5 Authentic Writing Experiences for Homeschooled Students

Homeschooling a student doesn’t mean foreclosing on interactive writing exercises. The absence of immediate peers does pose a practical challenge to cultivating interaction. However, a homeschooling parent or tutor might have more flexibility to provide authentic writing experiences than a teacher following the content and pace of a mandated English language arts curriculum. Many of these authentic experiences are inherently interactive. Below are a few that naturally mimic how people use writing outside of solely academic work.

1. Posting to Writing Forums – In the classroom, peer-based writing circles are composed of students whose interest in writing might be limited to completing whatever writing task has been assigned. Online forums attract writers who are genuinely interested in improving their craft. These writers want to give and receive feedback for the sake of making everyone involved into better writers. A homeschooled student could post to a forum and receive multiple critiques from writers who are taking the initiative to reach out to another writer rather than simply responding to a class requirement. Of course, these writers are expecting to have their work critiqued in return, but that is the reciprocal, interactive component of forums. Also, many forums are meant for aspiring or established professional writers and might exclude student writers. Dozens of forums appropriate for students are available, though. All have the advantage of including young people who are motivated enough to improve their writing that they joined the forum.

2. Posting to Social Media – A significant amount of what everyone reads and writes appears as some form of social media. Using social media as a workshop is highly authentic and naturally interactive. Social media is where much of the writing we do lives, so using it as a platform to develop writing makes sense. Under the guidance of a parent or tutor, specific sites can become particular kinds of portfolios. For example, a multimedia project pairing photography and writing can take shape on Instagram. A Tumblr archive can be created on a select topic and matched with followers who have an interest in the topic. Parents and tutors have to be mindful of the exchanges between students and followers. Not all commentary will be constructive. Still, young writers can get volumes of insight about their writing through the collective power of social media.

3. Writing Film and Television Reviews – Reviews of any type of attract plenty of attention online. People rely on one another’s reviews to make choices between the wide and varied choices available to us. Writing a review is a culmination a several skills and is a nuanced activity. Students writing reviews must take something they’ve watched, strip it to its literary elements, and clearly articulate its essence to an audience. Many authors of reviews struggle with the distinction between a synopsis and a review. Through writing and posting reviews, students can work on the distinctions in voice necessary for basic retelling versus critical analysis. A single review can spark a lively conversation online, which adds the interactive element.

4. Submitting to Contests – Contests aren’t just for student writers. Established authors frequently enter literary contests. This is a natural activity for people who write for a living. Writing for contests doesn’t necessarily have an interactive component, but it does force the young writer to synthesize skills and perform to the highest level of expectations. The contests might have a highly practical value, as they might be related to publication opportunities or scholarships.

5. Writing the Application Essay – This item primarily applies to high school-aged students, although some younger students might need to do this if they’re transitioning to a private or charter program. Much like writing for contests, writing the application essay has a valuable and practical purpose. It isn’t a once-and-done activity. Much like writing a cover letter, this can be revisited and revised with each new application. It can become part of a living writing portfolio that follows a student beyond secondary education.

By no means are these the only authentic writing experiences available to homeschooled students. These are merely examples that can be part of a rigorous and individualized writing program. The examples above happen to mirror writing experiences that also happen beyond the scope of school, which are the best kind for young writers to emulate.

Written by Jeff Hartman