful anecdotes, Julie dives into the details for each step. She also breaks them down by program level: The Quill (5-7 year olds), Dart (8-10), Arrow (11-12), Boomerang (13-14), and Slingshot (15-18).
If you’ve been looking for a distillation of what exactly Brave Writer is, this is the episode for you.
Resources:
Start a free trial of CTCmath.com to try the math program that’s sure to grab and keep your child’s attention.
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