WRITING HELP, IDEAS, SUPPORT, SITES, AND LESSON PLANS FOR HOMESCHOOLING

The Value of Playing Word Games
Besides their obvious entertainment value, word games can also help us to learn and become better educated. Games like hangman, played on paper or online, help us to become better spellers, while crossword puzzles invite us to broaden our vocabularies. As an ingredient of success, most any word game requires quick thinking, a decent vocabulary and general language skills, including comprehension and spelling. Word games can be divided into a number of different categories including word arrangement games like Boggle and Scribbage,; paper and pencil games, such as word search and jotto; structured games focusing on the semantics of words, like Charades and Scattergories; linguistic entertainments with games based on words and letters, like anagrams and spoonerisms; and games revolving around puns and double entendres. Word games have become so popular that several of them are televised as game shows, including the long-running "Wheel of Fortune" based on hangman, and newer hits like Singing Bee, which challenges contestants to accurately sing the lyrics to popular songs. Playing word games is challenging, but the rewards, not to mention the fun, are endless. (From 2007 planetfungames.com)

Click Here to Play Word and Letter Games on Our Sister Site: Wide-Eyed Free Web Games (kid safe games for all ages!)

Homophones: A Pair of Pears!

CLICK HERE to see aabc_homeschooling's List of Homonyms / Homophones (words that sound alike, but mean different things and are spelled differently)

Holiday Writing & Drama Language Arts Lesson for Kids:

Christmas & Winter Writing Ideas & Games for Homeschool Writers

Writing Help: Synonyms for the Word "SAID"

Writing dialog for fiction can become very dull if the word "said" is constantly repeated. Here is a good article with info on using other words to improve your students' creative writing. Includes about 100 words to use instead of "Said."

Easy Games to Teach Writing Skills: Tips for Teaching Kids Creative Composition Without Handwriting

Writing Games to Teach Writing Skills without Penmanship.

Getting Kids Writing Published

Ideas and tips for getting your homeschool student's writing into print in magazines, online, etc.

Teach Writing Without Handwriting: Ideas for Teaching Writing with No Penmanship Needed

Some students hate writing. But maybe they are confusing other language arts skills (like penmanship, grammar, etc.) with writing stories, poetry, and other written works. Read this article for ideas to help non-writers enjoy and learn writing skills without handwriting.

Writing for Real Audiences... Why Writing Clubs Help

Good article about how writing clubs are one way to help kids find a real and lively audience.

Writing.com