Tip #168 from 365 Teacher Secrets for Parents (McKinley, Tronbly): Interviewing

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

#168

Interviewing

Remember, we all stumble, every one of us. That’s why it’s a comfort to go hand in hand.

~Emily Kimbrough

A terrific way to motivate kids to write, you know, is to have them choose a topic that interests them. For most children, their parents’ and grandparents’ lives seem vague and intriguing. How about offering to let your child interview you or setting up time for her to interview another family member?

There are so many skills involved with interviewing, and a great deal can be learned. Of course, if your child is young, you can help her with many of the steps and even take an abbreviated path. Here are some informational writing skills you could focus on along the way. For instance, if your child is going to interview Grandpa Larry, have her:

● Brainstorm what she already knows about Grandpa as well as questions that she has about him.

● Choose a focus for the interview based on some of the things she wants to find out, such as what life was like for him as a child.

● Make a final list of the questions she has decided to ask during the interview having narrowed her focus and eliminated unnecessary questions.

● Arrange a meeting time and find a quiet place the two can be alone. She should bring the questions and a pencil or two.

● Take notes during the interview either right on the question sheet if she’s left room for answers or on a separate piece of paper. (She may want to record the interview so that she can listen to it again if necessary.) (Idea #103 for note taking strategies.)

● Write a rough draft using the information she learned during the interview keeping in mind her focus. (Of course, this will be later, after Grandpa goes home.) She may want to listen to parts of the tape again if she realizes she has missed something. Idea #173 has paragraph writing techniques.

● Revise and edit the paragraph(s). (Idea #160 )

● Rewrite or type the final draft on the computer.

Think about what she would like to do with it. Could she send Grandpa a copy? How about other relatives that might be interested to find out the things she’s learned. Be sure to send Grandpa a thank you note! This is a lengthy project but one that is extremely rewarding for your child, Grandpa, and everyone who will get the pleasure of reading her finished paper.

*See our website for a checklist for this activity.

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.

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