Tip # 122 from 365 Teacher Secrets for Parents (McKinley & Trombly): Taking Dictation

 

Today's tip for parents from two talented teachers comes from 365 Teacher Secrets for Parents by Cindy McKinley Alder and Patti Trombly.

                                                           

 

#122

Taking Dictation

 

Seek the wisdom of the ages, but look at the world through the eyes of a child.
~Ron Wild

 

Many of the writing ideas in this book would be difficult, if not impossible, with children who are not yet able to write on their own. That’s why we’ve included options for taking dictation whenever possible. But what does this really mean? How do you take dictation from a child whose ideas may be scattered or incomplete? Here are some things to keep in mind when recording your child’s thoughts and observations.

Research shows that, while taking dictation, it is most important to write word for word what your child tells you without making grammatical changes. Always use your best judgment, though. The first few times you take dictation from a young child, be sure to accept and record her words as she offers them. This not only aids in her developing self-esteem and confidence as a writer but also provides her with text to read. Having a young child read her own words exactly as she spoke them is an extremely beneficial way to help her become a better reader. She knows what the words are so she can read them more easily than someone else’s words in a storybook.

Once your child has dictated to you many times and you feel she is emotionally and intellectually ready, you may choose to offer some suggestions while recording for her. For instance, if she says, “Then I gotted more marbles than Joey,” you might AK, “Do you think it would sound better to say, ‘Then I had more marbles than Joey?’” Then, read it back to her to see if she finds your suggestion acceptable. Keep in mind that the goal is not perfection; it is to get her to read willingly and successfully.

Always be polite in the way that you phrase your suggestions. Be careful not to say things like, “You shouldn’t say ‘gotted’; that’s not even a word.” Try not to suggest changes that are grammatically way above your child’s level or to make changes without permission. Just write down what your child says.

Encourage her to make an illustration to go with the text. Display it. Show her she doesn’t have to know how to write all by herself in order to write a story.

 

Variation for older kids:

You can even take dictation with older kids. Try writing a story together. When it comes time to write, sit next to each other and take turns writing sentences. It is not cheating; she is still writing half of the sentences. Even for older kids, it can be fun to tell Mom or Dad what to write. For one, it takes a little pressure off since they don’t have to write every sentence. It also gives you an opportunity to do some modeling. When you are writing your sentence, you can say aloud things like:

·       “Since our character is going to start talking here, I know I need to put a comma, quotation marks, and then a capital letter;”

·       “Instead of saying ‘ he said,’ I think I will write ‘he cried’ to make the sentence sound more interesting;” or :

·       Space needs a silent e at the end of it to make the “a” say its name.”

 

And, of course, it is also a great opportunity to cuddle up together and create!

 

   

     Cindy McKinley Alder                                            Patti Trombly

 

For more posts about the authors and their books (this is not the only one), click HERE.

For excerpts from more books, click HERE. 

For more excerpts from 365 Teacher Secrets for Parents, click HERE.

          For more posts about books about parenting, click HERE. 

To purchase copies of any MSI Press book at 25% discount,

use code FF25 at MSI Press webstore.

Want to read an MSI Press book and not have to buy for it?
(1) Ask your local library to purchase and shelve it.
(2) Ask us for a review copy; we love to have our books reviewed.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ALL OUR AUTHORS AND TITLES.

Sign up for the MSI Press LLC monthly newsletter

(recent releases, sales/discounts, awards, reviews, Amazon top 100 list, author advice, and more -- stay up to date)

Check out recent issues.

 

 

Follow MSI Press on Twitter, Face Book, Pinterest, Bluesky, and Instagram. 

 

 

Interested in publishing with MSI Press LLC?  
Check out information on how to submit a proposal. 

 

We help writers become award-winning published authors. One writer at a time. We are a family, not a factory. Do you have a future with us?

Turned away by other publishers because you are a first-time author and/or do not have a strong platform yet? If you have a strong manuscript, San Juan Books, our hybrid publishing division, may be able to help.

Planning on self-publishing and don't know where to start? Our author au pair services will mentor you through the process.

Interested in receiving a free copy of this or any MSI Press LLC book in exchange for reviewing a current or forthcoming MSI Press LLC book? Contact editor@msipress.com.

Want an author-signed copy of this book? Purchase the book at 25% discount (use coupon code FF25) and concurrently send a written request to orders@msipress.com.

Julia Aziz, signing her book, Lessons of Labor, at an event at Book People in Austin, Texas.

Want to communicate with one of our authors? You can! Find their contact information on our Authors' Pages.

Steven Greenebaum, author of award-winning books, An Afternoon's Discussion and One Family: Indivisible, talking to a reader at Barnes & Noble in Gilroy, California.

   

MSI Press is ranked among the top publishers in California.
Check out our rankings -- and more -- HERE.