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Dynamic, Virtual Online Clubs for Homeschool Kids

Dynamic, Virtual Online Clubs for Homeschool Kids

by | Apr 22, 2022 | Clubs

Let’s talk about Virtual Online Clubs for Homeschoolers

 

When I was growing up we were involved in clubs, it was just part of life.

We were Girl Scouts for years, part of a square dance club complete with crinoline poufed skirts. Wewere in Music Clubs and community service clubs. People just did clubs. It was a great way to learn new skills, meet new people, get out of the house and create amazing memories!

My kids have participated in a ton of clubs over the past twenty-five years. Including, Girl and Boy Scouts, Lego League, Music Clubs, Art Clubs, Horse Clubs, AYSO, Larping, Theater & Book clubs, Service clubs and more.

 The beauty of a club is that it is usually full of awesome learning and looks like fun!

Virtual, Dynamic Online Clubs are Academics Plus Fun!

 

Clubs can provide both academics and fun for our Jr. and Sr. Homeschool High School students. 

In my opinion and experience, clubs takes some of the pressure off of academics, allowing the kids to learn and experience rich and varied skills and opportunities.

As a Transcript Artist, I see a lot of homeschoolers selling themselves short on credits because they often forget to count clubs, service work, hobbies and areas of interest as “credit” on their High School Transcript.

For instance, my graduated son had a serious interest in history and weaponry for years. One Christmas he found himself the happy recipient of a few encyclopedias on the history of weapons. He Larps regularly with friends -an informal club of sorts -and he has spent countless hours creating armor, swords, distaffs and more out of foam noodles, duct tape, cardboard, plastic and even more duct tape. It’s not a “class” per se, however, the amount of time he has put into not only learning about weapons, but constructing and crafting them, could certainly count for credit.

Don’t think kids learn much through this type of activity? When watching movies, he can tell almost immediately if the armor is appropriate to the times. That’s history and craftsmanship, right there!

About True North Homeschool Academy Clubs

“What about socialization?” This common question directed at homeschooling families is often met with a strong response. We’re right to ask, “Who defines socialization?” and understand that socialization is more than peer-to-peer relating. We are constantly socializing. That’s just part of culture, right? 

Still, many homeschool parents often ask me about this question. And honestly, I think it comes from a place of needing support. We’re not trying to imitate the school culture and follow the pattern of the world when it comes to friendships. We’re too busy transmitting our faith culture to our kids!

And that’s the beautiful thing about what we do here at True North Homeschool Academy. We understand the importance of our common Christian culture. Our live online classes are born out of a desire to support homeschool families. And yes, even provide an avenue to socialize with your homeschool tribe. 

Wouldn’t it be a dream-come-true to find a safe place for your kids to make friends, interactive in a live setting, and learn some really cool stuff? We think so. That’s why we created Homeschool Clubs.  

Each club will be worth at least a 1/4 credit per semester or 1/2 credit per year- so all of the fun of the a club, none of the pressure of a traditional course, and credit to boot! Of course, students and parents are welcomed and encouraged to add more to the club to make it full credit worthy (and we are happy to provide guidance on that, if you need it).

If you are looking for a Club that you don’t yet see, please let us know! We might just be able to make it happen!

10 Reasons to Join a Homeschool Club

Here are ten great reasons why your child should be in a homeschool club:

Homeschool Clubs offer accountability.

In a homeschool club, students meet regularly with others with similar interests and abilities, setting goals and report progress to their classmates and club mentors. Writing down and sharing goals is a sure-fire way to move ahead with them!

Homeschool Clubs provide a diverse learning environment.

Rubbing shoulders with those who know more than you allow students to have something to reach and strive for. In our Writing Club, we have students with a broad range of ability, experience, and passion. The older kids encourage younger students and provide amazing role-models.

Homeschool Clubs offer mentorships.

Being a mentor for those who don’t know as much as you do gives students a chance to hone their own abilities. The best way to learn something exceptionally well is to teach it. In writing club students with experience are reaching out to younger students to offer advice, encouragement and support, share contests, online resources, editing, and more!

Homeschool Clubs are skill building.

Clubs allow students to grow and develop their skills in ways that they possibly wouldn’t seek out on their own. Our writing club has delved into songwriting, comedic sketch writing, and more based on the interest of club members!

Homeschool Clubs are low stress but offer high rewards.

Clubs allow students to immerse oneself into an area of interest without a huge time or monetary investment. Jr and Sr high school is the perfect time for students to explore various areas of interest. Clubs give students support to explore and develop in areas that may lead to career interests, lifelong hobbies, friendships, and professional skills!

Homeschool Clubs are a great way to earn credits.

Clubs are a low-stress way to earn credits. Our writing club is automatically worth a half a credit a year but students can earn up to a full credit of writing, depending on their goals and commitment. This allows students to build their transcript in a low-stress fun way!

Clubs often offer side benefits.

Because our good writers are readers, our writing club does a weekly “Book-Share” too. Students learn about different genres, learn assessment tools and participate in co-authoring quarterly “Tweens and Teens Book Recommendations,” which are published on our blog. Also, students have the opportunity to write blog posts for our blog, allowing them to publish before a fairly wide audience while still in high school.

Homeschool Clubs offer more freedom than a traditional classroom.

For example, homeschool club members can socialize with people that they have things in common with. In our Writing Club, we often do break-out rooms with smaller groups. The kids work on projects together, like writing poems or songs and have a blast laughing, brainstorming, and coming up with amazing ideas together.

In a Homeschool Club, everyone is there because they want to be there.

They are already interested in the subject matter which makes it easier to make friends! People tend to be warmer and more engaged when it’s something they want to do versus something they have to do. In our Writing Club, kids are meeting and talking with kids from around the country both inside (and outside of class).

Homeschool Clubs allow students to have input!

On the suggestion of one of our Writing Club members, we have writing “buddies.” Kids were paired up randomly with someone else in the class. This is because kids wanted to be able to continue writing prompts, share ideas, and brainstorm outside of class. The enthusiasm is contagious and some writing buddies are even writing stories together!

Clubs. We LOVE them at True North Homeschool Academy because we LOVE watching students learn, grow and develop into people who are passionate and eager to engage in the world around them!

What are you waiting for? Join a Club – we have lots to choose from and you can get more information about how to join us at our homeschool clubs page.

 

 

 

Communication: Key to Success

Communication: Key to Success

by | Jan 13, 2020 | Clubs, Life Skills, Podcast

Communication: Key to Success

Communication: Key to Success at at school, work and home! It is a valuable basic life skill and affects every area of our lives. It enables success at work and in relationships with family and friends. It’s our ambition at True North Homeschool Academy to help you teach those critical and practical life skills, so, of course, communication skills are of the utmost importance to us. Through the years, we have discovered and utilized many resources that we will share right here!

An orange megaphone on an orange background depicts how communication is key to success.

Four Essential Types of Communication:

  • Verbal – Verbal communication skills are ranked first among a job candidate’s “must-have” qualifications.
  • Written – This type of communication is essential both for business and enjoyment.
  • Non-verbal –  Non-verbal communication includes things such as the way we dress, signals, and body language.
  • Emotional – Emotional communication skills vastly improve both business and personal relationships.

Let’s Break Down Each Type of Communication:

Verbal Communication Skills

We are all familiar with verbal skills: this includes how well you speak or write, how concise you are in conveying your message, and how winsomely persuasive you are during verbal interaction. There are four types of verbal communication. They are:

  • Intra-personal Communication – This form of communication is extremely private and restricted to ourselves. This can include private journaling, our thought process, and even metacognition. Positive self-talk is an important skill your child can learn that will help them through difficult times when they may be tempted to dwell on negative thoughts. Check out our Affirmation Cards to keep positive thoughts flowing!
  • Interpersonal Communication – This form of communication takes place between two individuals and is thus a one-on-one conversation.
  • Small-Group Communication – This type of interaction takes place amongst a small group.
  • Public Communication – Speaking to a large group publically or even public writing can be considered as part of this form of communication. Our excellent Speech Club is a resource for teaching students to speak and gain the confidence to participate in public speaking.
Written Communication Skills in Business
  • Transactional Written Communication – This is a message sent to get results.
  • Informational Written Communication – In this type of business communication, the sender is delivering a message for the receiver’s benefit. Since this is less dependent on the receiver, there is no response needed. If the receiver has questions or concerns that would bring the conversation back to transactional communication.
  • Instructional Written Communication – This message gives receivers directions for a specific task.
Written Communication for Entertainment
  • Plays
  • Poetry
  • Novels
Non-Verbal Communication

Instead of written or oral words, non-written communication relies on non-verbal cues like physical movement, symbols, signals, etc. to express feelings, attitudes, or to give information. These most often include:

  • Eye Contact
  • Dress
  • Facial Expressions
  • Gestures
  • Posture and Body Orientation
  • Space and Distance
  • Touch
  • Silence
Emotional Communication

Blonde woman in a yellow field of flowers using body language to communicate.Depending on how and where you were raised, you may express some emotions differently. Factors that can affect our emotional communication include gender, social morays, and more. Here we will consider six basic feelings:

  • Happiness
  • Sadness
  • Anger
  • Fear
  • Disgust
  • Surprise

Emotion is commonly expressed with:

  • Facial Expressions (such as smiling)
  • Body Language (using a relaxed stance)
  • Tone of Voice

Now that we have broken down the primary forms of communication, you can see that excellent communication is a worthy goal. Skills like how to communicate with one another have a massive payoff in our work and personal lives.  Be sure to include projects and lessons that will help your child learn to express themselves in your home and your homeschool.

What are the vital communication skills to teach your kids, regardless of age?
  1. Basic etiquette and Good Manners
  2. Netiquette (good manners and thoughtfulness online)
  3. The Art of Small Talk  (conversational skills like simple jokes and stories)
  4. Name Emotions (pointing these out to your children will help them to identify and deal with them readily)
  5. Help Them Set Goals (knowing their end game will allow them to communicate effectively in any situation)
  6. Show Them How to Evaluate (and then use the most effective form of communication)
  7. Mindfulness (let them know it is ok to “push the pause” button and be mindful of themselves and others)
  8. Awareness (help them become aware of their nonverbal communication)
  9. Active Listening Skills ( they can become engaged and active listeners)
  10. The Capacity to Communicate with Self-confidence and Humility
  11. Identify and Understand (so they can empathize with the emotions of others and deal with their feelings as well)

Communication: Key to Success!

We all need to be able to express thoughts and feelings well and accurately. We are so confident that communication is an essential soft skill that it is central to many of the resources you will find on our website or at the Soft Skills 101 Podcast.

It’s easy to fall into the idea that these types of soft skills are just something we are good at or not! But that’s not true – everyone can learn to be better at these types of things. Like we mentioned, soft skills like communication make our lives and relationships better! In this digital age, as careers and our workforce continues to change, the human touch of excellent communication becomes even more valuable. Take a quick look at some of our ideas and resources (listed & linked below), and as always, let us know how we can support you in your homeschooling!

Want support in teaching your kids communication skills?

Listen on your favorite app or visit the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Website for more discussions about teaching our children and check out our Podcasts on Communication:

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

by | Dec 23, 2019 | Clubs, Holidays & Seasons, Language Arts, Writing

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year! Or, is it? Is it really the most wonderful horrible time of the year?

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…No.  It’s. Not. Every stinkin’ Christmas a tragedy occurs- every Christmas, thousands of us die.  Do we deserve it? No. Do we like it? No. But do we wish for a different way of life? Um…yes.  I have often dreamed of being a rock, cold and smooth. Or a book, treasured and kept safe. Even being a jack-in-the-box looks appealing right now!!!  But no. Here I am, just bein’ a tree. A pine tree. A Christmas tree. 

Yes, that’s right.  I am one of your precious decorations for a holiday; you chopped down my brother last year, my parents the year before, and my girlfriend the year before that.  Ellie…she was hot.  No, I mean literally.  Someone thought it would be a good idea to put candles on the Christmas tree that year, and when Ellie twitched while trying to hold in a sneeze, she caught on fire.  And the guilty party did not even have the DECENCY to send a sympathy card!  

The Legend of the Mighty Cliff

Legend has it that the very first North American martyr to Christmas was my great-great-great-great-great…y’know what, this will take forever…my extremely great grandfather.  (I don’t know why everybody likes him so much, none of us have ever met the guy. How do they know he was so great??) Anyway, his name was Cliff, and he lived a peaceful life filled with simple pleasures; the chatter of squirrels and songs of birds, the fertile earth and sweet breeze.

But then, one day, a wimpy, harmless-looking thing on two spindly legs came and RUINED IT ALL. It used a weird, deceptively tiny INSTRUMENT OF THE DEVIL to chop down my extremely great grandfather Cliff, and after watching him crash to the ground, proceeded to drag him in a very undignified manner through the forest. 

They say the angels wept that day. With his dying words, Cliff informed his brethren (via carrier-owl) that the strange little creature had propped his broken body up in its abode, and wrapped him ‘round with impaled little corn-children on a string.  The creature hung paper from his branches and crowned him with a golden star; crowned like some pagan king prepared for a sacrifice ritual. I shudder simply thinking about it.  

A Reign of Terror

When they heard of this atrocity, the Council of Trees got together (and by got together I mean communicated by owl, since, y’know, we’re kinda stuck).  They compiled all of the information gleaned from various informants in the International O24U Association and discovered that the inhumane practice of chopping trees was all the rage in Germany.  Many plans were conceived to put this reign of terror to an end. However, by the time a solution was settled upon, the barbaric tradition had spread to the point of no revocation (tree councils are not known for their timeliness, owls and all.  Maybe we should look into drones). Since then, all conceivable options to rid the world of this savagery have fallen flat. World domination has been discussed, but the lack of opposable thumbs (in addition to legs, brains, and other useful organs) has proved problematic.  

Current Events

So here I sit, just waiting for fate to laugh evilly and point some merciless wood’s-bane of a human my way.  Oh. Oh no. Oh, heck no! Are those…footsteps?? Somebody knock on wood! KNOCK ON WOOD!!!  

I see a small female break through the foliage.  I breathe a sigh of relief; that little sprout is no match for my brawn!  But…I tense as she sucks a greedy portion of air into her lungs.  

“DADDYYY!!  I FOUND THE PERFECT TREE!!”  

Oh, root rot, not another one!  Another bumbling happiness-killer ambles into my clearing.  And. He. Has. An. AXE! Oh, for the love of all that is green, please keep that thing away from me!!  He advances like death itself! I’m comin’ Ellie, I’m comin’!  Oh, the humanity! -Or rather…oh the forestry!! SWING LOW, SWEET CHARIOT!

“Oh Daddy, not that one.”  The disgusting little creature wrinkles her nose.  “That one.”  

I glance behind me in disbelief and see my shaking neighbor, Steve.  Might I add that Steve is the single, most annoying tree I have ever…and I do mean ever, met.  And he’s not nearly as robust and amply-chlorophylled  as I am. You want…HIM?!  I gape as Steve is promptly cut down and hauled away.  Too late, I yell after them: “HOW VERY DARE YOU!!! I AM CLEARLY THE SUPERIOR TREE HERE!!  YOU JUST GIT YERSELF BACK HERE THIS MINUTE OR I WILL PERSONALLY-

Emily W bio

About the Author: Emily Wilford is a sixteen-year-old homeschool student.  She lives in Iowa, which is always either really hot or really stinkin’ cold.  She really likes a lot of stuff, so trust me, I’m sparing you by only listing writing, mythology, Tae Kwon Do, horses, procrastinating, theater, and gazebos.  You can usually find her reading a book while hiding in her natural habitat (aka under a blanket), and if not there, she’s probably trying to wrangle her five siblings (it never works, btw).  She loves to sketch and listen to music, too; it’s truly amazing she ever gets anything done!  Also, she finds it really weird to write about herself in the third person. Emily is part of the True North Homeschool Academy Writing Club and has written previous articles for us, including Creative Writing for Awesome People! 

 

Creative Writing for Awesome People

Creative Writing for Awesome People

by | Jan 18, 2019 | Clubs

Hi, my name is Emily Wilford.  I’m sixteen years old (and totally NOT the sassy teenager my mother claims I am).  Hailing from Iowa, I come from a rather large (aka LOUD) family of six kids, of which I am the oldest.  I have been homeschooled since day one, and love the hands-on learning that homeschooling provides! 

During the past few years, I have come to enjoy Latin, Shakespeare, and a wide variety of literature, as well as the meaningful friendships gained through my classes.  In my (precious little) free time, I love to draw, read, and listen to music. I also enjoy camping, horseback riding, and ballroom dancing! Youth trips with my church are my favorite part of summer, and in the winter months, there is nothing better than to hide away with a good book and a warm blanket!  

This last semester, I enrolled in a writing course through True North Homeschool Academy.  Titled “Writing Club for Awesome People,” this course has not only been beneficial but also a total blast!  

Every first and third Friday of the month, class commences with a unique creative writing prompt. Each student speed-writes whatever first comes to their mind.  It is amazing how varied the responses are from a single prompt! Next, we dive into the lesson. We have studied a great variety of subjects, including (but not limited to): rhyme, sketch comedy, dialogue, setting, parallelism, and songwriting.  This diversity has sharpened each point, as well as my writing as a whole. 

To wrap up class, a few students read whatever writing they’ve been working on during the week. They are offered both encouragement and critique, as well as suggestions and ideas.  It is enormously beneficial having not only a captive audience but a skilled and like-minded one to listen to and assess one’s writing!

There are four reasons why I have enjoyed this class.  

  • First, it has improved my writing skills- both creative and technical.  Amid all the do’s and don’ts of good writing, tips and tricks are mixed in, all resulting in academic growth.  The abilities I’ve developed over this short semester will stay with me for many, many years to come.
  • Second, it has broadened my scope in creative writing.  This class has encouraged me to try new styles and genres- I would never have thought to write a poem on my own!
  • Third, this class has rekindled my love for writing.  Often in my free time, I now feel the urge to elaborate and work on my stories- I had forgotten how much fun writing could be!
  • Fourth, I’ve made some fantastic friends.  It is so fun to be in a class with other middle/high school kids who love to write! They always have a book to recommend, encouragement to offer, and tips to suggest.

In conclusion, I would like to encourage you to consider taking a course from True North Homeschool Academy. Gaining experience, making friends, growing in knowledge…what could be better?

 

Interested in joining the True North Homeschool Academy Writing Club?  Check it out here.

 

Emily W bio

 

Emily Wilford is a sixteen-year-old homeschool student.  She lives in Iowa, which is always either really hot or really stinkin’ cold.  She really likes a lot of stuff, so trust me, I’m sparing you by only listing writing, mythology, Tae Kwon Do, horses, procrastinating, theater, and gazebos.  You can usually find her reading a book while hiding in her natural habitat (aka under a blanket), and if not there, she’s probably trying to wrangle her five siblings (it never works, btw).  She loves to sketch and listen to music, too; it’s truly amazing she ever gets anything done!  Also, she finds it really weird to write about herself in third person.

 

 

 

Are you looking for an amazing outlet for creative writing for your homeschool kid? Check out this review of True North Homeschool Academy writing club! #writing #TrueNorthHomeschoolAcademy #homeschool #homeschoolclub #homeschooling

Competitive Speech & STOA for Homeschoolers

Competitive Speech & STOA for Homeschoolers

by | Nov 15, 2018 | Clubs, Electives, High-School, Homeschooling

As a STOA alumni and coach, I have been through multiple classes and curriculum on public speaking and speech. Although some of these courses are great to teach the basics from, there’s still something missing.

I want you to imagine a high school boy who enjoys the sport of basketball.  This boy shoots hoops in his driveway every day and watches every game of his favorite team. Maybe he’s even hired a personal trainer to help him refine his skills.  After he graduates the boy goes to try out for a college he wants to attend, paid for by a basketball scholarship, but there’s one problem, he’s never actually competed in a game with a team.  Obviously, he is not going to be very successful because as much as he knows about the sport, he has no real experience.

Similarly, many students that study speech and public speaking have not had a platform to prove their skill set and receive needed critiques from judges. By competing against other students in their age group, students can test their strengths and weaknesses.

Why Choose Competitive Speech for Homeschoolers?

Competitive Speech may not seem like it’s necessary at all. Can’t a student give a speech to their parents, or local co-op, and improve based on those critiques?  They can but only to a limited extent.  Judges push students beyond their comfort zone in a way that parents and friends won’t.

How well will the class push the students outside of their comfort zone?

Until the student overcomes their fear of public speaking, there will always be an obstacle in their future.  Ultimately competitive speech tournaments are the best at creating the real-world atmosphere that students will face in college and the workplace.  This forces the students to have to get out of their comfort zone.  Each student is different and some may love public speaking from the start. Even these students will benefit greatly from STOA Coaching and competition.

So, what is STOA?

From the STOA website, STOA is “Stoa is a national Junior High and High School Speech and Debate League serving the needs of privately educated Christian Homeschooling families.”

STOA offers 11 speech events for the 2018-2019 season which runs from August to May.  The events are broken down into four categories:

  • Interpretive Speeches,
  • Limited Preparation Speeches,
  • Platform Speeches, and
  • Wildcard Speeches.

Within the categories the events are –

  • Duo Interpretation
  • Humorous Interpretation
  • Open interpretation
  • Dramatic interpretation
  • Apologetics
  • Mars Hills Impromptu
  • Extemporaneous
  • Expository
  • Original Oratory
  • Persuasive
  • Demonstration.

You can find specific descriptions of each event at this link: https://stoausa.org/speech-events/.

Is your high school student fully prepared to enter the real world? One of the most important aspect of real-world training is communication! See how competitive speech can help your highschooler become a well-rounded adult. #homeschool #highschool #TrueNorthHomeschoolAcademy

How can my homeschool student become prepared to compete in a STOA event?

True North Homeschool Academy offers STOA prep specifically for homeschool students in our live (online) speech course.  This course provides instruction and experience in preparation and delivery of speeches within a public setting. Emphasis is placed on research, preparation, delivery, and evaluation of informative and persuasive speaking. Upon completion of the course, students will be able to prepare and deliver well-organized speeches.  They will have also developed the interpersonal skills necessary to be effective communicators in an academic setting.

The True North Academy Speech club meetings will run the entire 2nd semester.  The students will spend the first and second month learning the basics of speech writing and selecting which speech events they like the most.  They can select up to 5 events to compete in for a NITOC modeled (aka qualifying) tournament.

How do the STOA Tournaments Work?

Tournaments are held in most states by local clubs, but each competition is a little different.  Tournaments can have either speech or debate, both, or a combination of either.  Tournaments will usually have a total of 6 preliminary rounds for speech events, and those rounds will be split into A and B patterns so that the events are split between the 2 patterns.  This split means each student will compete three times in the preliminary rounds.

These rounds are usually 2 hours long and preferably will have 3 judges per a room to ensure maximum feedback for the student.  After the preliminary rounds, most tournaments will have out rounds(e.g. Quarter-finals, Semi-finals, and finals) depending on the schedule.

For students to qualify for NITOC (Nationals) they must receive 2 “green check marks” from qualifying tournaments during the season.  In order to get a check-mark in that event, the student must place in the top 40% of that event.

This season NITOC will be in Dallas Texas from May 20-25 at Dallas Baptist University.

Are you interested in learning more or joining a True North Speech Club?  Find more information on our website or feel free to contact us with any questions.

 

How to Start a Writing Club

by | Oct 4, 2018 | Clubs

How to Start a Writing Club

I am leading a Writing Club this year at True North Homeschool Academy and to say I love it is an understatement. I love words, teaching people how to use them effectively and watching the enthusiasm and joy young writers take in expressing themselves and sharing their creation. Happy Sigh.

Have you ever wanted to start a writing club? Check out True North's easy steps for forming, and leading, a fun and engaging writing club.

There is still time to join our fantastic writing club,  but if you’d like to start a Writing Club where you are at, here is a simple format to get you started.

First, set goals and time frames.

Set goals for the group or have the kids set their own individual goals. In our group, our students set their goals for the year and then share their writing/reading goals (because writers are readers) for the time between now and the next time we meet.

Set a clear structure for the club so the kids know what to expect and how to prepare. The very nature of a club is less structured than a formal class, but creating set time ensures that you keep moving forward and as many students as possible have a chance to read and share their writing.

Next, add writing prompts to your Club

Start with a writing prompt. The kids love this time, regardless of age or ability. Set a timer- not too long, not too short- 5-15 minutes. Read the prompt and then let the kids write. No talking, just writing. When the timer goes off, give everyone time to read their response to the prompt.

Sit back and revel in how amazing the kids are! You will be blown away at the diversity, ability, and creativity! No critique or formal feedback, though you’ll probably notice that often the kids will give each other unsolicited encouragement and support and cries of “Wow! That was amazing!”

Where can you look for writing prompts?

  • Pictures from all time periods
  • Memes
  • Scripture
  • Famous Quotes
  • A sentence or two from a book
  • A snippet from the news
  • A few lines of poetry
  • Snippets from other subject areas
  • Math formulas
  • Science facts
  • Graphs
  • Funny photoshops

The sky is really the limit. Last week our prompt was from the news, “This storm can kill!” and the week before a quote, “Absence of faith is not lack of faith, but control.”

Focus on skill building in your Club

I am a poetry writer, reader and advocate from way back, so I often bring in poetry forms and tropes as part of our skill building. Many great writers include poems and songs to develop their characters, and I want the kids to have these tools available to them.

Other ideas include working on dialog, tropes, sentence structure and variations, plot devices, characteristics of genres, humor, applying literary analysis to one’s own writing and so much more! I usually allow for about 20 minutes on this section because I’ll present the skill and then give them time to work on it.

Next, write and share feedback.

Take time to have 2-3 kids share 5 minutes of their writing each week (the writing that they are doing on their own- apart from the writing prompts) and have everyone listen well. Then, allow the class to give feedback and assessment on the writing. I set clear parameters for the kids on this as our goal is to give each other constructive feedback and information that will allow each person to grow and excel as writers.

I teach kids about the “sandwich” method of giving feedback (2 positives, one critique, one positive) and encourage them to find both strengths and areas of weaknesses in the writing- offering possible solutions. This feedback teaches how to give and receive feedback, simple literary analysis, and how to listen well. We also work on presentation skills, and the kids know that they’ll have to introduce themselves and their work to contextualize for the audience before they begin.

Book reviews are also great!

Because good writers are good readers each student shares a book they’ve read, gives a brief critique, what the liked or disliked about the book and gives it a 1-5 star rating. We’ll be publishing our books lists each semester, so stay tuned!

Finally, have plenty of extra resources for your Club

For our Writing Club, I also make sure the kids know about resources like NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) as well as writing and reading contests.

Our writing club has kids ranging in age from 12 to 17, some have written very little, and some have written a couple of books already. What we do have in common in a love of words and a desire to hone our ability to craft with words.

Start a local Homeschool Writing Club, but if you don’t have the time or inclination, we’d love for you to join ours! (you can join any month of the year). Or, if you have a local group, we can work with you too.  We are partnering with co-ops and class days to bring quality education TO you, regardless of where in the world you are! We have special prices for groups. And if you don’t see something you are looking for in our catalog, be sure to let us know – we can work together to make it happen!

Have you ever wanted to start a writing club? Check out True North's easy steps for forming, and leading, a fun and engaging writing club. #homeschool #writingclub #TrueNorthHomeschoolAcademy