Question 1

Why Does Writing Become Harder in Middle School?

Accepted Answer

Middle school students must complete more sophisticated assignments, like five-paragraph essays. They must also do more critical thinking. These tasks are especially difficult for students who have done only a little writing in elementary school.

Question 2

Why Does My Child Struggle to Write?

Accepted Answer

Writing is scary; even professional writers will tell you that they struggle. But they know which writing models to use, so they can overcome their fears. Most kids struggle to write because they lack clear models. Once they have these models, they have less fear.

Question 3

Why Is My Child’s Writing So Simple?

Accepted Answer

When children are in elementary school, it’s actually fine for their writing to be simple. At this age, many kids lack the cognitive development for sophisticated ideas. But starting in 6th grade, kids must produce more sophisticated writing, including five-paragraph essays. At this point, if their writing is simple, kids might need more feedback, practice with sentence combining, or grammar instruction.

Question 4

Why Are My Child’s Sentences So Short?

Accepted Answer

Your child might feel nervous about writing, so he writes sentences that feel safe to him. Or he might need more help combining his ideas into longer sentences. Learning grammar helps students by showing them logical ways to build longer, more sophisticated sentences.

Question 5

Why Do Some Students Use Simple Vocabulary Even When They Read Well?

Accepted Answer

Their active vocabulary is smaller than their reading vocabulary; many students can guess the meaning of a word from context but are unable to use the word properly in a sentence.

Question 6

Why Do Strong Students Struggle With Essays?

Accepted Answer

Some students read well and think well but struggle to organize their thoughts. They need a lot of practice writing thesis statements and topic sentences.

Question 7

How Do Students Develop More Sophisticated Writing?

Accepted Answer

There are two parts to developing sophisticated writing: improving sentence complexity and improving thinking. To improve sentence complexity, kids should study grammar and use that knowledge to write more sophisticated sentences. To improve thinking, kids should write out their ideas and discuss them with adults who can help point out weaknesses in the argument.

Question 8

Why Is Vocabulary So Important for Writing?

Accepted Answer

Good vocabulary helps kids express themselves clearly and write sophisticated arguments. It helps them avoid needless repetition and gives them pride in their work.

Question 9

Why Don’t School English Classes Always Improve Writing?

Accepted Answer

In school English classes, teachers usually have 25-30 students per class, and 125 - 150 students total. That means that grading a single essay assignment for all classes could take 20-25 hours of work. Since teachers don’t have this time, they assign essays rarely and take weeks to return them.

Question 10

How Can Parents Help Students Develop Stronger Writing Skills?

Accepted Answer

Parents can make sure that their kids are completing regular writing assignments from school, receiving good (and timely) comments from the teacher, and reading age-appropriate books. Warning: Kids, especially preteens and teens, will likely resist parent-led writing assignments.

Question 11

Should I Let My Child Use AI for School Essays?

Accepted Answer

No. Kids need to face the challenge of writing without AI help. Writing is a complex skill that requires kids to create, reason, and edit, and these skills need years of practice. Letting kids use AI to write essays is like allowing them to use calculators to complete basic arithmetic instead of requiring them to learn mental math.

Question 12

Why Doesn’t My Child Read Anymore?

Accepted Answer

Some children read a lot in elementary school but stop reading in middle school. Since they have more homework, they have less time to read. Also, activities like video games and social media become more interesting.

Question 13

My Child Won’t Read the Books I Give Him

Accepted Answer

He might just prefer other books. Ask him what he would like to read, buy him those books, and see what happens. Restrain the urge to pass judgment on his taste.

Question 14

Are Graphic Novels Good for Kids?

Accepted Answer

Yes, graphic novels are fine so long as they read chapter books as well. Many advanced readers have read a lot of graphic novels, comic strip collections, and manga. But they also read more advanced books. (Keep in mind that reading graphic novels is better than playing video games.)

Question 15

What Are Good Books for Kids to Read?

Accepted Answer

There are two types of “good books”: The books kids want to read for fun, and the books that challenge them. For fun books, let kids read what they want to read. Light reading helps to build focus and attention. For challenging books, rely on texts assigned at school or by a tutor. Many students benefit from guidance when reading more challenging books, especially in middle school and high school.

Question 16

Is Speed Reading Good?

Accepted Answer

No, not for kids. At this age, they should slow down their reading so that they can focus. They need to understand books at a slow pace before they can understand them at a fast pace.

Question 17

Should My Child Read Books on an iPad?

Accepted Answer

No. iPads have games stored on them and are connected to the distractions of the Internet. By using a e-reader that is exclusively for reading, your child will build focus.

Question 18

How Can My Child Improve Reading Comprehension?

Accepted Answer

1. Improve vocabulary. 2. Increase the number of hours spent each week reading. 3. Read with focus (don’t skim). 4. Read aloud (to avoid skimming) 5. Discuss the reading with a teacher, a tutor, a parent, or an intelligent group of friends.

Question 19

How Can My Child Improve Vocabulary?

Accepted Answer

To improve vocabulary, kids should look up the meanings of unknown words in their books (but no more than two words per page). To remember these words, kids should write the definitions in a notebook or on vocabulary cards.

Question 20

What’s a Good Vocabulary Book for Kids?

Accepted Answer

For decades, the best vocabulary books have been the Wordly Wise series, by Kenneth Hodkinson. Out of all the vocab books I’ve read, these contain the best mix of age-appropriate words and learning exercises.

Question 21

What’s the Best App for Improving My Child’s Vocabulary?

Accepted Answer

We don’t recommend using apps or websites for vocabulary study. They are connected to phones and the web, which are a source of endless distraction for kids. Free versions contain ads, another distraction.

Question 22

How Can I Help My Child Read More?

Accepted Answer

You could create a family reading time where the entire family reads books of their choosing for 15-30 minutes daily. Kids learn to value reading when they see adults reading. The books should be books for enjoyment, not textbooks or other school reading assignments.

Summer Reading Program for Middle and High School Students

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Designed for Students Entering Grades 4 Through 9

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