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New Years Writing Activity – Fun With Resolutions

Judith Darling — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 18:31:38 +0000

Fun with Writing – Writing Activity

This writing assignment should bring a smile to your face and to all who read it.

The tradition of coming up with a New Years resolution each year that will help you be a better person, lose weight, make better grades, be nice to your brother or sister, etc., is usually given up or forgotten within a few days. So how about coming up with a resolution that would be fun, silly, easy to do, and quite possibly, just might be good for you. Or not!

Some examples could be to eat all of your vegetable as long as your parents eat the same ones, or clean your room once a week if you are guaranteed a reward of chocolate each time you accomplish the task. Now doesn’t that seem like a better way to make a resolution?

Pre-writing:

Brainstorm some resolutions. Examples: complete chores, do homework, get up when the alarm goes off, be nice to your siblings, or help mother cook.
Brainstorm ways you could accomplish these resolutions and enjoy doing them. This is where the fun comes in. Examples: You will complete all your chores on time, IF you can have puppy petting time every day. You will do you homework, IF your mom or dad plays a game with you once a week. You will get up when the alarm goes off, IF you don’t have to wash your ears. You will be nicer to your siblings, IF they are nice to you. You will help your mother cook, IF she teaches you how to make chocolate chip cookies.

Rough Draft:
Choose your 2011 resolution and begin writing your rough draft. Be sure to include a good introduction that states what your resolution is and why you chose it. The body of the story should explain how you are going to accomplish sticking to your resolution. Be sure to elaborate on what the resolution means to you and how it can impact your life and the lives of the people around you. In the conclusion you should tell how you think everyone is going to react to your resolution, and whether or not you think you could actually do it.

Edit The Rough Draft:
Have a friend, classmate, or parent help you edit your story.

Write The Final Paper:
Make sure the final paper is your best writing by working to punctuate correctly, check and correct your spelling, capitalize, and elaborate to make it interesting.

Publish:
Share your story with your class, parents, and other family and friends

Finally:
See how long you can really carry out your resolution. Good Luck!

What Great Feedback!

Judith Darling — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 20:24:16 +0000

I recently received an email from the parent of a 9 year old boy telling me how much her son enjoys doing the Daily Dazzle A.

I have to tell you that it is heartwarming to get positive feedback about our products. I hear it all the time from parents and teachers as I travel around the country, but it is especially nice when someone takes the time to write me.

Home Again and Next, School at Sea

Judith Darling — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 18:43:14 +0000

It was nice meeting and talking to so many interesting parents during the 2009 home school conferences. I enjoyed doing all of the workshops and presentations and hope that those of you that attended were able to take home ideas and information that will help make the 2009/2010 year a good one.

Next I am off on a home school group cruise to the Caribbean, School at Sea. It is from the 6th to the 13th of September, and I am really looking forward to it. I am going to do several presentations and a hands on writing workshop, and then spend the rest of the cruise working on the book I am currently writing, on how to teach writing. Maybe I will see some of you on the cruise. Check out my schedule on the home page to link to the cruise, if you are interested.

Writing Workshop Follow-up

Judith Darling — Thu, 14 May 2009 01:43:22 +0000

I have been remiss in keeping up with my blog because of traveling throughout April and May. I did, however, visit with the many home school parents that came to my workshops and stopped by my booth at the conferences I attended in Cincinnati, Alaska, and Texas. The main topic of our discussions was the application of writing and language arts into their children’s curriculum in a meaningful and enjoyable way. I kept hearing “My child hates to write, so what do I to motivate him or her?” We all know how difficult language arts and writing are to teach, and what works for some may not work for others, so I hope that the answers I provided at the conferences have helped. If you have questions about teaching and motivating your reluctant writer, leave a comment here.

Welcome to homeschool writing blog.

Judith Darling — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 20:42:35 +0000

Hello to all home school parents teaching writing. I want to offer support to anyone that has a need. I know teaching writing is difficult and students are resistant, so I have a few ideas on how to do a better job. I have had 30 years of experience teaching writing under my belt that includes kindergarten through eighth grade in public school, many hours tutoring students that needed help in writing, and now home schooling my own granddaughters.

Weekly I will offer a writing tip that can make your life easier, plus answer any questions that you might have. If I don’t know the answer to a question I will research it for you and see what I can come up with.

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