How To Edit Your Child’s Writing

Hey, homeschoolers! My homeschool mom friends frequently asked me to edit their kids' writing. If you don't feel confident as a writer, it's hard to feel confident as your child's editor. In this episode, I hope to give you some simple tips for growing in your editing confidence.

Before I do, I want to announce the launch of the last volume of the Grammar Galaxy series called Supernova. This volume is for 8th graders or those who have completed the equivalent of Nova. Like Nova, Supernova is an extended review of material covered in previous volumes. It's perfect for middle schoolers who need a grammar refresh. It also includes engaging, more advanced writing projects that you'll be able to edit after listening to this episode. The volume and bundles that include it are 20% off for a limited time. Learn more at FunToLearnBooks.com.

If you struggle to edit your child's paper, it's not your fault. Here's why: writing is subjective. Unlike math where there is typically a single correct answer, writing is more of an art than a science. We have preferences for writing just as we do for paintings. But the art forms we don't enjoy aren't wrong; they're just not our style.

You may object that spelling and grammar can in fact be wrong.

For example, there is just one way to spell the word beautiful. But that's not always the case with spelling. Take the word judgment. It can be correctly spelled with or without an e after the g.

British spelling also varies at times from American English spelling. I wrote an article for a British journal once that returned a draft in which they had changed the spelling of several of my words. At the time, I didn't realize why they had changed the spelling, so I changed it back. I have students using Grammar Galaxy from countries who use British English, so I included a lesson on the spelling differences so they wouldn't go on to look as foolish as I did.

What about grammar? Isn't grammar clearly right or wrong? Some English grammar constructions are universally agreed to be errors. Like Me and Audrey went to the store. This sentence uses an object pronoun in place of the subject. However, as this construction is used more and more in casual conversation, that grammar rule may end up being applied more loosely. If you're a grammar nerd like I am, you're shuddering.

But let's take comma usage as another example. There are sentences in which commas are required as when addressing someone. I bought you an ice cream cone, Lisa requires a comma before the name Lisa. But many other comma rules are preferences such as the last comma before and in a list. This comma is known as the Oxford comma. I'm a fan, but there are style guides that don't require it.

Let's move beyond grammar and spelling. Aren't there agreed-upon metrics for good writing? Yes. Good nonfiction writing has a clear thesis statement, smooth transitions, and enough supporting details for each point. But again, each editor has a different definition of clear thesis, smooth transitions, and enough supporting details.

Have you ever had someone ask you how to homeschool? The question is so broad that you just laugh. When you stop laughing, you try break the process into very specific beginning steps....