Thanks to Dottie's input, I am beginning to see that she isn't so much behind, as just on track for her age in that particular area. I guess we just aren't used to seeing that since she is advanced in science and math.
This is a big relief Melmichigan! First gifted denial makes us think that our kids are 'average' - then gifted denial makes us think that there is something terribly wrong when our kids actually perform at an average level. ((shrug)) All part of our learning process!
I think that age 9 is a terrific age to start teaching 'keyboard skills' or 'touch typing' if you haven't already. Just pick up an instuctional program and figure out a way for her to spend 15 minutes a day, just like a musical instrument. I know that you are asking about 'Writing' and it might not look to some what being able to type comfortably has to do with creating an essay, or telling a story in words, but I wouldn't try to teach tennis to a kid who didn't know how to run, would any of you? Even if you could find a crawler who understood the rules or tennis, and could manage to hit a ball with a racket, what fun would it be without being able to run from one spot to another.
So - if I ever get to homeschool 'Language Arts' this is how I would approach the subject:
1) Break LA down into all the component skills and practice them seperatly and, at times, together.
spelling - pre tests and post tests, and teaching the child the knack of sitting down and rote memorizing on their own, if only for 90 seconds.
grammer - units and practice from a book.
Art of writing appreciation - use the 6+1 traits to analyse how wonderful storytelling makes us feel. How did the author do what she did?
Reading - what are the catagories of written material? Where are they found in a library? How might one sample a work and see if it's interesting? Which Genres does one like? How do two books compare and contrast?
Typing - learning the mechanical skill of keyboarding without looking at one's fingers.
Powerpoint presentations - teaches skills that used to be used in outlines
Using a video camera to record the child telling stories, or acting them out with dolls, etc.
Daily Journal writing.
Graphic Organizer practice:
http://www.brightminds.us/getProduc...ction_to_display=product_sample_page.jspSome pre-research paper writing skills - Having a poster with 'fill in the blank' spaces about onself or a famous person, and filling in the blanks. Check out 'Big 6' as a cookbook approach to research.
There must be more, but I'm going through all this to show that there is a lot more to learning to write for a 9 year old than 'brainstorm-outline-rough draft-polish.'
I totally agree that writing daily is key. I'm not so sure that 'correcting' the daily writing is so important.
Here's the big exciting finish:
I think that some students benifit from being taught to 'brainstorm-outline-rough draft-polish' and all children should at least be exposed to that method, BUT for some gifted children, like my DS12, it isn't what he needs or finds helpful.
He does much better 'automatic writing' then copy /paste/delete for the organizational step, then copy edit. To tell the truth, 90% of his copy edit goes on during his 'automatic writing' - which I know is against the rules, but the kid has a monster working memory and it doesn't slow him down. Will my DS someday write a 100 page paper and need to make an outline and note cards? I would guess so, but until then, I'm not going to force him into it, just check that he knows how for when the time comes, KWIM?
I just miss the time that I wasted going, "If only he would use a graphic organizer! Notecard! Whatever!"
((shrugs))
Grinity