<p>My son is a bright student. He's a junior at a very good in state math/science school. Writing has never been his forte. His progress report is reflective of the need to improve and one of his teachers commented that this is an area he really needs to improve in. Even though he's been told "forever" if you read more, your writing will improve, (I've been leading the horse to water for years). </p>
<p>He does not seem to like reading books, novels, and usually will not independently read unless it is an assigned reading. I need your help, Parents. If you know of any online writing resources, (preferably free/low cost), that you may be willing to share with us, it would appreciated. </p>
<p>It's my thought that although he may have grasped the idea of what his teachers want from him when writing, he is having a problem with formulating his ideas and putting them down on paper. And I realize even with me providing him with additional resources it will still be up to him to do what it takes to improve. Hope I've not rambled too much, and thanks all for your help.</p>
<p>Writing improves with writing and revising.</p>
<p>He needs to want to write and have a reason for writing and then get practice writing and revising.</p>
<p>That said I was reviewing the work of one of our recent new hires (MSCS) from MIT and it was clear to me that strong writing skills are not mandatory for every job.</p>
<p>You think I should suggest he journal every day? I am at a loss as to how to guide him. I would just hate for writing to lower his GPA, especially in this very important junior year of high school.</p>
<p>From listening to other parents over the years, I think this is a fairly common problem. </p>
<p>Some students struggle with the mechanics of writing. Reading could help here. Perhaps also tutoring. </p>
<p>Others (like one of my kids) are good readers and are fine with the mechanics… once they finally get started. They may be totally procrastinating, or they may be “writing it in their head” first, even though committing an outline on paper would be better technique.</p>
<p>Isn’t that backward thinking? He’s not a great writer…has trouble putting thoughts on paper which is a fairly necessary life, school and work skill…all confirmed by teachers. He won’t tackle it on his own…a class is the best thing with a teacher assigning reading and writing. So his GPA takes a hit. If he’s not headed for humanities in college, which doesn’t sound like it since you have him in a math/science high school, a B in a writing intensive class isn’t going to cause a huge blip. If GPA is the most important thing to you and your student then he can do the remedial stuff in college because sooner or later it will catch up, especially if teachers are pointing it out now. Do you have a nearby community college where he can take some basic reading/writing classes as an EC? Unfortunately these days and for the past decade or so the vast majority of K-12 schools are just not stressing the reading and writing part of education and it shows in many, many kids.</p>
<p>There was a thread recently by a parent who had a student (I believe a soph) with similar concerns. You might want to do a search and see some of the things suggested. You will find that reading, writing and revision, with the possibility of a summer workshop at community colleges were all discussed. I believe her focus was more on the college essay, but the same applies.</p>
<p>My son, class 2011, doesn’t have a natural ability to write and is far stronger in math and science. Engineers have to communicate too! He has stayed in the AP language classes to be challenged in this area and to learn these skills. This year his biggest challenge isn’t AP Physics or Calc, it’s AP Lit. It may be the only B+/B that goes to colleges on his mid-term. So be it. He is learning a lot from a teacher that is demanding a lot. He has been more than happy to work with my son to improve his writing skills. Outlining was one tip as another member pointed out. His teacher is fully aware that he is doing the homework, reading the literature required, etc. The in-class writing just kicks his rear-end. It’s not something he enjoys, but he is really learning through doing. Will his GPA ‘take a hit’? Who knows, perhaps? The trade off is well worth it. I highly doubt any of his tier one schools will reject him over a B+ in AP Lit. He may be rejected, but the Lit grade won’t be the reason.</p>
<p>NOTE: I found the link to the previous thread mentioned. There may be some information that would be helpful to you.</p>
<p>He is in a math/science school but he has always been pretty well rounded with regards academics, meaning he enjoys and does well with music, science, (math, not so much), and a touch of the humanities, (just not the writing/reading for pleasure parts or getting what he needs expressed on paper). He loves the discussion of ideas. My concern with GPA is that he has certain schools in mind for the future, and a grade lower than a B, IMO, could possibly hinder his acceptance. Looking at his progress report, he could possibly, if he does not improve, get the C or a low B. </p>
<p>You and I know that he will one day have to tackle writing if college is in his future. I love your idea, Momofthreeboys, regarding the local community college. I will have to look into this regarding scheduling. A bigger problem is that his school is not in our town. He lives at school, so a writing class would have to take place more than likely online or in the summer months.</p>
<p>I would have him do an intensive summer writing program at an independent school which won’t count. This is important and will serve him forever.</p>
<p>Free will be the problem, but some of the very good prep schools do offer scholarships if you show need. I’d look at Choat’s writing program.</p>
<p>I just downloaded a bunch of the Kaplan free books for Kindle. I was surprised to see the number of ebooks Kaplan has for writing. You can download the Kindle app directly to your computer, or better yet your student can download it to their computer. These are free downloads through 1/17. I have a freshman so anything I thought might be useful in the next few years got downloaded. We can always delete later. If you prefer other ebook formats (Nook, etc.) they are available for download there as well. These might be worth a shot as supplemental study materials.</p>
<p>It is important to learn to write well, especially ability to do a research paper. D1 is not a natural writer (more of a math/science person), but her high school had writing requirement in every subject (from English to science). It helped her tremendously when she went to college. She had to spend a lot less time in writing a paper than most other students. The time she saved on writing, she was able spend on other things.</p>
<p>I think I would get a tutor for him instead of going to community college. When it comes to writing, it is most effective when there is immediate feedback - write a paper, have someone critic it, then write another. At my kid´s high school, due to small size of classroom, they are able to get their papers back very quickly with teacher´s comments. They are then able to use those comments to help them with their next paper. What I often hear from parents who have kids at large public school is their kids don´t get their papers back until months later, by then they have forgotten what they wrote.</p>
<p>I do agree that ability to write will serve him well later, not just to get higher GPA in high school.</p>
<p>Oldfort, it’s not just the GPA, as stated I’ve been trying to get him interested in reading for pleasure in hopes that it would help to improve his writing for a while now, in fact years. But at this present time it can affect his GPA, which is why I’d like to give him the tools to do a better job. </p>
<p>You have given me additional food for thought regarding tutoring, and I will definitely follow up on it.</p>
<p>As a writing teacher, I say take the class, whether at high school during the year or at the local cc over the summer. Then take another one. </p>
<p>I ask my students if they know the difference between my writing and theirs. The answer is that I’m 30 years ahead of them in the practice department. Kids who don’t read and who don’t have a good ear for the language don’t pick up writing over a summer or in a few sessions with a tutor. They have to practice over time.</p>
<p>One good thing about “forced” reading and writing, and I know because I have a son who I had to entice with Captain Underpants to read in elementary school while older brother was plowing through “adult” books in elementary is that they do stumble upon writers they end up enjoying. My non-reader plugged away at AP Lit and AP English in high school, discovered a couple writers he likes and was told by a prof this past college freshman fall that he was “a good writer.” Now that prof may have been on drugs but it was music to my ears (and my son’s ears.)</p>
<p>I think reading is the foundation of good writing. One thing to think about is whether he could do more exploration of reading he might enjoy. I’ve found that sometimes people think they don’t enjoy reading, when it’s actually that they don’t enjoy reading fiction. This is probably because for so many people, reading for pleasure = fiction. If this might be the case for him, look for the type of nonfiction that appeals to him. Magazines can be great, since they seem so non-academic and you can just read a quick article here or there. Maybe something like New Scientist or Popular Mechanics, or whatever matches his interest. In books, something like Freakonomics or A Brief History of Time maybe. I do think this would help his writing, though it may take some time!</p>
<p>In my experience with boys (2 sons) sometimes writing issues are developmental. DS1’s writing made me tear out my hair and wonder whether English was his native language. But by the time he was a senior in HS it had markedly improved and he did excellent work in college. DS2 (sr. in HS)–definitely has that math/science brain and all these college app essays have been a struggle. Could have used the excellent advice on this thread. 20/20 hindsight.</p>
<p>I too had always thought that strong/avid readers=strong writers but that is not the case with my son. He is on his first year of HS and has always struggled with expressing his thoughts and formulating his ideas. He has always been a huge reader and can plow through a 600 page book in a half a day. He is a strong student (A’s) and his strengths are in math and science and anything technical. He is very analytical and understands the mechanics of a good essay but his essays still end up being very dry and to the point. He just can’t seem to express feelings and breathe life into his writing. I’m not sure a class will help him with this. Knowing the importance of his college essay in a few years really makes me nervous for him. Let’s face it, the world is biases towards strong communicators. Any advice appreciated.</p>
<p>I agree that if you have a disinterested reader that any reading is good reading. Rolling Stone, sports related publications if they have an interest in a particular sport, the newspaper, short stories, really anything. As far as “writing” I recommend a poetry class over a creative writing class. That is a class that can release hidden creative “juices” in repressed writers. I know with my boys after all the long papers and essays that come along with AP History, write-ups with Physics and sciences and some of the English classes, poetry was “fun.”</p>
but it was music to my ears (and my son’s ears.)</p>