Raising Maine

During the last four years I've noticed a common theme at the end-of-year homeschool portfolio reviews I've attended at the Discovery Center of Arts and Sciences in Bath, Maine. At these review sessions, parents who homeschool similarly aged children or who come together from similar homeschool philosophy and/or curriculum (traditional, Christian, eclectic, unschooling, etc.) meet to share projects and photos from the year, to learn about and swap different curricula, to discuss challenges, and to otherwise meet and network with other homeschoolers. Every year the parents I've met have fallen into a discussion about writing -- in general, girls of all ages seem to happily write stories, journal entries and poetry, and the boys will mostly only do so under extreme duress.

I find this to be true with my boys most of the time, too. My boys are both avid readers, and they've both had consistent schooling in handwriting (Handwriting Without Tears is our curriculum) and fine motor development. Both are fantastic with math. Both love to tell stories that they make up and discuss stories that they read... but ask them to write about it?

"MoOOOooom... Ugh.... I don't want toooooo...."

Let the whining begin.

"How long does this have to be?"

With Robby, my seven year old, the problem seems to lie with perfectionism.

"I can't spell".... "Robby, you spell great for a second grader... just do your best, or ask me if you want some help"... "But my handwriting isn't good enough"... "Oh, that's not true... you have beautiful writing... and you are so creative... I love to read your stories...."

With Aaron, my nine year old, the problem seems to be that his head works faster than his hand. He has written a few book reviews and expository pieces that have been, in my not so humble opinion, pretty much amazing for his age, but he really, really hates the process. If I can get him started on something ridiculous or incredibly funny, then he puts less pressure on himself and will write a little freely, but not everything can be ridiculous or funny, right?

Or can it? Robby seems to really like what his brother comes up with, and the other day, after he finished the latest Diary of a Wimpy Kid Book he decided to try his hand at humor. He loves these books, so I thought, "AHA!" I've found my "in"... I'll get him to write about his book.

"Hey, Robby, how about writing a little bit about you Wimpy Kid book? How about writing what you like about it?"

"I like it because it's funny," Robby looked at me like I was turning his favorite pepperoni pizza into steamed broccoli.

"Well, okay, then... write something about why it was funny. Can you write a sentence or so?"

And like magic, he began to write.... tongue out and eyes wide with excitement. I did it! I found the key to Robby's inner author!

And what, you ask, did my little comedic prodigy write??



"It was funny when Manny washed his hands in the urinal."

Nice. I'll be so proud at next spring's portfolio review.