Websites for Elementary Writing Skills

Web sites for elementary writing skills can help teach and reinforce this important foundation of learning.

Evaluating Web Sites for Elementary Writing Skills

Using Web sites to help teach children writing fundamentals can be very helpful. However, in order to make the most of this type of interactive education experience, parents may want to evaluate the Web sites carefully. Work with your child or discuss with his or her teacher to find out what skill sets have already been learned and what would be most appropriate for his or her level.

Aspects to consider when evaluating which Web sites to use include:

  • What is your child's current writing skill level?
  • Is the site endorsed by a teacher, educational organization, or other reputable individual or group?
  • Is the site child-friendly? Does it contain excessive or inappropriate advertising?

How Elementary Writing Skills Web sites can Aid in Learning

Writing skills Web sites can help children learn some of the most fundamental concepts necessary for good writing skills. Although these may be generalized by age and grade level, each individual child learns at his own pace, so use his or her skill level as a guide.

According the National Council of Teachers of English, students work throughout their academic careers to achieve writing skills that illustrate written communication: clearly, strategically, critically, and creatively.

Web sites focused on elementary writing skills can aid in learning by helping children:

  • Identify and recognize all lower case and upper case letters
  • Understand when to use capital and lower case letters
  • Understand how words function in sentences
  • Evaluate when and how to use punctuation correctly
  • Understand and implement appropriate sequencing
  • Identify parts of sentences
  • Learn how to organizing essays, stories, and other documents
  • Build and improve vocabulary
  • Understand paragraphs
    • Topic sentence
    • Details
    • Conclusion
  • Understand and demonstrate different types of writing
    • Narrative
    • Descriptive
    • Expository
    • Persuasive
  • Understand the Writing Process
    • Pre-writing
    • Writing
    • Revising
    • Editing
    • Publishing

For older elementary students, Web site activities can help aid in learning how to use complex sentences, use transitions appropriately, and write using appropriate grammar and punctuation. Other writing skills that can be enhanced through online activities include using and understanding synonym and antonyms; using similes and metaphors; and incorporating and citing research from outside sources.

Web Sites for Elementary School Writing Skills

There are many Web sites that offer activities, games, and other resources for elementary writing skills, but some may be laden with distracting ads, have unclear or confusing directions, or be otherwise unsuitable. Evaluate a site or explore it with your child to be sure it is appropriate and meets his or her needs.

  • Fun Brain's Words Page has a variety of games designed to assist kids with writing skills. Children can test their skills at understanding plurals, grammar, vocabulary, story structure, idioms, and commonly confused words.
  • I Know That!, a multimedia education site, has several games dedicated to writing skills, including sentence puzzle and punctuation paintball.
  • Buzz In's English and Writing Page is excellent for older elementary school students. Kids can click to learn about different aspects of writing and take a fun quiz to test their skills.
  • Jenny Eather's Writing Fun is an interactive tool designed to improve children's writing skills by clearly identifying the parts and processes of various types of writing. The easy-to-use online text organizer helps kids to feel confidant their writing is organized well.
  • BrainPOP Junior's Writing offers a fun way to learn writing skills through short, interactive movies on topics like paragraphs, tenses, and types of sentences.
  • Magic Tree House Writing Club helps children improve writing skills through reading, writing, and organizing fiction. Mini lessons with characters from the popular Magic Tree House series help young writers grow and learn.

Fundamental Writing Skills Web sites for Adults

For many adults, understanding elementary writing skills and concepts can be a struggle. Perhaps these skills were not reinforced appropriately throughout their schooling, or there may be an area of written communication to improve upon. Even professional writers may need to brush up on their basics from time to time. For elementary writing fundamentals, many Web sites offer easy-to-understand tips and lessons.

  • Paradigm Online Writing Assistant offers information on a variety of basic an advanced writing concepts, including punctuation help, freewriting tips, and thorough explanations on different types of writing.
  • Purdue's Online Writing Lab has many resources for improving fundamental writing skills. From correct punctuation and capitalization to sentence construction and documenting sources, OWL's topics are explained in simple language with helpful diagrams, illustrations, and bullet point lists.
  • Guide to Grammar and Writing, sponsored by Capitol Community College Foundation, has clickable lists of writing tips and helps on various difficulty levels.

There are also many sites that can help improve basic skill sets in specific genres, such as business writing, creative writing, and even e-mail and letter writing.

Basic Writing Skills for ESL Students

YourDictionary offers many resources for individuals who are learning English as a second language and want to improve their writing skills. Visit YourDictionary's ESL Reference page for articles on ESL lessons.

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