Students who write well almost always do better in school than those who don’t, says Dr. Raymond J. Huntington of the Huntington Learning Center, which specializes in writing instruction and standardized test preparation.

“In life, writing skills have a tremendous impact on the way we present ourselves,” he says. “From letters to possible employers to office correspondence to communications with friends and family, the ability to use written language has a remarkable impact on our professional and personal success.”

Language Development Stages

Children go through several language development stages: Kids start learning to write in kindergarten, when they’re often given a series of story cards to arrange in order. In early elementary, the focus is on teaching mechanics and the writing process. By middle school, kids are expected to know how to write, and write well. If they don’t have these tools, their schoolwork suffers. For instance, middle school classroom work and  student homework in subjects such as science and history require students to first interpret what they read. Then they often are asked to write on-the-spot essays. This skill is also required for many standardized tests including the ACT and SAT, they'll also need the skills to know how to write a college essay.

Parent Involvement in Education

If you’re worried that your child may be falling behind, now is the best time to help him improve writing skills. But how do you know whether your child is on the right track? Here are some suggestions:

  • Keep tabs on her grades and teachers’ remarks. Look at book reports and other essays. Look especially closely at any assignment that requires the stringing together of thoughts in a way that makes sense.
  • If you see low grades or needs-improvement type of comments from teachers, talk to those teachers about what was expected and how she could have done better. Then, next time, have her show you her work before she hands it in.

Help Students Improve Writing Skills

Remember the teacher’s expectations, and make sure those elements are in your child’s work. Easier said than done? Here’s how to help: 

  • Read it aloud. Your child can either read out loud to you or, if he’s shy about it, to himself in the privacy of his own room. Either way, have him read from a print-out so he can mark changes as he goes. 
  • Revise it. Remind your child that writing is a marathon, not a sprint. Scientists conduct many experiments before reaching a conclusion. Artists sketch before they paint. Writers are no different. They expect to go through several drafts before they ?nish a piece of writing. 
  • Look for help. There is a wealth of information online, including grammar help, research resources and writing tips — all geared toward kids. For example, FactMonster.com is a comprehensive site offering facts, figures and homework help. Its writing skills page gives middle-schoolers tips on writing book reports, research papers and more. And check out the box below for other web sites worth visiting. 
  • Get involved. Experts agree that the best way to become a better writer is to write. Practice may not make perfect, but it helps make the process less scary, so that kids won’t freeze when they have to write a paper. 

Turn off the TV and Dive Into Middle School Literature

Mary Leyman, who’s been teaching Language Arts at Warner Middle School in Farmington Hills, Mich., for 14 years, says one of the best ways kids can improve their writing is by reading.

“They should spend less time on the computer and with video games and more time with a book,” she says. Reading good books expands a student’s vocabulary and shows him how much can be done with the written word. In addition to novels, encourage your child to read newspapers and magazines.

Much of what it takes to turn a mediocre writer into a magnificent one is pretty simple. The rewards will show in ways beyond the report card. Above all, Leyman says, talking with your children instead of to them will do wonders for their writing skills.

“Conversation is an excellent way to build good writing skills,” she says. Children need more adults to spend more time giving them attention in a positive way. It makes a huge difference.

Middle-School Learning and Writing Resources Online

  • New York Times Learning Network. Check out the Word of the Day, Crossword Puzzles and suggested Conversation Starters for parents. Very cool.
  • ePALS. A global network of students connecting with students. Encourage your child's classroom to sign up. Students can email, blog and contribute to forums on topics such as increasing global understanding or whether students text-message too much. Privacy controls protect identities.

Rebecca Kavanagh is contributing editor to EduGuide.