Books for Homeschool: 6+1 Traits of Writing

At the end of the summer each year, my son picks a great big giant project to work on for an entire school year. Last year, he built a wearable costume shaped like a BNSF Railway diesel train engine. This year, he announced that he wanted to write a book.

Although I have done public speaking about writing, gaining confidence to share your story and even how to overcome the many obstacles life throws at you while you're trying to reach your dreams, I've never taught someone the very early basics. My kid is only in the 2nd grade, so I knew this would be a challenge for both of us. He is just learning how to spell and use punctuation, and although I've written eleven books (and counting), I've never had to explain to anyone every single step I undertake as a self-published author. I just... do it.

I knew I needed help. I found a copy of 6+1 Traits of Writing; The Complete Guide Grades 3 and Up by Ruth Culham, and what a lifesaver it's been. There are great tips on creating projects for young writers to help them through finding their voice, learning to revise and sort their story, putting their words in neat order, and working on basic conventions like grammar and presentation. It's a simple road map on how to build a story, breaking it down into steps that are accessible to even the youngest writers. I especially appreciated that the author included sample papers from students in all grades, from grade school to high school, to help me have realistic expectations of my kiddo's writing compared to someone who'd be considered a peer.

If you have a young writer in your home or classroom, I highly recommend adding this book to your teaching arsenal. You can pick up your copy by clicking here.

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