.
Grading Essays Made Easy |Homeschool Life | Literature | Miscellaneous
Proofreading Tips | Writing Prompts
Writing/Teaching Tips | All
.
Want homeschool writing tips? Encouragement? Help grading those essays? Practical advice for your homeschool writing class? Insights into literature? Free writing prompts and tutorials?
Whether your student is reluctant or brimming with excitement, you’ll find solid, proven ideas here that will make your teaching life easier. And take advantage of the many writing prompts and tutorials posted here.
Subscribe to Writing with Sharon Watson and receive three FREE writing lessons. Just use the subscription form in the column to the right.
Be sure and browse the weekly writing prompts for middle schoolers and high schoolers.
This page may contain affiliate links..
The Memory of Snow
In The Giver by Lois Lowry, young Jonas becomes the Receiver of Memories. Because his people control the weather, he’s never seen snow. The first cultural memory transmitted to him from The Giver is of snow.
Here’s how Lois Lowry writes Jonas’s first encounter with the idea of snow. Notice how she uses many senses to communicate snow’s feel to readers: (more…)
What Memory Would You Give?
Memories are powerful.
Jonas finds that out in Lois Lowry’s The Giver.
Memories can cause pain. They also can bring hope, courage, or feelings of love.
Although no one can transmit memories from one person to another simply by touching them, this is exactly what happens in The Giver, and a 
particular memory gives Jonas wisdom when he has to make an important life-and-death decision. I won’t say anything more because I don’t want to spoil the book or the movie for you. (more…)
How to Use Commas in Compound Sentences with Coordinating Conjunctions
Okay, so the title of today’s article isn’t the most exciting. In fact, you might find it downright boring—or intimidating.
I’ve been known to zone out when my husband tries to explain football lingo and rules to me. My eyes glaze over. My ears stop working. The same might be true for your students and the subject of commas.
Commas, Compound Sentences, and Coordinating Conjunctions
You can use the infographic below to teach students when to use commas in a compound sentence that is joined by a coordinating conjunction.
In this tutorial, you’ll find the following goodies:
- An infographic to teach the material
- A free, downloadable exercise
- The answers (more…)
Homeschooling: Am I Ruining My Children?
School is moving right along.
You are thinking about next year. Perhaps books have been ordered.
And then the second-guessing commences. And the self-doubt kicks in.
Are you going to ruin your children by homeschooling them?
According to the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI), you are. You are ruining their chances for (more…)
