Writing - Parents Page
Communication, Communication,
Communication
The main reason we write is to communicate with other people. Writing helps us share ideas, give information, or encourage others to think or act. This is why people use social media like Facebook, TikTok, or Instagram — to find out what’s going on and to share messages with others.
Writing is also important because you need to record learning. This helps show an Educational Welfare Officer, the Education Inclusion officer or the Elected Home Education officer to understand what your child has been learning and proves that they are receiving a meaningful and suitable education.
Writing has always been one of the main ways people pass on information. Even though dyslexic learners may find writing difficult because of spelling and symbols, writing is still something we need to use in everyday life.
We use writing all the time — making lists, writing birthday cards, leaving notes, changing a recipe, or sending invitations. Writing plays a big part in modern life, and learning how to use it in ways that work for you is very important.
Communication With Grandparents
Writing is often used more by older generations, but many people now also write in digital ways. One good way to practise writing is by sending cards or letters to grandparents and other family members.
Writing letters helps you stay in touch with people who care about you, and it means a lot to them when they receive something written just for them. Thank-you notes might not be written as often as they used to be, but getting one still makes people feel special and appreciated.
Why Read To Write?
Without good reading and understanding skills, it is harder to achieve your goals. That’s why reading and writing go together. Reading helps your brain grow and learn how language works.
The more you read, the easier it becomes to put words together when you write. You learn new words, better phrases, and clearer ways to explain your ideas. This helps the person reading your work understand exactly what you are trying to say.
Reasons For Writing
In school, writing is mainly used to check how students are learning and improving. Tests and written work help schools see progress from one year to the next. This information is also used by the government, which pays for education.
The problem is that schools do not always give the right support to dyslexic learners. Written work does not always show how much a learner really understands. During exams, dyslexic students may know the answers but still get lower marks because writing is harder for them.
In adult life, writing is still very important. People need to write to communicate, keep records, send messages, and organise their lives. There is no way to avoid writing completely.
When we write, we are either writing for ourselves or for other people. This means our writing needs to be clear, well put together, and easy to read, so the message makes sense to the reader.
Writing For Ourselves
When we write for ourselves, it helps us think more clearly, learn new things, and understand our ideas better. Writing for ourselves is often private, even though we may sometimes choose to share it with other people.
Benefits of Writing
Writing gives you time and space to change your ideas and improve your message. In some ways, this can make writing easier than speaking.
When you speak, you have to think of the words and say them straight away. Once the words are spoken, you can’t take them back or change them before someone hears them.
Writing can sometimes be more powerful than other ways of communicating. You can choose your words carefully to help the reader understand your ideas and guide them through your thoughts and reasons. This can help you explain your conclusions clearly.
However, humour does not always come across well in writing, especially in texts, emails, or online posts. That’s why it’s important to think carefully about what you write. Good writing skills help you share your message clearly without upsetting or offending others.
Learning To Write With Dyslexia
If you are dyslexic, learning to write can be difficult. It’s important to be honest about that — it isn’t easy, and it can take time. Writing will need effort and determination from the learner, and a lot of patience and understanding from parents and teachers.
The first and most important step is for everyone to accept that writing is something that needs to happen. With support, practice, and encouragement, progress is possible.
We are lucky to live in the digital age because there are lots of great tools that can help us write. Instead of spending lots of time worrying about handwriting, it can be better to use a keyboard and learn touch typing. In most jobs today, people type rather than write by hand, especially for longer pieces of work.
For dyslexic learners, typing can make writing much less stressful. Using a computer means you can change and improve your sentences before printing or sharing your work. Spell checkers and grammar checkers are very helpful when spelling and punctuation are tricky. AI tools can also help by suggesting clearer sentences or showing how writing could be improved. However, AI must be used sensibly and fairly. It should support learning, not do the work for you, and it must never be used to cheat in tests or exams.
Dyslexic learners often need extra time and support to notice details in sentences. Typing and word processing can really help with this and make writing feel more manageable and less frustrating.
If parents or carers do not feel confident teaching writing, or are unsure about the best way to support a dyslexic learner, working with a specialist teacher can be a good option. Having the right support can make a big difference and help writing skills grow over time.