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[quote=Anonymous]I spent nearly ten years directing a college writing program and have seen  freshmen with all levels of writing skills.  Reading, writing, speaking, thinking are all interrelated -- I realize that sounds obvious.  Grammar drills don't help kids write better sentences; reading good writing, listening to and talking with articulate people does.  The hardest thing to teach a college freshman is to ask good questions.  So the best way to help your child become a better writer is to engage them in critical conversation -- ask them questions, ask them to support their responses ("girls in my school are treated so unfairly!"  "What makes you say that?"  "It's just true!"  "I'm sure it is, but what kinds of things are happening? why would you say they are unfair?").  And kids need to know how to write/speak in something other than "simple" sentences:  talk to them in dependent clauses ("Although I agree with you, I also think. . . "  "While I agree that the world is falling apart, it is also important to realize. . . ").

And don't sweat it.  The hardest thing to unteach is that a kid is a bad writer or hates writing.[/quote]

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