The Incredible importance of Writing on an Beneficial Homeschooling
One popular variation on the "how much is too much" topic for homeschooling includes high school writing. Specifically, what is a average, appropriate amount of writing to require your high school students to complete?
Many high school student curriculum often have one 5-6 page paper assigned one or two times per year, with quite a few smaller papers in between. In public school, students are commonly required to write one or two papers like that per year. I personally required my children to write 500-1000 words per week when they were in 11th and 12th grade. That was approximately 1-2 pages typed and single spaced, most weeks of the year. It was not all "English" as at times the papers were for History, or French, or Art.
This could feel like too much to you, yet the reason our writing program was effective was due to the fact I educated my children at their level, not to mention I learned how much to push them so they would not break. Which is why homeschooling is effective. If you have them write AT THEIR LEVEL, they can learn. If you have them write too much, then they will get overwhelmed, irritated, or worse, rebel. I know I had my kids write a great deal, and I realize it was more than most. That is what my kids did since they were capable, and both ended up to be excellent writers. However the reason it was successful was not as a result of how much I had them write, it was because I expected them to work at their level.
Trust yourself on that. If you are involved with a writing program, and the demands are killing you - STOP! You are going to see that each child in your family may be unique, as well. Perhaps if you give some thought to having them write for, say, an hour a day, that would be a more acceptable measure for high school. If you think that your child is being required to do too much, then I am 100% convinced that it is too much.
Have them write every day, and have them write various things. Good writing is all about practice, so they do need to do some writing each day. But do not push them so hard that they do not like writing. Keep a "five year plan" in mind, where they have a love of learning at the conclusion of this fantastic homeschooling.
Many high school student curriculum often have one 5-6 page paper assigned one or two times per year, with quite a few smaller papers in between. In public school, students are commonly required to write one or two papers like that per year. I personally required my children to write 500-1000 words per week when they were in 11th and 12th grade. That was approximately 1-2 pages typed and single spaced, most weeks of the year. It was not all "English" as at times the papers were for History, or French, or Art.
This could feel like too much to you, yet the reason our writing program was effective was due to the fact I educated my children at their level, not to mention I learned how much to push them so they would not break. Which is why homeschooling is effective. If you have them write AT THEIR LEVEL, they can learn. If you have them write too much, then they will get overwhelmed, irritated, or worse, rebel. I know I had my kids write a great deal, and I realize it was more than most. That is what my kids did since they were capable, and both ended up to be excellent writers. However the reason it was successful was not as a result of how much I had them write, it was because I expected them to work at their level.
Trust yourself on that. If you are involved with a writing program, and the demands are killing you - STOP! You are going to see that each child in your family may be unique, as well. Perhaps if you give some thought to having them write for, say, an hour a day, that would be a more acceptable measure for high school. If you think that your child is being required to do too much, then I am 100% convinced that it is too much.
Have them write every day, and have them write various things. Good writing is all about practice, so they do need to do some writing each day. But do not push them so hard that they do not like writing. Keep a "five year plan" in mind, where they have a love of learning at the conclusion of this fantastic homeschooling.