Charlene Notgrass
Our Mary Evelyn is an excellent writer, but that wasn't always the case. The process of Mary Evelyn going from brand new homeschool student to writer was not a smooth one, at least not in the eyes of her mama and daddy. She learned to read later than we expected. Once she learned to read, it was several years before she liked to read. Her handwriting, which is beautiful now, was far from beautiful until she was in her teens.
So how did Mary Evelyn become a writer (an excellent writer in her mama’s humble opinion)?
1. We read great books to her.
2. Once she learned to love reading, I required her to read great books, even in the summertime — but not so many as to be unfair or feel like a burden.
3. I required her to write in a journal for ten minutes four days a week.
4. I let things she wanted to write become part of “school.”
5. We visited historic sites related to books and authors.
6. We did gentle grammar but not too much.
7. We praised her.
8. We set an example of discipline and completing important things.
9. She took a one-semester writing course offered by a local teacher one time. I wasn’t super impressed with it.
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