But I wonder what the impact will be on the current
generation focused on these cryptic forms of communication. Will we forget how
to write a complete sentence? Will the next generation even know about
adjectives and adverbs? Will we be able to write anything without adding the
ubiquitous hashtag?
I suspect my concern might be inflated. After all, our schools still teach
reading, writing and arithmetic. Well, at least reading and arithmetic. How
much longer will they count writing as a requirement? As we eliminate music,
art, and sports form our schools, can writing be far behind?
OK, OK. I’m exaggerating again maybe just a little – but I
fear JUST a little. However, just
in case, I’m thinking that we might want to offer some tips to assure we
continue to think in sentences and paragraphs. And what better place to hone
our writing skills than having fun with our family and simultaneously
increasing quality time together.
FunFamily Writing
Exercises
My suggestion is that you schedule time for family
activities and include some writing exercises as one of the “games.” Don’t make
the timing inflexible – after all we’re all very busy being cryptic. And if it
works better for your family just to do it extemporaneously, then so be it. But
make it a priority.
Maybe Sunday evening as part of an informal family dinner
you could do some of the following exercises to involve as many family members
as possible. I suspect if you’re a parent you already know that you’ll have to
work on topics of interest to the age group of your kids, although "superheroes" seems to be a subject for all ages at the moment.
By the way, you might also consider this as a great way to
tell Mom what you think of her for Mother’s Day; or Dad for Father’s Day; or
for any family member birthday. Eventually you might like the exercises so much that
you start to write prose and poetry.
Consider using one or more of the following as part of your
routine family gatherings. Once you start, you will most likely think of many other exercises that your family might appreciate.
·
A special gift for Mother’s Day or for Mom’s
birthday: each family member choose a topic to build a story about Mom. Then put it together in one document.
You can print it out or read it to her. Suggested topics:
o Her
sense of humor – she always laughs at my jokes
o Her
fantastic appearance
o The
cool way she tells me I’ve made a mistake
o How
she helps me with my homework
o Her
favorite movies
·
Each family member is to write a paragraph that
includes a topic sentence and at least 2 detail sentences and a conclusion
about a favorite super hero without telling anyone who it is. Write a physical
description, special gift that makes your character a super hero, and why you
like him/her. Read your description to your family. The first one to guess gets
to go next.
·
Each family member writes a paragraph describing
the family getting ready for school or work in the morning. For a little something extra, include
some dialogue. This should make for some interesting discussion when you read
your paragraph aloud to the rest of the family and then they read their paragraph.
The different perspectives could be very enlightening.
·
Write a dialogue that occurred between you and
your teacher, friend or even a stranger. Ask the rest of the family to act it
out.
Of course, in today's world of school, earning a living, commuting, baseball games, music lessons, extra-hour work meetings, hobbies, television, movies, and errands--and so many unexpected interruptions, maybe we don't have time to learn to communicate. But surely we can try.
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