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Check for any undiagnosed disabilities. Check Mickey's vision, dyslexia test, dysgraphia test

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Check for any undiagnosed disabilities. Check Mickey's vision, dyslexia test, dysgraphia test

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I second the Nat Geo readers suggestion. Nat Geo also has a ton of other cool and interesting resources on their site. I've used photo writing prompts in the past with a lot of success for middle and high school students in China and Korea.

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I'm curious of what parts of writing Mickey is struggling with. Is it technical ability? Ideas? Motivation?

If it's ideas and motivation, we should recognize that a blank page is incredibly intimidating, especially for someone not confident in their writing. Prompts that will spark and interest or creating mind maps on interesting topics with Mickey before writing would be a good start.

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Mickey needs to improve his chinese characters here is a way of doing so, its a subject I am not too sure of.

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JINNA WANG

2. Recognizing the different components

Writing by hand also helps you recognize the different components that make up more complex characters, and allows you to tie meanings into the character's structure. These components are often themselves "root characters", which are the key to unlocking written Mandarin.

For example, when you are writing the character 森 (sēn)ù) - which means "a lot of trees", (or "forest") - by hand, you have to write 木 (mù) , 木 (m ù), and 木 (m ù) separately. As you write it, you'll realize: "Ok, 木 (m means "wood" or "tree." And a place with so many trees is a forest."

Since many Chinese compound characters take some part of their meaning from its components, writing by hand is a great way to review what you've learned, and create a deeper understanding of the relationship between character's structure and its meaning.

3. Feel more empowered as a student of Chinese

Being able to write Chinese by hand will improve your confidence in your own Chinese abilities and give you another layer of connection to Chinese culture.

Whether it's helping your friends create and write their names in Chinese, or simply passing a note to a Chinese person, you will begin to feel that Chinese is a more integrated part of your life, rather than just a hobby in its own bubble. Going out and having real world experiences using your Chinese is one of our key tips for successful Mandarin self-study.

4. Relaxation and Stress Relief

Believe it or not, writing Chinese character by hand can be a relaxing and fulfilling activity! It such an amazing feeling when you are able to find the time to sit down, open up a fresh sheet in your practice book, grab a pen, and focus solely on improve your handwritten characters stroke by stroke.

The writing almost feels like a meditative experience in that it clears your head and takes you away from the stresses of daily life.

I would compare handwriting practice to the stress-relieving adult coloring books that are so popular nowadays. You can see the similarities, right?

5. Appreciation of Calligraphy - a traditional Chinese Art

Lastly, being able to write Chinese by hand will give you a new appreciation of the traditional art of Chinese calligraphy. You probably know the calligraphy is one of the most revered traditional Chinese art forms, but if you've never handwritten Chinese characters it's hard to appreciate its beauty.

As you get better at writing, you'll see first hand the work it takes to turn writing into expressions of art. Some calligraphers are known for their wild and brash styles, and some are known for being graceful and understated.

You may even connect with a certain calligrapher's work, and begin to incorporate that into your own personal style!
So, now that you know the importance of handwriting Chinese, how do you do it?
How do I handwrite Chinese characters?
Stroke Order is Essential

The proper stroke order of writing Chinese characters has been honed over thousands of years to create characters that are balanced and harmonious. When characters are written in an incorrect order, it disrupts the "flow" of the character, and the resulting hand writing usually looks "off." In fact, if a Chinese teacher catches you writing in the wrong stroke order, he/she will usually tell you that you wrote the character wrong, and tell you to start from scratch.

There are some general rules when it comes to stroke order, such as writing "from top to bottom" and "left to right." However, the exact stroke order of each character needs to be learned and memorized individually. In our Yoyo Chinese character courses, you'll get a stroke-by-stroke demonstration of each new character you learn, making it super simple for you to visualize the "flow" and remember the correct stroke order.

If you're taking the Yoyo Chinese Character Course, Yangyang shows you the correct stroke order for each character in the video lesson, but you can also download the Lecture Notes and check out the Handwriting Practice section for a detailed breakdown.

You can download the Lecture Notes from the free lessons at the beginning of the Chinese Character Course, and try it yourself!

Practice Makes Perfect

There really is no shortcut to having good handwriting. In China, many students take calligraphy lessons from a young age to improve their handwriting. To start, you would buy a calligraphy practice book, which usually consists of pages divided into squares for you to repeat the given examples over and over again.

The basics of good handwriting are simple: the characters should be neat, cohesive, and proportional, with no part of the character dominating the others. When you first start practicing your handwriting, your character will be a bit "boxy" looking, a result of the square calligraphy boxes. Make sure to follow the right stroke order as you practice your handwriting!

The important thing here is that you don't need to become a master calligrapher to get all the benefits of practicing handwritten Chinese. Anyone scratching out characters on a piece of paper will get the boost to your Mandarin and character recognition, the improved focus and concentration, and the stress relief and relaxation.

Different Styles/Cursive

Once you have a good basic handwriting, you can begin to experiment with different styles. Just like in English, when people choose to write in "bubble letters" or small caps, you can choose to find your own style in Chinese as well.

Most people of an older generation will write in 草体字 (cǎo tǐ zì) , which is the Chinese version of cursive handwriting. Here, the characters will lose their "boxy" shape, and it will be harder for the untrained eye to read. This is quite advanced but also extremely interesting, since people's styles will really show in their cursive handwriting.

You can see below for different calligrapher's unique takes on the character 心 (xīn) .

One interesting thing to note: the 心 (x īn) in the top left corner is actually the calligraphy of 毛泽东 (máo zé dōng) - Chairman Mao Zedong!

If you've never learned this character 心 (x īn) , check out this lesson from Unit 2 of our Chinese Character Course:

How do I read handwritten Chinese?

Look at the left and right side of the character to try and identify radicals or character components. You might not be able to see the character clearly, but still pick out the "grass" radical 艹 (called "cǎo zì tóu ) or the "three drops of water" radical 氵(called "sān diǎn shuǐ ), it will give you a starting point for guessing the character.

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The Complete Guide to Chinese Handwriting

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JINNA WANG 2. Recognizing the different components Writing by hand also helps you recognize the different components that make up more complex characters, and allows you to tie meanings into the character's structure. These components are often themselves "root characters", which are the key to unlocking written Mandarin.

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Encouraged to participate in Activities he enjoys

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Encouraged to participate in Activities he enjoys

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Mickey takes part in football practice on a saturday morning at KWYA from 10am -12 noon and is a very regular attender, despite living in the town over an hour from the school, his parents bring him every weekend.

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Mickey seems to lack confidence. Maybe let him read about subjects that interest him, like art, nature.  Same with writing, focus on themes he likes, give him extra time to finish. To boost his speaking abilities, maybe have him present an expose on something he likes, in small groups of students.

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Mickey seems to lack confidence. Maybe let him read about subjects that interest him, like art, nature.  Same with writing, focus on themes he likes, give him extra time to finish. To boost his speaking abilities, maybe have him present an expose on something he likes, in small groups of students.

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Mickey should not only be encouraged to read for academic and school purposes but to read for pleasure this maybe even reading comics or something simple on a subject he enjoys such as music.

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It's easier for kids to build reading skills when they enjoy reading. They practice more, and they feel more motivated to take on reading challenges. Try these tips to encourage your child to read - and hopefully build a love of reading.

1. Read it again and again.

Encourage your child to read familiar books. If your child wants to take the same book out of the library for the 100th time, that's just fine. Re-reading helps build speed and accuracy. And that can help build confidence for kids who learn and think differently.

Connect what your child reads with what's happening in real life. For example, if you're reading a story about basketball, ask questions about when your child learned to shoot hoops and how similar it was to the kids' experience in the story.

You can also look for follow-up activities that make stories come to life. If the book references kites, ask your child to brainstorm fun kite-related activities, like how to make a kite. Hands-on activities like these can keep kids engaged with the topic.

3. Don't leave home without something to read.

Bring along a kid-friendly book or magazine any time you know your child will have to wait in a doctor's office, at the DMV, or anywhere else. Stories can help keep your child occupied. And the experience will show that you can always fit in time to read.

4. Dig deeper into the story.

Help your child engage with a story by asking questions about the characters' thoughts, actions, or feelings: "Why does Jack think it's a good idea to buy the magic beans? How does his mother feel after she finds out?" Encourage your child to connect to the story through experiences you may have had together.

5. Make reading a free-time activity.

Try to avoid making TV the reward and reading the punishment. Remind your child there are fun things to read besides books. And set a good example for your child by spending some of your free time reading instead of watching TV - and then talking about why you enjoyed it.

When your child is sounding out an unfamiliar word, leave plenty of time to do it, and praise the effort. Treat mistakes as an opportunity for improvement. Imagine your child misreads listen as list. Try re-reading the sentence together and ask which word makes more sense. Point out the similarities between the two words and the importance of noticing the final syllable.

7. Pick books at the right level.

Help your child find books that aren't too hard or too easy. Kids have better reading experiences when they read books at the right level. You can check your choices by having your child read a few pages to you. Then ask questions about what was read. If your child struggles with reading the words or retelling the story, try a different book.

Use word games to help make your child more aware of the sounds in words. Say tongue twisters like "She sells seashells by the seashore." Sing songs that use wordplay, like Schoolhouse Rock's "Conjunction Junction." Or swap out the letters in words to turn them into new words. (For example, map can become nap or rap if you change the first letter, man if you change the final letter, and mop if you change the middle.)

Take turns reading aloud during story time. As your child grows as a reader, you can gradually read less and let your child take the lead more often. If you have younger kids, too, encourage your older one to take on the responsibility of reading to them.

10. Point out the relationships between words.

Talk about words whenever you can. Explain how related words have similar spellings and meanings. Show how a noun like knowledge, for example, relates to a verb like know. Point out how the "wild" in wild and wilderness are spelled the same but pronounced differently.

Kids who have trouble with reading may try to avoid it because it makes them feel anxious or frustrated. Try to create positive feelings around reading by making it a treat. Get your child a library card or designate special reading time for just the two of you. Give books as gifts or rewards.

12. Make reading creative.

Change up reading activities to play to your child's strengths. If your child loves to draw or make things, create a book together. Fold paper and staple it to resemble a book. Work together to write sentences on each page and have your child add illustrations or pictures. Then read it out loud together.

13. Let your child choose.

Some kids prefer nonfiction books. Some love only fantasy or graphic novels. Or maybe your child prefers audiobooks or reading things online. The important thing is to practice reading, no matter where or how it happens.

14. Look for a series of books.

Ask a librarian or a teacher for suggestions about popular book series your child might like. Reading a series of books helps kids get familiar with the tone, characters, and themes. This familiarity can make the next books in the series easier to grasp.

About the Author

About the Author

Louise Baigelman, MEd is the executive director of Story Shares, which distributes high-quality stories for teen and adult beginning readers.

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14 ways to encourage your grade-schooler to read

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It's easier for kids to build reading skills when they enjoy reading. They practice more, and they feel more motivated to take on reading challenges. Try these tips to encourage your child to read - and hopefully build a love of reading. 1. Read it again and again.

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Mickey needs to feel comfortable in his environment and able to speak, when he does give an spoken answer it is normally very precise and to the point, but Mickey speaks rarely and very quietly

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All My Children Daycare & Nursery School

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How to Get Your Child to Be More Outspoken in Class

Some children are naturally extroverted and have no issues with raising their hand and contributing in class. They are vocal, outgoing, and participatory. Then there are those kids who keep to themselves, are shy, or feel timid when it comes to classroom participation. These kids may know the answers or want to chime in, but their hesitance to be outspoken triumphs over their urge to share.

While not every kid will have the same level of energy or confidence, there are ways to help your child open up and become more self-assured so he can be more outspoken in class. It's important that your child is part of the learning experience, and that doesn't mean sitting at his desk quietly all the time. Teachers encourage participation and when your child is excited, rather than nervous to do so, it's a win-win for the teacher and your child. The whole class will benefit when everyone's part of the experience! Here are some ways to give your child the confidence to be more outspoken.
Practice at Home
While doing homework, suggest that your child reads his answers aloud to you rather than having you look over his work. This will get him used to answering with confidence and talking about schoolwork to others. Even if the answer's incorrect, it's OK to say it out loud. That may be what's worrying him at school - being wrong and others knowing it. As long as he tried hard and did the work, every kid's going to be wrong now and then, even him. The more he's OK with speaking up, the better he'll get at asking the appropriate questions to get it right the next time around.
Talk to Safe Strangers
When you're in public with your child, encourage him to do the talking instead of you speaking for him all of the time. For instance, if you're dining out at a restaurant, have him place his own order rather than you doing it for him. At the library, make him ask the librarian for help himself. He can also practice by answering the home phone or interacting with adults you speak to regularly, such as those at the bus stop with their kids or at the park. Always supervise your child, but allow him to branch out from his comfort zone. This will teach him to develop conversational skills and communication confidence.
Join a Team
Kids gain confidence when they're part of a like-minded group or team. If your child is athletic, he can join an after-school sports team or Little League. If he's artsy, he can go to painting or ceramics class. For the musically inclined, joining the choir or band is a great way to be part of a group. Working together with other kids will get your child to begin speak up and participate with other kids who are on his side. This will expand into the classroom once your kid realizes all the kids are in it together.

Does your kid have confidence in the classroom? Do you want him or her to become more outspoken? Any tips for other AMC families you'd like to share?

For more info like this, please visit All My Children's blogs.

By: Melissa A. Kay

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How to Get Your Child to Be More Outspoken in Class - All My Children Daycare & Nursery School

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Some children are naturally extroverted and have no issues with raising their hand and contributing in class. They are vocal, outgoing, and participatory. Then there are those kids who keep to themselves, are shy, or feel timid when it comes to classroom participation.

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Our school's language curriculum has undergone a complete overhaul with a new emphasis on non-fiction reading. We have implemented some National Geographic readers in our grade 10 classes. All of these books are less than 50 pages, and are about the natural world, animals, and science. Maybe teachers could supplement Mickey's reading with these books to help capture his interests?

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Copyright © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society Copyright © 2015-2021 National Geographic Partners, LLC. All rights reserved Early Moments, 934 Plaza Dr., Montoursville, PA. 17754-2400 Copyright © 2021 * Read our Privacy Policy | Terms Of Service | Cookie Policy | Do Not Sell My Information | Accessibility Statement

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Mickey should be encourage to write in class but the speed of the work should not be the issue, rather the quality and style of his writing whether in english or chinese.

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Writing - it's an important form of communication and a key part of education. But in today's technology-driven world, kids aren't given many opportunities to practise and improve their ability to write. This leaves many parents wondering how to improve their child's writing skills.

It takes time to develop strong writing skills, and it can be a tough task to accomplish. Thankfully, there are many things that parents can do at home to help improve children's writing skills.

From fun activities to daily reading and writing sessions, these tips on how to improve kids' writing skills will help your child build his or her skills in no time.

Improve your child's communication skills with these simple and fun kids' writing activities.

14 Activities To Improve Kids' Writing Skills

1. Read Up

Regular reading is a stepping stone to better writing and helps kids' strengthen their writing skills. It helps expand children's vocabulary and shows them different ways of using words. This also makes it easier for them to use these words in their own writing.

With younger children, make sure you're reading together every day and encouraging their love of reading as they grow. Start reading early-many children who devour books grow up to become strong writers themselves. Tweet This

2. Make it Fun!

Play games and activities that encourage writing. Crossword puzzles and word games are great for everyone. Little ones will especially like the "write the word" game: where they search for items and write down the word when they find each item.

3. Create Writing Worksheets

For young children just learning to write, try creating a worksheet where they can trace letters and words. Write out letters and words, place another piece of paper on top, and have your child trace onto the blank piece of paper. You can also create a connect-the-dots game by having your child trace along dotted lines and then tell you which letter or word she or he finds.

4. Try Different Materials

Switch it up by writing with something other than a pen or pencil. Sidewalk chalk on the driveway, finger painting, or a salt writing tray are all fun writing activities that will also help build kids' writing skills.

5. Write Letters

Today, writing letters is a bit of a lost art. Encourage your child to write letters to friends or family members. Distant family members will especially love receiving handwritten letters and it's a great way to work on improving writing skills for kids.

Pen-pals are also a fun idea, or you can even write letters to each other and leave them around the house to find!

6. Encourage Journalling

Keeping a journal is a great way to express thoughts and ideas while also working on improving children's writing skills. Plan an outing to pick a fun journal with your child and encourage them to write in it as much as possible. Make it a part of his or her daily routine.

7. Create a Writing Space

Set aside a little corner in your house that is completely devoted to writing. Having an area dedicated solely to writing will help free your child from distractions so he or she can focus on practicing writing skills.

8. Invest Time

Make sure your child knows you're available to help with spelling or proofreading whenever he or she needs it. When you make writing time a priority for you, it will make it easier for your child to improve his or her writing skills.

9. Connect Their Interests

Think about your son or daughter's favourite book series. Or maybe he or she is obsessed with dinosaurs. Whatever his or her interests, connect them to writing. Have your child write a new short story about his or her favourite characters, or let him or her create a story all about dinosaurs.

10. Create Story Prompts

A fun way to improve kids' creative writing skills is to have them write short stories.

Cut out pictures from a magazine with different characters or locations, or write down different words. Place these in a container or glue them to cards to use as writing prompts for creating a unique story. This also makes a fun activity for the whole family to join in.

11. Model It

There's no better way to learn something than to see someone else doing it. Let your children see you writing, often. When writing is a normal part of your daily life, it will come more naturally to them. Anything goes: a simple grocery list or letter to the teacher, holiday or thank you cards, or even a sweet note to your child.

12. Use Technology to Your Advantage

There's no getting around the fact that technology plays a huge part in our lives. Use it to your advantage by having your child create a blog. This can help your child work on improving his or her writing skills by encouraging frequent writing habits.

13. Make it Part of Your Daily Routine

Make sure there's time each day to do some writing in one way or another. Whether it's writing a grocery list, writing in a journal or composing a letter, practicing writing every day will go a long way to improving kids' writing skills.

14. Praise Their Work

Show lots of interest in your child's writing and stories. Ask questions, celebrate when he or she brings home a good piece from school, and encourage his or her writing as much as possible.

Improving Writing Skills Can Be Fun

Writing is an important practical life skill. While developing great writing skills requires lots of time and patience, you can help your child with these simple writing exercises for kids.

Lots of reading, frequent writing time in a special writing area, and incorporating fun writing activities and games will all go a long way to giving writing skills a boost.

Need Extra Help?

If your child needs extra help improving his or her writing skills, Oxford Learning can help. Our English tutoring program helps develop kids' writing and comprehension skills, from word recognition to paragraph writing. Contact us today!

Related Resources

5 Reasons Writing By Hand Is Good For The Brain
Understanding Literacy & Your Child
5 Ways To Help Kids Learn At Home

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How To Improve Writing Skills For Kids: 14 Easy Tips

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Writing - it's an important form of communication and a key part of education. But in today's technology-driven world, kids aren't given many opportunities to practise and improve their ability to write. This leaves many parents wondering how to improve their child's writing skills.

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There are Scholastic easy reader biographies that might work to pique his interest. I think it's probably important for him to be seen reading things that don't come off as for younger readers, so this might not be the right way to go.

Genre fiction is often more popular with students than literary fiction, so you might try some short story anthologies that are at grade level just to see what he responds to.