Many children have a visual memory that lets them know that a word is not written conventionally, even if they don't know how to spell it. Help the child use a dictionary to look up correct spellings. This step lets the child make the writing available to others. A tutoring program could accomplish this through a newsletter or collection of children's finished work. A child might bind her work with a cover and illustrations and share it with her family and teacher.
Engaged writers express creativity, tell stories, and share ideas.
A tutor's first session with a child is an opportunity to begin forging a trusting and supportive relationship. Tutoring sessions should follow an agenda that is tailored to build on a child's interests and skills. A tutor's primary role is to support a child's reading and literacy development. Conditions of learning set the stage for children's success in reading and writing. Scaffolding provides just enough support to move a child forward in learning a new skill.