Welcome back to the 2014 Bloggy Convention! We are continuing to sharing our favorite upcoming homeschool conventions!
Our next featured convention will arrive to Modesto, CA in July!
Valley Home Educators
July 25-26, 2014
Modesto Centre Plaza/Doubletree Hotel
Be sure to stop by the vendor hall booth for The Old Schoolhouse Magazine to pick up your copy of the brand new 2014 Print Edition and to learn about all of the other fun and exciting things happening with TOS!
Our featured speaker from this convention is Kim Kautzer.
Kim Kautzer has a heart to inspire and equip homeschoolers—and she loves to help you feel more confident about teaching writing. When blank paper, reluctant child, and insecure parent come together, failure often feels close at hand. Kim helps you see that teaching writing is more objective than you think, and with the right tools, you can guide and motivate your struggling writer.
Kim and Jim homeschooled for 15 years, graduating their youngest in 2003. Though their kids are scattered around the globe, the Kautzers have stayed put in Southern California, where Kim enjoys writing, attempting the Sunday crossword, drinking English breakfast tea, and hanging out with their seven grandkids. Award-winning WriteShop, her unique and successful writing program, has been honored as one of Cathy Duffy’s 101 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum. Kim blogs about writing at In Our Write Minds.
Kim’s speaking topics in Modesto will include:
Writing Is a Process, Not a One-Time Event!
Getting kids to write can be challenging enough, but expecting them to embrace the whole writing process is another thing altogether. Each step of the writing process is vital, from brainstorming to final draft, but students often think of these “extra steps” as time wasters. Kim shares practical tips for teaching children of all ages to plan, draft, self-edit, revise, and write a polished final draft they’re proud to share! You’ll also come away feeling more encouraged—and equipped—to take your children on a journey through the writing process.
Teaching the Timed Essay
College classes. SAT tests. Does the prospect of writing timed essays send you and your teen into a tailspin? Take heart! This workshop, geared to parents of 8th-12th graders, gives practical suggestions for teaching this important writing skill. As Kim presents an overview of timed writing in general, she’ll also help you navigate the essay portion of the SAT. Gain tips on how to brainstorm, outline, and organize a timed essay, and learn the secret to reducing the fear factor!
Writing Strategies for Special Needs Kids
It’s not just your child. Truth be told, most kids struggle with writing at some level, but when a child learns with difficulty, the challenges are even greater. Poor spelling, illegible handwriting, attention and processing disorders, and physical limitations interfere with the ability to communicate on paper. Typically, the result is short, disorganized, writing that’s riddled with errors. The good news? You know your child better than anyone and care more deeply about his needs—there is much you can do! If your child has mild to moderate learning challenges, this workshop will offer practical ideas and steps you can take to instill both confidence and writing skills in your LD child.
Watch for information about all of the speakers and exhibitors heading to Modesto, as well as registration information by clicking on the banner below! Scroll down to find reviews of the products the Crew has reviewed from some of these exhibitors and to enter an awesome giveaway from Kim Kautzer.
Bloggy Vendor Hall
Here you’ll find links to our Crew views of products from several companies that will be exhibiting in Phoenix this week:
More coming soon . . .
WriteShop (more reviews coming soon)
Giveaway (up to $73 value)
For today’s giveaway, Kim has graciously donated the winner’s choice of WriteShop Primary (Teacher’s Guide + Activity Pack); Book A, B, or C and WriteShop Junior Book D (Teacher’s Guide + Activity Pack).
WriteShop Primary (Teacher’s Guide + Activity Pack) — Fun is the word of the day! WriteShop Primary is an exciting, parent-guided writing curriculum for K-3rd graders with daily, easy-to-implement activities to share with your young learner.
WriteShop Primary teaches the skills of the writing process at the very simplest level through activities, crafts, and picture books. It accommodates pre-writers as well as beginning and developing writers, so your youngster needs no previous reading or writing experience. Slowly and gently, the child is asked to help with the actual writing, first in simple words and later, through copywork. And by turning these stories into a little craft, he will have a project to proudly share with others.
Several schedules help you plan according to your child’s grade or skill level. Lessons are divided into eight Activity Sets to thoroughly cover a topic without hurrying the child. Examples abound to make teaching oh, so easy for you!
Each Activity Set includes Guided Writing Practice. Activity Sets 2-8 also include a key activity or project.
WriteShop Junior Book D (Teacher’s Guide + Activity Pack) — WriteShop Junior is a creative writing program that appeals to many learning styles. As with all WriteShop products, WriteShop Junior helps you guide children through the steps of the writing process. To keep the experience fun for everyone, every lesson includes engaging games and activities that teach and review important writing and self-editing skills. And whether you have a more advanced child or one who is just beginning, this program is flexible so children can work at their own level.
To enter, use the Rafflecopter below. Residents of the US, age 18 and older please. See other terms and conditions in the Rafflecopter. See our complete contest rules here. And be sure to check back every day for the next 10 days for even more awesome giveaways!
Now be sure to click on the banners below to enter our other giveaways, too.
I print up pages with picture prompts that he is interested in. That helps sometimes.
A chocolate chip for every line they write works well in our family. 😉
My reluctant writer is my 6 year old son. Some of the things I’ve done to encourage him to write is I let him pick his own topic. I bought a composition booklet that is blank on the top of the page and lined on the bottom of the page. I ask him to write at least 3 sentences and then he can illustrate the page how he likes. This has helped him because it isn’t that much writing and he enjoys drawing. 🙂
I’m the one that needs the tips!
I have a couple reluctant readers. I haven’t found anything yet, but I’m about to put together a “writing station” to give them choices when it’s time to sit down and write.
I did have a reluctant writer until we started using WriteShop! We are working through Primary A right now and having a great time.
I have reluctant writers unless I find an engaging assignment that is within their interests.
What a cool set of books. I am just beginning to homeschool my son and these would help immensely!
My daughter is reluctant to write. She is more willing if given a topic that interests her.
Free choice writing works best for my boys who don’t like writing. I am looking at Write Shop C for my son, would love to win it!
I dont have a reluctant write my daughter has memory problems that she is getting alots of help with
I have a reluctant reader so I haven’t made him write a lot yet, but I make him fully write out all his other school work.
My youngers aren’t really reluctant like my oldest one was. (He will type without complaint now, at least, but STILL hates to use a pencil for any writing or math.) Still it would be good to have a fun writing program to try.
My daughter thankfully enjoys writing and isn’t a reluctant writer. However, when I taught in the classroom, I needed to break up writing assignments into smaller chunks throughout the week for my reluctant writers. I also needed to allow some learners the ability to move in some way as they worked on writing assignments. Graphic organizers were also very helpful to my reluctant writers. Thank you for the opportunity to win!
I use writing prompts
I have a 12-year-old reluctant writer. The best thing we have done is having a journal that we write notes to each other.
I don’t know at this point. My daughter is 6 and doesn’t like it when she has to write stuff.
I have 2 reluctant writers. I let them dictate using Dragon dictation on an iPad. Not a perfect solution but it helps some. I would prefer they become more comfortable writing without the tech crutch.
No, I do not have a reluctant writer.
I wish I didn’t have a reluctant writer! Even though he hates to write, he is very creative and good at storytelling. I have him dictate to me, and sometimes we record on video so he can express his ideas verbally. I still haven’t found the solution to get him excited to write. Would love some more ideas.
Yes I do. I am a first time homeschooler so really do not have tips.
I do have a reluctant writer. But he will write if he is interested in the topic.
My son is still young, but it just starting to show signs of prewriting. I am excited for him to get older and we can start writing together!
I have a reluctant writer. Still trying to figure out how to get him to write more.
My almost six year old is a terrific reader, but hates to write.
She’s getting better though! We practice often, writing out everything from shopping list to made up stories.
I do have a reluctant writer. The main things that works for us is to let him write about his favorite topics.
I do have a very reluctant writer. We try things like awesome writing prompts, writing about things that excite her, and only requiring 5 sentences for a paragraph because “anyone can write 5 sentences”. But it is a struggle.
I love to read quality literature and let that inspire the kids to write – modeling from wonderful authors.
We find times to write about things that interest them. Sometimes I write with them if they need a “buddy” to ignite their thinking engines.
With my daughter I just had to give her some time. She loves ti
o write stories now.
I’m a soon to be homeschooler with lots to learn. Writeshop looks great.
I have a reluctant writer. I am always looking for ways to encourage her
Yes, & he also has Aspergers & ODD….so, at this point, I really do not have any tips…I am in the looking phase.