Writing with Sharon Watson-Easy-to-use Homeschool Writing and Literature Curriculum

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What Skill Do You Want to Learn from a Pro?

What Skill Do You Want to Learn from a Pro?

SHARON’S BLOG

What could Serena Williams teach you about smashing serves in the tennis court? Or maybe you’d like to learn from actor Dustin Hoffman about acting and “how to create memorable characters, rehearse a script and develop [a] comic instinct,” according to Parade.

Serena and Dustin are part of an online school called MasterClass in which masters of their craft teach online lessons on how to be successful in the areas of their expertise. For instance, best-selling author James Patterson teaches how to write, and Usher has online classes on how to perform on stage.

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7 Prompts about God

7 Prompts about God

SHARON’S BLOG

Can your children and teens clearly express their ideas about God?

Students in my classes always have the hardest time when asked to write about God. They simply cannot share their thoughts, experiences, definitions of religious terms, or what God means to them. These are difficult concepts to grasp and communicate, and they are very personal.

These prompts about God are for 5th – 12th graders and are designed to give them a chance to explore concepts about God and express their ideas on this most important topic.

Ready? Let’s go . . .

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1. Describe

Describe God as completely as possible in exactly 50 words.

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A 100-mile Accomplishment

A 100-mile Accomplishment

HIGH SCHOOL PROMPTS

Have you ever swum (swum?  That’s a word?) a mile?

How about two or three miles?

diana nyad

Diana Nyad

Diana Nyad, 64, made the more-than-100-mile trip from Cuba to Florida—by swimming the whole way!

Hallucinating from exhaustion and hypothermia, stung by a jellyfish, her throat closing up from the sea’s salt water, she kept on swimming for 53 hours. This was not her first try.  It was her fifth, and you can watch an inspiring interview with her on npr.org.  [Parents, you may want to check out the 15-minute video.]

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5 Prompts for Independence Day

5 Prompts for Independence Day

SHARON’S BLOG

Picnics. Parades. Fireworks.

Looking for ways to help your middle school and high school students focus on America’s Independence Day? Look no further! Enjoy this variety of prompts {and your Independence Day celebrations}.

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How to Fall Asleep. No, Really.

How to Fall Asleep. No, Really.

MIDDLE SCHOOL PROMPTS

You might think this writing prompt is super boring, but hold on. It’s about to get really gross.

You can’t get to sleep, so you drink some warm milk. Or maybe you count sheep. No? What about read a boring book or listen to music until you fall into unconsciousness?

According to mental_floss magazine (August 2014), some people at the end of the 1800s believed so strongly in

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Family Writing Prompt: My Prayer for You

Family Writing Prompt: My Prayer for You

SHARON’S BLOG

“My prayer for you is . . .”

Have you ever had the blessing of someone praying over you? Really pray for you, not at you, bringing you to the Father from a heart of love and compassion?

What is your prayer for your spouse? For your teen daughter who believes the lies the mirror whispers to her? For your clever son with dyslexia who thinks he’s stupid or for that child who seems so distant?

We encourage others when we pray. We uplift them. And we bring them before the God who created them, who can do far more than we can to touch their hearts.

Let’s intervene on behalf of the people we love most, and let’s give our children the experience of thinking of others through prayer. A prayer written especially for them will be a treasure they can read over again during troubling times in their lives!

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5 Prompts on Quotations

5 Prompts on Quotations

MIDDLE SCHOOL PROMPTS

Enjoy this variety of writing prompts drawn from quotations by famous characters and people!

 

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1. Star Wars

“Your eyes can deceive you. Don’t trust them.”

That quote is from the Star Wars character Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Have you ever looked at something and been confused or tricked by what you saw? When have your eyes deceived you? Write your story.

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5 Prompts on Current Events

5 Prompts on Current Events

HIGH SCHOOL PROMPTS

Looking for a way for your teens to think deeply about some of today’s issues?

This week’s prompts will give your teens a chance to look at current events, express their opinions, and practice persuading readers. Each one of these prompts has a link so your teens can read more about the issue.

Warning: You may want to check the sites out before your teens do. Though I am careful which links to include, inappropriate material may appear on the other sites after I’ve posted the links.

Ready? Let’s go . . .

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5 Prompts about Food

5 Prompts about Food

SHARON’S BLOG

Who says you can’t play with your food?

Here is a bundle of five prompts on food-related topics that will get your middle school and high school students writing. Whether they’re telling personal stories, trying to persuade readers, or expressing an opinion, your students will enjoy sinking their teeth into these prompts.

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