What young writers need most is encouragement and support. Here’s what Colleen Huston, a veteran teacher in West Virginia, recommends:

• Keep a lot of pencils, crayons, markers and paper in your home.

• Ask your child to read her writing to you.

• Accept what your child writes. Don’t correct errors in spelling—unless your child asks.

• Have your child use writing at home—to write a grocery list, take telephone messages, etc.

• Display your child’s papers at home.

• Look over your child’s class- work papers every evening.

• Don’t expect your child’s work to be perfect. Making mistakes is part of the learning process.

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