starting daily journal, writing practice

[strictlovingmum]

I have decided to practise little bit of writing with dd this summer holidays and have been wondering what is the best way of doing it?
DD is a solid writer, little dry(too concerned about her spellings) so will often write/recount very well, but without much detail, very few adjectives or adverbs, she is reluctant to just give it a go to words that are more interesting in fear of not being able to spell those words accurately.
(She tried this evening adding few words, so favrit and caricter= favourite and character) We did correct those together, but she wasn't pleased.
Would keeping a journal be good idea?, so daily writing of things we have done together or visited that day, and also How can I encourage her to add more interesting words to her writing?
All suggestions welcome,TIA.
DD y2 from September.

Brilliant idea (wish I had your motivation - and I should have, I'm an English teacher...)! Why not choose 3 words each day and challenge her to use them in her writing? You could give them to her in a 'challenge envelope' to make it seem more exciting and maybe include one that she'll need to look up in order to find the meaning. If you've already chosen the words and written them on a piece of card, you'll avoid the need to correct her spellings and she'll end up with a set of 'flashcards' at the end of the holidays that she can use in future when she's writing (you could write the definition of an unfamiliar word on the back of the card so she can check it for herself next time).

If you think she'll get 'over-loaded' with words maybe stop giving her new ones once she's collected about 20 and then you could start each piece of writing by allowing her to pick her 3 words for the day.

In my experience, good writers are almost always voracious readers so maybe you could alternate the writing with reading her stories above her reading age so she gets to hear and see more sophisticated vocabulary in use. At this stage, I really wouldn't push the spellings too much - hopefully her teacher will be working through an age-related spelling scheme at school. If you can get her enjoying the process of writing and taking pride in having written something every day, you'll be doing well. Could she use a digital camera to take a photo and print it out to stick in next to each piece of writing so she gets to enjoy 'making' her journal? Spot of sparkly glitter maybe? And stickers?!

Good luck!

Ivy many thanks for encouragement and helpful tips, we will give it a go and see how she gets on

good luck.

DS is similar age. "daily writing " this summer is also daily sulking and daily whingeing.

DS has liked sending card to people, postcards, well done cards, good luck cards.... and the odd book review... but a diary leaves him cold, he has no interest in writing about what he did. he would rather do a page of English workbook (old Haydn Richards junior English book that was knocking about- grammar/ comprehension) .

I'm not sure what she will gain by keeping a journal if she is already good at recount writing. If your concern is that her writing is dry and lacks interesting vocabulary how about keeping a "fantasy" journal ...Yesterday I challenged Usain Bolt to a race ...and won.... type

What about a special little book to record new words that she learns from her reading books? That's a way to broaden vocab, practise spelling and learn how to use a dictionary. The broader vocab will help her writing next term.

In school my pupils have "Magpie" books where they record interesting words from class novels and stories read aloud.

mrz, idea of journal was appealing because we have a lot going on this summer holidays, house move, older sibling going to uni, first abroad holiday in years, so we thought there would be plenty to write about.
She is not the one for imaginary stories, liking the factual side of writing more, so I was thinking rather then making her write something she doesn't want to, let's try and build on something she has got forte at, so recount/factual writing.
Love the idea of "challenge envelope", I think she will find that exciting and also idea of little note book for her to write all the new words she learned daily, she could always incorporate those in her journal writing.
She is a good reader, and for what is worth finished on level ten year 1, she will certainly read or decode new/difficult words without any problems, she will understand the meaning of those words either instantly within context or will "get it" after discussing the meaning with me, but she is reluctant to incorporate them in her writing, perhaps that reluctancy is age/maturity related, and it will come with time, I don't know.
No problem with imaginary story telling, her stories are fab, so there is a imagination and very colourful vocabulary, it is just damn writing,

Right going to try and link to various things I discovered during an hours Googling on this very subject as I have dc the same as the op's and had a similar idea.

Said links are American so apologies,daily journal writing seems to be big over there.I love the idea of a Journal Jar and found some sites with prompts.There was a Pinterest page with several ideas on:-

www.pinterest.com/pamscar/kids/

Will just see if that works as I never link right.

Woohoo!!!!

Links to prompts below!

www.superteacherworksheets.com/journal-prompts.html

www.thegoodstuffguide.com/summertime-kids-writing/

www.make-it-do.com/kids-do/summer-brain-drain/

www.christmas.organizedhome.com/printable/child-journal-jar

Sorry last one didn't work and had loads on.Will try again.

christmas.organizedhome.com/printable/child-journal-jar

We also have this book:-

www.amazon.co.uk/My-Days-Writings-Childrens-Journals/dp/1563830558

You can get it on Book Depository but you can only seem to be able to order 1 at a time.All my 3 have it.

Also we're making individual thesaurus for boring over used words like 'nice'.Just got tiny notebooks and giving them a word now and again on each page.They have to list alternatives.

Have downloaded the chart on Netmums with footprints to a treasure chest.They will colour a footprint for each half hour of writing/maths they do without moaning,they can colour in extra if they do something fab. They've all chosen a reward they'll get when they reach said chest.Think there are 15 footprints to said chest.

Love the envelope challenge thing and magpie books.