​NewSong Press’s blog posts are designed to inspire parents and teachers with creative ways for children and teens to love writing and desire to share their Christian faith. This blog post focuses on the importance that children and teens delight in and rely on God’s profound love for them.  With this rock-solid foundation they can write with a passion and dedication that goes beyond their pages.
​A specific creative-writing challenge is included in this post to help with this discovery and reflection. Also, see the P.S. for inspiring links for young people in your lives.
 
As parents and/or educators, we strive to find meaningful ways for children to experience Gods’ love in profound and soul-touching ways. They can see His wondrous works in nature as they embrace the reassurance that God is our Creator of all good. As they learn the basis of our faith, they can come to understand God sent Jesus as our Savior and to help us know God’s love for all of us.

Jesus is God’s Gift to the World, to Help Us Know God’s Love.
God is holy, perfect. We learn in our Christian faith that we need a Savior, Redeemer King Jesus, to be cleansed and worthy of an eternal relationship with God.
​
But some of this can get fuzzy for children and teens, as well as some adults.
So, how do we help our children and students grow in their faith and trust in the most precious gift—a new life with Jesus, and for eternity? How do they love being loved by God, so it shines through them daily and forever?
 
Through a Mirror Dimly
Apostle Paul writes “now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face…” 1 Corinthians 13:12.
Or to paraphrase The Message, by Eugene H. Peterson, it’s as though we are looking into fog. But some day the sun will pierce through, and we will see God’s love for us clearly.
 
In the meanwhile, we need to trust God, hang onto hope, and love with full hearts.
 
To help us, the first and greatest commandment is to love God. That love includes trusting and seeking God and wanting to obey and follow Him. The second is to love others…all others…as we love ourselves.
 
Frankly, even experiencing God’s love “in a fog” can be glorious. Young people can be encouraged to look for these God-moments each day. Then, when they know God’s love for them—they can learn daily what to do with this great and wondrous love.
 
Those who love, have been loved and grow from it. When have our children and teens experienced God’s tender mercies in their lives? When have they gotten the reassurances that God loves them for who they are? When has this caused them to grow and thrive in their own compassion for themselves and others, with deep gratitude for our Holy and Almighty God?

As parents and educators, how do we help them be attuned to this highly personal love from God so they can appreciate their blessings?
And so they can write about their faith from a perspective of love?
 
As some of you know, I lead a Good News Club. These Child Evangelism Fellowship Bible clubs for elementary age children are worldwide. In the United States, many, like ours,  meet in public schools after the school day.  During a club meeting, I sat by a dear, five-year-old girl while another volunteer reminded the children, God knows what’s in our hearts. The lesson was on David, who is known for being a man after God's own heart. (1 Samuel 13:14)
 
Out of the sweet mouth of babe, this kindergartner leaned towards me and whispered, “Of course God knows my heart. Jesus lives in my heart.”

How do we help our children and teens hang onto this assurance so it’s rock solid for them? Or shall we say,
​stone solid?​

Creative-Writing Challenge…
 
Make a Timeline
Students can make timelines of their lives and think back on each time they personally saw God’s love and mercy in their lives or in someone else’s life whom they know well.
 
Celestial Bombardment
In 1 Samuel 7:12 Samuel made a stone as a marker to remember that God was their stronghold and help when they defeated their enemies. He called the stone Ebenezer (Hebrew: eben = stone; ezer = help). So, Ebenezer means stone of help. In this case, God’s divine intervention to tip the battle was a celestial bombardment—lots of thunder!
 
Perhaps you have heard the expression—"to raise one’s Ebenezer"? It’s intended to help us remember when we had difficulties and challenges and recall that God helped us through these hard times. That’s when we can “raise our Ebenezer” and remember God’s love and grace given to us.
 
 For this writing assignment, students mark an actual or approximate date on their timelines each time they remember God’s help, as well as label each event.

Was it finding a beloved family pet that had run off?

Or a near miss from a potentially serious car accident?
​
Maybe even a less eventful time when they made a mistake, but in learning from their errors they also felt an enormous celestial hug
from God.
 
Hands-on “Touch Stones”
 To add to this assignment, you may want to find or buy some smooth stones and tell your children each time they pick up a stone they should think of a time God has been faithful to them. They can paint the stones and write important Bible verses or keywords or dates from their memories. In addition to creating the timeline, children may want to stack their stones and with your help, glue the stones together with a glue gun or liquid nails. Their timelines and stacks of stones can be personal reminders to them of how God has helped them throughout their lives. They can also serve to teach them they can count on God to continue to be there for them in the future.
 
Here are two posts shared by Redeemer Bible Church in St. Petersburg, Florida, that can enrich your understanding.

1. “Here We Raise Our Ebenezer”
2. “The Ebenezer Principle Works for Youth”

 
Keep Writing about God’s Tender Mercies
To expand on this writing assignment, children can write a list of all the ways God has helped them this past year. Then they can write a list of goals or things they would like God to help them with over the next year or so.
 
There may be particular memories children rekindle from this exercise that can lead them into writing a longer essay or story.
 
You may want to teach your children about Samuel, who even as a boy was faithful to God. He grew to be a courageous leader, judge, and prophet, who loved God and obeyed him. God chose Samuel to anoint the first kings in Israel--Saul and David. When Samuel proclaimed the Ebenezer, he wanted people to remember God rescues when they humble themselves before God.

In 1 Peter 2:4-5 We are also reminded,
“As you come to him, THE LIVING STONE—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood…”
 
God’s love is so great for all of us. It’s the highest power there is. May you and your loved ones know it deeply through and through.
 
And as pastor and author Philip De Courcy says on Know the Truth, a media ministry, “We need to constantly warm ourselves at God’s fire of love.”
 
If we are following Jesus, the “Living Stone,” we are spirit-indwelt children of God and can warm ourselves with God’s love.
 
May you and those you teach be blessed and know God’s love,
​
Heidi Vertrees
Author of Victor Survives Being a Kid
newSongpress.net

Editor's Note: Would you like to see more posts to help you teach children and teens how to write, that include a Christian perspective? I invite you to sign up here. newSongpress.net

I also invite you to send comments to www.newsongpress.net/contact.html or on Facebook at Heidi Vertrees Author/Educator, as well as comment here. 
​

by Nicolas C. Day

You’ve chosen to write Christian fantasy for kids, or you want to help kids and teens write Christian fantasy. Congratulations! You’ve embarked on a noble trail blazed by the footsteps of C. S. Lewis. Though more than worth it, you may find the journey is longer and more winding than expected. A map would help. So, here are five tips I’ve picked up along the way that will help keep you on the path, whether you’re writing or teaching youth about the craft of writing in this genre.
                                                                                                                                      
TIP 1 Create a Story Arc

Certain patterns of storytelling resonate with us. Call it a formula if you will. It’s the reason why some stories stand the test of time for hundreds or thousands of years and others fall by the wayside. Just because you’re writing Christian fiction doesn’t mean you should abandon the universal rules of storytelling.

There are a few famous formulas out there– Hero’s Journey, Save the Cat, Three Act Structure, and so on. After you pick one, establish an external AND an internal story arc. The external arc is essentially the plot. This is what happens to the character. Following a proven formula helps structure and pace the plot in a way that keeps readers hooked. Not too fast, not too slow, but right in the Goldilocks sweet zone.

While the external arc describes everything that happens to the character, the internal arc describes how the character changes because of those events. It answers a fundamental question: what about the character needed to change? Although we describe stories by the external arc (Hey, did you see that movie about so and so who went to the you know where and then that thing happened…?), it’s the internal arc that makes the story resonate.

Putting on my faith hat, I’d say it’s because we’re all designed and hardwired to connect in this way. It’s certainly the way our Author chose to write our story. We were once one way, Christ intervened, now we’re different. See? External and internal arc combined for the win.

TIP 2 The World is Your Canvas – Paint it but be Consistent with Your Color Scheme.
​
The last tip was about novel writing. Now let’s focus specifically on the fantasy genre. One super cool feature of fantasy is that you have complete freedom to build a world. You can keep it as close to the real world as you like (low fantasy) or create a completely new realm altogether (high fantasy). The point is, you’re free to make up anything. Anything. So do so!

Give us insight into the world you create – history, scenery, rules of physics, politics, whatever it may be. Let us know how your world is different. But remember to be consistent with the rules you created or else you’ll have glaring holes.
​
If gravity is super light, don’t have one of your characters crashing down a hill, unless you can explain your exception (i.e., the character was wearing weighted boots). Be consistent. Unless your point is to be inconsistent. In which case… be consistently inconsistent! In my novel, Into the Great Marinara, my character enters a medieval world of talking pasta dressed in tunics and armor. Except one of my pasta characters wears a tuxedo with a bow tie and a top hat. This makes no sense. You know what else doesn’t make sense? Talking pasta. Which brings me to my next point…

​TIP 3 Embrace the Absurd

Here’s where the fun comes in. Now we’re narrowing our focus from fantasy to youth fantasy. In no other genre is silliness so wildly accepted. The world’s being taken over by pizza eating toasters with fuzzy blue hats? You’re in the right place. Though by no means necessary or a requirement (there are plenty of non-absurd middle-grade fantasy stories), moments of absurdity can be terrific points in your story to communicate a meaningful message. I’m not sure why. Perhaps the uniqueness makes the lessons memorable.

Take this excerpt from Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland--

“‘Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?'

'That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,' said the Cat.

'I don't much care where,’ said Alice.

'Then it doesn't matter which way you go,' said the Cat.

'- so long as I get SOMEWHERE,' Alice added as an explanation.

'Oh, you're sure to do that,' said the Cat, 'if you only walk long enough.’”

Alice is talking to a cat. That’s absurd point number one. Absurd point number two is the deliberate misunderstanding of the question by focusing on the literalness of the words. The exchange is light and fun to laugh at, but if you soak long enough, you can find meaningfulness as well. We’re all going somewhere in life, whether we’re trying or not. Maybe it would be a good idea to give some thought to where we’re actually trying to go, and whether our choices help us along that path.

Young kids love absurd. I love absurd. If you’re writing youth fantasy, odds are you love absurd. So, dig in, but also look for ways to…
 
TIP 4  Integrate Your Faith…But Remember, You’re Writing a Novel, NOT a Sermon.
​
On our map we’ve traveled through novel world, fantasy country, youth fantasy county, and arrived at Christian youth-fantasy town. It’s time to integrate the themes of the Christian faith. But remember, novels and sermons are different genres. I don’t think I’m on shaky ground here. Jesus used different genres to teach his spiritual truths. Sometimes he spoke in sermons-- “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3) Other times, he spoke in parables--“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho…” (Luke 10:30)
 
You’re in parable land. If you forget this, you’ll usually end up with negative feedback that your story comes across as too “preachy.” People don’t want to turn to a story for a straight sermon. I’ll buck the trend here though. I’d rather err on the side of preachy than water down the message I felt called to write. But I do think there are other ways of effectively communicating the message. For instance, you can embed your faith in the dialogue of a character. Hey, maybe the character is a preacher. Then it’s not you sounding preachy, it’s the character.

Or embed faith in the character’s internal story arc. My internal character arc of Into the Great Marinara is a faith journey. Tanner encounters pasta characters who believe the intricacies of their world can only be explained by the presence of a master Chef. Tanner’s journey leads him to the same conclusion.

A third tactic--Deliver your message through allegory. This is a readily available option if you’re writing portal fantasy (in which your character is transported to an alternative world). While Chronicles of Narnia isn’t completely allegorical, C. S. Lewis definitely toes the line.
​
Last, but not least…

TIP 5   Ask, What’s Driving You to Write Christian Fiction?

You can use the talents God has given you to craft an incredible story. You can even touch on themes inherent in the Christian faith such as those in J.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings.

For me, apologetics is the driver. It’s not the main theme of my writing. In fact, you may not even notice it’s in there. But I want to be sure that every story I write conveys the message that faith does not require a separation of the mind from the heart, so kids may stand in confidence when intellectual bullies come knocking. This is the motivation I needed to finish writing an entire novel and not just quit after a few chapters as I had done many times before.

When writing Christian fiction, the basic tenets of the faith should be there. Fiction writing becomes a type of ministry.
Every writer is unique. Every ministry is unique. Prayerfully consider where the two connect for you as a writer. Encourage the kids and teens whom you teach to pray about this too.
 
BONUS TIP  Use Age-appropriate Vocabulary

​I know I said five tips, but I’ll add one bonus tip since it was a valuable lesson for me. Make sure your vocabulary is best suited for the age of your readers. There’s software that can check the approximate reading level of your story and simplify the process for you. (Hemingwayapp.com is an easy one.)
 
As Christians, may you “step into” gifts from God, be creative, and help others to do the same.
 
To Him be the Glory!
​

​About the Author
Nicolas C. Day didn't always embrace the Christian faith, but once he did he took his faith to a big, next level and earned a Certificate in Christian Apologetics from the Talbot School of Theology at Biola University. Now he's passionate about helping his young readers know how to defend their Christian beliefs and stand firm in God's truths. 

He is a family man, has a B.S. degree in petroleum engineering, and enriches his stories with his gifts to create entertaining and inspiring Christian fantasy.

You can reach Nicolas C. Day on the web, NicolasCDay.com and on FaceBook at Author Nicolas C. Day. His book, Into the Great Marinara,  is available on Amazon and other major retailers.

Waiting has never been my strength, so you can probably imagine I’ve flunked the “waiting for God’s timing” assignment on several occasions. If you have ever been at the bottom of the class in this subject, read on to learn how God used teaching language arts to my daughter to show me His ways.

I taught Alyssa, my daughter who has Down syndrome, to read in the summer after she turned five. Of course, it didn’t happen with just a wave of a magic wand, but my intense efforts paid off quickly. At the same time, we worked on readiness for writing. Fine motor tasks usually prove difficult for people with Down syndrome, so we focused on developing muscle strength as well as the cognitive components of writing.

First grade came and went. Alyssa learned to create a spindly facsimile of letters.
Second grade came and went. Alyssa demonstrated the ability to lightly trace the letters of her spelling words. She could dictate a story to me and would painstakingly trace what I wrote. Though she had many thoughts, she still could not produce a single written word from her mind.

I redoubled my efforts in third grade. Every afternoon, we sat at the kitchen table to write sentences with spelling words. She would dictate the sentence she wanted to write. I would prompt her to sound out each letter and write the letter associated with that sound. I was willing to accept any spelling if she would only produce something.
Alyssa passed the midpoint of third grade, and I lost hope she would ever write. We worked so diligently, yet she couldn’t get it.
What was I doing wrong?

Since then, I’ve learned we must strike a delicate balance between pushing our children and waiting for their readiness. This is God’s approach with His children as well. Sometimes He prods us to move ahead, while other times He waits and prepares us behind the scenes.

Though I’m not a trained educator, I will share with you some helpful tips for teaching the reluctant writer, most of which I learned by doing many things wrong. You can read much more about my homeschooling journey with Alyssa in my book, From Ignorance to Bliss: God’s Heart Revealed through Down Syndrome.

5 Tips for Teaching the Reluctant Writer

1.  Think outside the box. Since God knows every inch of territory both inside and outside the box, begin by asking Him for wisdom. Ask Him to help you sift through advice you receive from every side—friends, colleagues, Google, books, experts. As the parent, remember your expertise on your child trumps everyone else’s (except God). Ask questions, especially “Why not?” when your idea is dismissed as impossible.

For example, phonics was the box that imprisoned Alyssa’s writing. After she succeeded, I finally understood she did not learn to read or write by sounding out words.

2.  Persevere in what you know to do. Looking back, I see things I would have changed in my approach with Alyssa. Age and wisdom have taught me to lessen my focus on the goal and increase my sensitivity to my daughter. Nevertheless, God tells us to persevere in doing good.

Alyssa’s inability to make firm letters told me she needed to continue both fine and gross motor strengthening activities. We tend to focus on the hands with writing, but the trunk and shoulder muscles must be strengthened as well. You might consider switching or beginning with cursive writing because it may be physically easier to write than block letters.

Whenever a task is difficult, I advise breaking it down into smaller parts. This helps you to troubleshoot the problem and allows your child/ren to show their capabilities.

For example, writing may be divided into different skills such as letter formation, copy work, content, spelling, and others. For a child who cannot put words on paper, offer the option of verbalizing the content. Write what she dictates and allow her to practice handwriting as a separate skill. Depending on the ability of your child, spelling may also be dictated.
​
3.  Celebrate micro-successes. Often, our instruction emphasis leans toward weaknesses rather than strengths. Focusing on failures comes naturally, but it’s also a recipe for discouragement for the homeschool parent.
​
Ask God to help you design instruction to promote small successes. Use the strategies I mentioned to divide tasks so at least one capitalizes on a strength. Use trial and error to find a balance between challenge and ease so your student can incrementally achieve. Create a visual reminder of successes along with verbal encouragement to your child.

4.  Ask for help. God created us to live in community so we can support one another to live for Him. Seek help and advice within your community of homeschoolers. If you have access to a university hospital, you may be able to obtain an educational assessment to pinpoint specific issues and suggest useful strategies. One of my favorite online resources is SPED Homeschool (SPEDHomeschool.com).
​
5.  Remember the academic outcome does not determine your worth. God loves you with an everlasting love that does not depend on your child’s achievement. He is with you and inspires your creativity to meet the needs of your reluctant writer. His grace covers our parental deficits as well as our children’s weaknesses.
 
God’s Timing
​
When God moves, He often bumps me out of the way. All I can do is stare, slack-jawed, at His work.

After I poured years of blood, sweat, tears, and prayers into writing, Alyssa independently produced her first sentences in the privacy of her own bedroom. Belle from Beauty and the Beast was the subject of her first literary masterpiece.

By God’s grace, Alyssa became a writer of much longer stories for His glory. She also spells well and writes in cursive. Near the end of From Ignorance to Bliss, you’ll find a chapter about Alyssa written in her own words. She would love to hear your thoughts after reading it.
​
Here’s a sample:
“I came out of the womb as a squalling and squirming bundle of joy one March morning in 1989. A nurse swaddled me and put a cap on my head. I was put on a bed with a pink blanket with stuffed animals surrounding me. I looked like a papoose with short brown hair, hazel eyes, tiny fingers, and skinny legs.”
 

​Homeschool moms easily fall prey to discouragement because we invest our lives in a “project” that often will not pay off for years or even decades.

We can wait and trust God with this promise, but not necessarily for immediate, academic results. He will use your efforts and your children’s achievements—or weaknesses—to promote His glory as He chooses. But be assured, your good work as a homeschool parent carries into eternity.
​

​As tree leaves burst forth in beautiful springtime and trees reawaken, your children and teens can have fun discovering more about trees and use this research in their writing. Plus, there are MANY wonderful Scripture verses that can enhance your unit study on trees.

We see trees...
​
--from the beginning of the Bible, in the Garden of Eden, where God created trees pleasing to see and with food to eat. Two special trees were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. (Genesis 2:9)
​
The Psalms begin with a majestic reference to trees and how they can inspire us to live holy lives. (Psalm 1:3)

Early in the New Testament trees show us to  spiritually produce good fruit. (Matthew 3:8-10)
​
The Bible ends with powerful declarations and reference to the Tree of Life. (Revelation 22:1-3 and Revelation 2:7)

Looking for a good book to help your children…
Trees in the Bible: Learn About Trees While Exploring God’s Word by Kimberley Payne teaches children (ages 7-12) about trees and having faith in the Creator God. Each chapter includes a Bible story from the viewpoint of the tree. This book integrates faith and science, with suggested projects.

I have always loved trees. One might say it’s because my last name is Vertrees and my maiden name, Tamm, means oak tree in Estonian. When I was young, I had a little sign that said--Please be patient with me. God isn’t finished with me yet. A mighty oak was once a little nut.

When hiking in the woods, it’s such a thrill to look up high and see beautiful treetops against the sky…to treasure God and His majesty here on earth.
​
In CS Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia, we read about trees dancing and defending God’s creation. Also, author JRR Tolkien made trees significant in Lord of the Rings. Both these famous Christian authors knew the importance of trees in God’s creation. It’s said they were keen on everyone protecting our environment, too. The Bible says we are to be wise stewards of the earth.

​Both were devout, brilliant men. I am sure they intended important Biblical connections to their use of trees in their allegory stories. Chronicles of Narnia begins in a “wardrobe” made by a tree and it’s a tree that’s the first thing Lucy brushes up against when she enters the land of Narnia…just before she sees the lamp post in the snow…God’s light, right? And don’t we all want to enter a land that’s embraced by the Tree of Life?

In recent times, amazing research has borne “fruit” that TREES TALK TO EACH OTHER!

I invite you to see these fascinating National Geographic and TEDx talks on YouTube to learn about this exciting scientific discovery and why we need to protect our forests. (Just tap titles to connect.)
​
1.  How Trees Secretly Talk to Each Other in the Forest
2.  Nature’s Internet: How Trees Talk to each other in a Healthy Forest

• It’s astounding to see how different tree leaves and needles are in shapes, shades, and sizes. The variety alone is such a testimony of God’s creativity! With your children, consider exploring trees in a nearby park or while hiking, and use Google Lens to identify the trees by their leaves. This can lead to other tree images online and links to continue their research and writing. (New to Google Lens? Look on your smart phone app store or see some YouTubes. It’s easy and free to install.) Your children may also want to use an Internet search engine, such as Google, to type in--Images of maple trees (or whatever trees they are studying). 
• As another writing assignment, your children and teens may want to research trees and their healing properties. Willow tree bark has been used for pain treatment long before we had aspirin. In the Amazon jungles certain types of Pau D’Arco trees have been highly regarded for centuries for healing tumors, inflammation, pain, fever, and even viruses. And maple syrup?  I thank Native Americans for long ago tapping into sugar maples and discovering this delicious treat that is packed with good minerals. God has also bestowed inflammation-reducing polyphenol antioxidants in pure maple syrup that can help strengthen our immune systems. So many of our medicines are derived from plants and trees, too. 

God provides us with so much from His creation!

• Another research topic for children to write about is how trees help flora and fauna around them. For instance, oak trees are homes to an amazing array of insects that birds depend on for food. In fact, the oak tree is home to more animals than any other European tree. All of us oxygen breathers depend on good, fresh air provided by trees. The YouTubes I mentioned are a great starting point for this topic. In The Magic and Mystery of Trees, by Jen Green, children can read how trees provide homes for mammals, birds, insects, and even fish. This comprehensive book has beautiful illustrations and is sure to captivate children as they discover more about trees. 

 

• Consider reading fun facts about the African Baobab tree (https://www.edenproject.com/visit/things-to-do/rainforest-biome/baobab) and our Sequoias in California. (https://www.savetheredwoods.org/redwoods/giant-sequoias)

​
Both trees can live for 3,000 years! Perhaps your young writers want to write a “compare and contrast” about these two spectacular trees.

• Following a family read aloud of the classic, Swiss Family Robinson by Johann D. Wyss, your children may be excited to include trees in their writing. The Robinson’s  treehouse was amazing and can stir young readers’ imaginations.

 

• Ah, another great research topic…treehouses throughout the world!

 

• The classic Winnie the Pooh, by A. A. Milne has charming tree homes for several of his characters, too. Young illustrators can have immense fun drawing creative tree homes to accompany their stories.

When I was young, I did a poor job of building a treehouse in --of all trees--our beautiful and fragile pink dogwood. My Dad lovingly overlooked my temporarily botching up his ornamental, front yard tree and understood my longing for adventure. Then he built a sturdier treehouse in a high, strong tree in our backyard. My brothers and sisters and I certainly enjoyed it. (It’s the black and white photo I took when I was ten. 😊)

As I write this, I am perched on our upstairs balcony and once again am enjoying the beautiful trees (twenty-two varieties!) and birds all about. Some things never change! 😊

Dear readers, please consider how children in your lives can have enriching experiences with trees. They may love helping to plant small trees and watching them grow in your yards.
​
Have they swung on a rope to splash into a deep, beautiful lake, with the rope strapped to a sturdy tree branch? Maybe they have a fun place to read in the shade of a favorite tree. How about rocking in a hammock that’s tied between trees in your yard or when camping?
​

• As you shape an assignment that interests your children, I invite you to consider Bible verses such as Psalm 92:12-14. (NLT)

,I hope your children cherish trees, and  learn to protect these magnificent gifts from God.
​
When I was young, I read Joyce Kilmer’s poem, “Trees” and frankly, assumed it was written by a woman. Not so! Mr. Kilmer lived from 1886-1919 and was tragically killed in WW1. His beautiful legacy, “Trees” is in the public domain, and as I close this post, I share it with you.
 

Trees
By Joyce Kilmer

I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
 
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;
 
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
 
A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
 
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
 
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
 

​Yes, only God can make a tree,
Blessings to you,
 
Heidi Vertrees
Author/Educator
Victor Survives Being a Kid!
newSongpress.net

Like this post? Share it! 😊

Many children and even teens like to write picture-book fiction with animals as major characters. The tips here also can inspire writing for more in-depth fiction animal stories.
 
With Palm Sunday and Holy Week/Easter soon approaching, let’s use as our guide,  Howie’s Broken Hee-Haw, written by multi-award-winning author, Josie Siler.
 
A variety of story frameworks lend to beautiful stories. In this one--

​1.  There is a cute donkey colt. Place the most important character center-stage at the beginning of your story. Use pictures and words to make this character someone the readers want to know more about.

2.  Next, make the animal’s problem loud and clear… in this case, a “broken” hee-haw! When Howie tries to hee-haw, like all the other good donkey-folk do, his only comes out Hee-haw-hee-ha-la-la-lay-lu-yaaa. Can you see where this is going? And don’t young readers love to make animal sounds!  
Okay, so he has a problem. Now what?
​
3.  Show how the problem is making life hard for the character. Show how the main character feels about all this. You want your readers  to connect on some levels and care about your character and the problem. Help your readers identify with some of the frustrations  and make connections with troubles in their own lives.

4.  This is a good time for the young writer to restate the big problem/challenge. Show the struggle with trying to do right (hee-haw “correctly”) and not knowing what to do.

5.   Usually, this character needs to have a hand (or hoof) in fixing the problem, usually a big hand, but when writing with a Christian perspective we know the even Bigger Hand, and yes! Jesus helps Howie with his “problem” along with Howie. Stay tuned to read how.  
Young Christian writers can strive to show this God-given grace in their stories, too.

6.  Now is a great time for the character to share the problem with someone trustworthy. Howie laments while his mom listens and tries to reassure him. Young writers should pick a wise soul appropriate for their story. Here is a nice place for the character to feel better…but the problem still lurks.

7.  By the way, with animal stories, it can be charming to include other animals in the illustrations and story. Sometimes Howie is seen with a cute chick and chicken.

1.  Now the action picks up. Life comes in full force. In this case, Howie and his mom are being tethered by two men who lead them on a journey… The writer can make this transition from known to unknown by building in suspense. What will happen next?                                                                                                                                     
​Show that the main character is on a MISSION.

2.  They are brought to Jesus. The coming-to-Jesus scene here is especially precious because Jesus tells Howie, He needs Howie’s help. The readers’ own souls can awaken here. How does Jesus need their help?
​
And they can super relate when Howie responds that he is not worthy. Even Moses was worried about speech problems when God summoned him to go forth! Don’t we all have our issues of feeling inadequate?  But with God…

1.  Make it an important discovery that helps your animal character grow stronger and wiser. The beautiful message in this story is that Jesus tells Howie He needs Howie’s special hee-haw. You know, the one Howie thinks is his big problem…

2.  Make the BIG AH-HAH MOMENT fill your readers with joy. The message to the readers is that we are each created just the way God intended and God has special plans for each and every one of us.
 
I am excited for your young writers to see what Ah-Hah moments they create with their stories.
Please encourage them to pray to God about this.

Howie is “only human” and is still afraid that others will laugh at him. Jesus is about to ride on Howie as He enters Jerusalem and cheered on by a great crowd of palm branch wavers. But Howie finally understands that he was made to praise Jesus.
 
AREN’T WE ALL!

​With some encouragement from Jesus, Howie bellows his hallelujah bray as he transports

Now Howie is brave, and onlookers do laugh…but with delight, as they shout out their hosannas.
1.  Writers should show how their character has solved (or learned to live with) the big problem and be better for it…brave and courageous, wiser, or whatever character traits they are aiming to present.
​
2.  The problem resolution should be great for the character and very satisfying for the readers. There should be special sparkles at this moment that also encourage the readers for challenges in their lives.

​1.  Create a special message in the story that readers will want to remember and hold close to their hearts.                                            
Howie learned--He was intentionally created, and for a purpose.
Readers should appreciate this about themselves, too.

2.  As in this story, young writers can add a special prayer at the close of their stories, for their readers to pray for their own lives. Words such as …I want to be wise and use the special talents You have given me…  

​
May you all have a great and lovely journey  helping children and teens write fiction stories, with a Christian perspective!

​Writing about animals and pets can be very rewarding for children and teens, and can spark their imaginations for adventure or adorable, heartwarming stories, and true tales of investigation.


For this post, I have interviewed a multi-award-winning author, who writes with a focus on animals. Here’s what she shares about helping children and teens write—with a Christian perspective and to include animals in their writing. The tips here will be for nonfiction. An upcoming post will address advice for fiction writing with animals.
 
Denise Lee Branco, author of Rabbit at the Sliding Door: Chloe’s Story and Horse at the Corner Post: Our Divine Journey, writes true animal stories to honor these marvelous creatures. She says,
 

Ms. Branco encourages young writers to write about those special reasons for the animals in their lives.

• How have these animals enriched their owners’ lives?
• What lessons have they learned from these special animals?
• What are the milestones in their taking care of these animals that helped them learn loyalty, responsibility, caring, and joy?
• In what special, endearing, or funny ways do their animals communicate to them?
• How well do they observe their animals, so they can understand them better?

 
Before young writers take pen to hand, Ms. Branco suggests handling a pet’s favorite toy, collar, or looking at photos, such as pictures from the adoption day, to remember special scenes to then write about.
 
It helps to have a theme. Ms. Branco is an ardent animal advocate.
 

​ 
Ms. Branco encourages young writers to develop each scene based on the writer’s theme.
 
Her goal is to help others grow in respect and appreciation for God’s wonderful animals.

​Ms. Branco's  theme, “animal-human bond,” focuses on this goal of appreciation, so readers see how beautifully people can be connected to animals.
 
 So, one of her key writing strategies is to…

• Show interesting details about her pet, and then
• Show how she felt in reaction to what her pet has done.

 
This is a good strategy for young writers to intentionally use, too.
 
For instance, if a child has been in the hospital, how did the child feel and what did the child do when finally arriving home and being greeted by a family pet?
 
Facts also can help readers appreciate these stories better, by getting an overall view. Young writers may want to use an Internet search engine to gather statistics about their animals of topic and include some important facts in their writing. Your local SPCA,  BestFriends.org, and Rabbit.org may be a good place to start, says Ms. Branco.
 
She also encourages young writers to write a “Gratitude Letter” to their beloved pet. It is good practice for children to learn to write what they appreciate or love about an animal and to explain why.
 
Young writers can find ways to also express their thankfulness to God for His creation and how their special animals enrich their lives.
 
 Many churches have a special service each year for the blessing of one’s pets, both big and small. Children may be fascinated to attend such a service in your area, and then write about this experience. In early October, in honor of Saint Francis, (patron saint of animals), Christian churches worldwide bless animals and have special prayers for creation.

INVITATION TO SHARE
 
If your young writers would like to share their writings about animals that includes a Christian viewpoint, I invite you to send them to me by July 1st. I am sure it would be fun for us to see some of these in an upcoming post. You are invited to send these via the contact page on newSongpress.net. We look forward to seeing these stories!
 

Would you like to see more blog posts like this, to help young people in your lives have fun writing and include a Christian perspective?
I invite you to click here to go to www.newSongpress.net and sign up on the home page for my periodic newsletters.
 
 
May you all have a great and lovely journey in helping children and teens with nonfiction animal writing, with a Christian perspective,
 
Heidi Vertrees
Author/Educator
Victor Survives Being a Kid!
newSongpress.net

As Christian parents, teachers, or grandparents, we know the importance of a Christian worldview, and part of this is helping children and teens understand how to write as Christians.  As children grow in their skills of writing, we hope for them to love Jesus. Blog posts on newSongpress.net give tips and advice to further young authors and writers in their writing, so that they can also grow in their abilities to write as  Christians.

​When teaching children and teens writing, please honor ​prewriting. Too often children and teens are rushed to the “high board” by over-eager, short-on-time, teachers and parents, and expected to jump into a writing assignment with little preparation for the topic. Letting students doodle briefly before writing, while you pray they are staying on topic, is not enough.

1.  Enrich with Personal Experiences

Recently, I was involved in a town history day where children created sand paintings based on historical photos from the heyday when trollies zipped through our towns and hilly countryside. I can’t say the results of their artwork would have been much improved if their parents first took them to the nearby trolley museum or popped them on a restored trolley for a jolly ride. However, certainly the project would have taken on a great deal more meaning for the children if they first were enriched by personal experiences with the project theme.

Let’s Hear Their Voices

When it comes to writing, we are much more likely to hear the yearned for young writers’ voices, if they have a “dog in the fight.” We want our writers to be engaged and care about their writing topics. Let’s give them lots of opportunity to become empowered before they write. Don’t we all write better when we know a great deal about our subject?

What Does This Look Like?

We all know we live in an age of TMI--too much information. Young writers can also get overwhelmed if they are given too much information as they learn about a topic. An adage to authors is--write about what you know.

2.  Begin prewriting with introducing the topic and then let the students think about what they understand and know about the topic.

Encourage them to make a chart or list of keywords and memorable experiences they recall about the topic. They could draw a web outline, with the main topic as the center circle and connecting smaller ovals with keywords. Sometimes this is called mapping.

3.  Let them talk about the topic.

Here might be a great time for you, as the teacher, to note students’ working vocabulary for this topic and make some fun and creative side lessons to expand students’ vocabulary for this writing unit. How about having several new words of the day and cheering for students when they apply them in their conversations?  If you are in a group setting, this can become a team competition. Create acrostics and crossword puzzles with the new words. Give them extra credit points or rewards for correctly using these words in their journal writing. (Click here for more ideas on word games to help young writers build their vocabulary.)

Learning how to write as Christians includes learning Bible related words. For instance, I have seen teachers ask children if they have any prayer requests, and then get puzzled looks by  unchurched children who then ask, What is a prayer request?  Even with our own children, we should check they have a kid-friendly understanding of Christian related words.

4.  Brainstorm
​
Next, challenge them to talk about and write questions they have regarding the topic. Then, brainstorm ways they can learn more in the areas that interest them. Interview a neighbor? Watch some YouTube videos? Here’s a great opportunity to read both fiction and nonfiction articles and books that enrich their understanding of the topic. It may include family read alouds and audiobooks, too.

5.  Keep Research Journals
​
Encourage young writers to keep a daily record of their findings and questions. A spiral notebook is sufficient, but digital apps such as Notes on a cell phone can work well too.

Prewriting is such an important stage of writing and as teachers, including homeschool teachers, interact with your students about their entries. Use this as a springboard to create more dialogue, because the more the topic is verbalized, chances are the easier it will be for children to write the desired assignment.

6. Bump It Up Heavenward

Imagine rushing to a water fountain when your whole insides shout for water. As soon as you drink the cold water you feel refreshed. Here’s the challenge. If your goal is also to help youth write with the importance of a Christian worldview, how can you help them have a thirst for Jesus, who is the Living Water, at least as keenly as they have for cold, refreshing water from a water fountain? To top it off, how can they take this fervent faith into the topic which they are preparing to write about?

As they share with you the information and stories they are discovering in their research, find the poignant moments to ask questions such as--What does the Bible teach us about this? Do you remember a time in (specific Bible lesson) that (for example, King David) experienced this? What do you think Jesus would do? What do you imagine His disciples might think? What do you think God is wanting you to learn from your research?
 
Give students a chance to reflect on these questions and verbalize their thoughts. Then encourage them to add their ideas into their journals, to save them for working into their writing assignments. Remember what I said about writer’s voice? We need to be so careful here that children and teens know they can write about their faith in a genuine way, and not fall in the trap of writing because it sounds good and religious. The last thing we want to do is encourage them in phony faith growth.
​
Recently, I was talking with a small group of kindergartners about God knowing our hearts. One little girl piped up, “Of course He does. Jesus is in my heart.” Now that’s the joyous voice fresh from a young person’s perspective!

7. Make Scribble Pads Handy

As to notebooks, your students may each love having a pocket-size notebook, in addition to a larger one, perhaps even ones they make, but certainly ones in which they can personalize the covers. If you write, even emails or texts, then you know that there are special moments when we get inspirations, some with Holy breath, and it’s so important to jot down some key ideas right then and there.
 
So, it can also be true for children and teens. You might try keeping a handy, small notebook for yourself and share parts with your students, so they see this practice being modeled. You can also tell them how those special moments occurred. For me, I can just be standing and all of a sudden many ideas rush into my head. Like a special delivery.
 
8. Pray

Which leads me to another important prewriting aspect, and that is to regularly pray before writing. I hope you can start each writing session this way. We all need to get at least a sip every day from the Great Fountain, before we begin a project, and some of us need to gulp. Most importantly, pray for God’s guidance in how He wants the project to develop. Pray for the people for whom you are writing. May our writing be for His Glory.
 
One Final Prewriting Tip...

9.  Use Touchstone Texts
​
Ralph Fletcher is a renowned author of many books to help children learn to write, such as How Writers Work: Finding a Process That Works for You; Live Writing: Breathing Life into Your Words; A Writer’s Notebook: Unlocking the Writer Within You; Boy Writers: Reclaiming Their Voices, and Writing Workshop, the Essential Guide. (Click here for his books on Amazon.)
 
One of the points Ralph Fletcher encourages are mentor texts. In my teaching experience, we also called these touchstone texts. Depending upon the writing focus, a teacher would begin each writing workshop reading aloud  an excerpt from an article or book--to enhance students’ exposure to good literature and the writing focus being addressed. Students can use the mentor text to whatever degree it fits for their own writing.
 
When we take home a stone from a hike and touch it while we are back home, it reminds us of our hike. Similarly, the touchstone text is one you and your children can come back to, to remember a lesson or idea you have introduced to them for their own writing. 
 
In another blog post, I will write about prewriting with a focus on fiction and poetry writing, to help you guide your students in creating better story characters, plots, and verse.  Helping them learn how to write as a Christian will be included.

You are welcome to contact me at newSongpress.net with any questions or ideas you may have about prewriting for children and teens with a Christian worldview.

Are you and your young budding authors interested in a writing contest? Please see details at the end of the newSongPress.net last November blog.  It was called  Two Fun Ways to Enhance Children and Teen's How-to Writing. Click HERE. Deadline is fast approaching--March 1, 2023. We welcome your submissions. 😊

Would you like to get my periodic newsletter that has extra tips and reminds you of new blog posts? You are invited to sign up by clicking www.newsongpress.net/HERE.  Just scroll down the homepage. Your privacy is always protected.

 May God bless you all in your endeavors,
Heidi Vertrees 
Author/Educator
Victor Survives Being a Kid (An uplifting book for middle graders) Click here for Amazon's paperback or Kindle version.
newSongpress.net

 
This blog post has three great ways to help your children and teens write during the Christmas season and in preparation for the new year. May you be blessed by all three key ideas. Many of you are teachers in classrooms or in your own homes, or you are parents of school-age children, or perhaps you are reading this to encourage others who teach children and teens. Thank you for your passion in blessing children and teens. I pray you find much peace in this, especially during this holy Christmas season and as you prepare for the new year. I pray my words are inspirational in your personal situations.

​Have you ever written a Christmas letter or received one and read it with eager anticipation to know how a dear friend far away has been over the last year? It seems fewer people are doing these, and I largely think it’s because technology has made it possible to correspond in so many more ways than a letter.  However, I have found when writing a Christmas letter and trying to make it interesting and meaningful to my readers, I have also experienced a nice way to reflect over the past year.
 
I suggest you encourage children and teens to write a letter… Maybe to share it with grandparents, or just to write it to themselves… So, they also can look over their own accomplishments, hopes, challenges, and struggles during the past year. This reflection time can be valuable for young people and help them set their sights on goals they desire for the coming year.
 
As a family or small group, you may want the writers to look over photos of events they have participated in for this year. Maybe there is a calendar that can be helpful, or cards they have received over the year to help jog their memories and heartfelt thoughts about their lives during the year and get them thinking about what goals and accomplishments they are seeking for the coming year.

​During the advent season and the beginning of the new year is also a good time for children and teens to write cards. (I bet they also enjoy writing their Christmas wish lists!)
Maybe they can tuck in small notes in the cards you send to loved ones. Maybe they want to send special cards of Christmas cheer and thank you notes…such as to Christian radio stations or podcast hosts they enjoy, their teachers, pastors, Sunday school teachers, and coaches. One year, not too long ago, I sent a Christmas card to Queen Elizabeth. I have so admired her, and her broadcasted Christmas talks over the years. You can imagine my sweet surprise one day early in the new year when I went to my small-town, post office mailbox and took out an envelope that had a regal look to it. Sure enough, I got a reply! Such a blessing! 
 

Maybe your children will get a reply when they write to someone. Receiving special mail can be so exciting for both young and adults. Maybe they want to send a special note along to a group that you support with charity. Maybe they want to write to someone who is a shut-in or is in the hospital or a recovery center. Certainly, they can write thank you notes to those who have given them Christmas presents.
​

What goals and accomplishments do they want for the coming year?
 
Writing down our goals and hopes for the new year can be powerful. People report that we are more likely to accomplish our goals if we have put them in writing. You can guide young writers in your life to think about their goals and hopes for the coming year, and organize them to be spread on a calendar, so they have a good idea of when to start working toward each goal and how long it might take to work on it.
 
They can begin to write down steps they need to take to reach these goals.
 
Here are some suggested categories for writing annual goals--

1.  Pray for God’s guidance before writing.  
John 15:5

“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”  (KJV)

2.  Reread any previous annual plans for 2022 or the year-end letter I have suggested.
3.  Plan achievements for hobbies/sports/clubs.
4.  Build ideas for stronger relationships with family/friends.
5.  Faith growth…Establish daily/weekly routines for prayer, church, Bible reading, memorizing Bible verses, and Christian youth groups.       (Biblebee.org has great programs for youth to memorize Bible verses. Click here for details.)
6.  List books to read. (Reading helps make better writers.)
7.  List skills to learn…such as swimming, playing a musical instrument, fishing, model building, furniture restoring, baby-sitting, gardening.     (Click here for a blog post I wrote for how to start gardening.)
8.  List outdoor aspirations…such as camping, hiking, and cycling.
9.  List places and people to visit.  

I suggest you build in weekly and monthly intentional review times to see how they are progressing. This should be written into the 2023-year plan.  I want to encourage that these review times be ones with prayer, and perhaps your young writers can keep a prayer journal as they share with God their progress, and try to listen to His guiding as to how they should continue and maybe even modify some steps and aspirations. 
 
Psalms 32:8

“I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.”
(KJV)
​
 
 I hope these suggestions bring all of you joy in your lives, and the lives of the children and teens you know.
 
At this time last year when I wrote my goals for 2022, I included two personal goals—to travel to Colorado and visit my family there (Covid-19 issues had blocked that dream for three years), and to arrange my time and technology to listen to more audiobooks. (Thank you to my friend, Crystal Daye, dayelightpublishers.com, for providing her annual planner.) I truly think that by penning these aspirations, I made sure to fulfill them. I am so glad that I did. As you wrap up your year and look to the next, I hope you also find some special dreams and hopes that become a sweet reality in your lives in 2023. You may want to write them down. 😊
 
Merry Christmas,
 
Heidi Vertrees
Author/Educator
Victor Survives Being a Kid
newSongpress.net
 
If you would like to receive more of these blog posts, to inspire you with your teaching children, please click HERE. Thank you for being a part of this journey, with the love of Jesus.
 
Please see last month’s blog post about a special writing contest being offered for children and teens. Deadline for entries is March 1, 2023.
Click HERE for details.        

If your children or students are bored with writing a clear-cut “How-to” assignment, here’s a twist—let them write it in story or visual format with their personal commentaries. In keeping with the mission of the newSongpress.net, young authors also are encouraged to write with a Christian perspective. This blog post will present information to help young writers with writing how-to expository writing, with one example from learning an athletic skill and the other from hands-on furniture restoration. Plus, through March 1, 2023, there will be a contest. See the end of this blog post for details.

First--
Many children and teens like to write stories
Here’s a way to give their stories some structure…
Jesus often taught in parables. Throughout time, people have loved to hear stories, and it can be another great way to teach readers how to do things well. Plus, your children or students may want to add inspiring or inquiring words to share their faith in their stories.
 
Here’s an example you can share in teaching this approach--
​

​The sound of the whistle pierced the air. Olivia shot from the platform and into the pool. Dan dove in the lane next to Olivia's and whipped out dolphin kicks. The other racers joined in their own lanes, all face down. In seconds they worked the flutter kick, like machines in constant motion. Toes pointed. Legs straight. Power came from hips wobbling back and forth and legs rising and lowering fast. Power came from their arms, too, as they pulled them back through the water, one at a time. Quick side breaths were caught, in rhythm with the arms, for most, on the right arm reach. Next, each swimmer blew bubbles into the water, chin tucked, and reached forward with the other arm, thumb angled slightly downward, till the hand sliced the water. An extra stretch of the leading arm rolled the shoulder, keeping the swimmer streamlined, like a fish.
 
Each time Olivia pulled her arm back under the water, she scooped water with her hand, fast, fast, to get it out of her way. Then she rammed her bent elbow up out into the air, cleared her arm from the drag of the water and reached forward again for another watery slice.
No time to look at others. No time to pause, but in her brain, Olivia pleaded with God to give her strength. Words from Isaiah 12:2 lit her mind…the LORD is my strength and my song…
 
The shouts from the crowd on the side bleachers reverberated against the walls. Tick, tick, tick.
Dan flip turned first when he reached the far end of the pool. Before any bubbles could pop, Olivia flip turned. Her feet shoved off the wall. Think skills. Think skills.
Everyone splashed and glided through the refreshing water to claim the 50-yard finish line. Olivia and Dan led the pack. Then they both stretched an arm to touch the other end of the pool at the same second. Astonished, they laughed and slapped a high five. Olivia squeezed her eyes for a quick prayer of thanks.

​To get started…
Your children/students can make a list of things they enjoy doing and know very well. For instance, walking a dog, setting up a tent, cooking, or riding a bicycle. In my story, I captured the steps for swimming the front crawl, as some call it, freestyle. My challenge to your writers is to first think, picture, and then write the steps of how to do something and then turn it into a story. Did you notice that the story format caught your attention, but when I switched into expository writing to explain, the action was gone! Maybe you even noticed a slowdown in your interest?
 
Jesus knew people LOVE stories. He taught with many parables, which are short stories that teach a lesson or religious principle, such as the story of the Good Samaritan. Jesus used this story to help us learn about God’s awesome love for all of us. Through the powerful messages in this story, we also learn how to care for and help each other.
 
Parents and teachers, you can tell the young people in your lives, they don’t have to write a story every time to explain how to do something, but they can try it to see how their readers really pay attention to what they are teaching. Plus, they might have fun! They can even add in some humor, like--
 
My sheepdog stepped in the gooey, white glue I forgot to close and move out of the way.
That may sound more interesting than just writing--
When you are done with the glue, make sure to close it and keep it safe.
In my swim story, if a cut away from the action was desired, a funny antic by someone on the bleachers could be added.
Your writers can also add in more details than I did, such as what their characters look like and say to each other.

At the end of their how-to stories, writers can recap and list the important steps.
Like a recipe format, list all the needed supplies. Then list the steps in the correct order for making their creations or completing their skills.

(If your young writers are writing about their cooking projects, there are several kid-friendly recipes in Dig Deeper: a Discussion and Activity Guide for Victor Survives Being a Kid. It’s a free download and the recipes can show children and teens a format for writing their recipes. Click here if you want access to the free download. Also, at the end of this post I will refer to one of the recipes, from an earlier blog post.)

My friend, Silvia Ferrara, had an excellent idea, especially for young children with big imaginations. Write how unicorns brush their teeth. Sounds like a fun picture book to me! Then, I recommend young writers list the steps they use for brushing their own teeth. One could even turn this into a compare and contrast with how a unicorn vs. the writers brush their teeth. Children do need to learn how to write compare and contrasts! 😊 Now perhaps your young writers want to turn their how-to assignments into something preposterous first, have some fun, and then add on a more serious version that pertains to their personal experience. 


​Another story format is a personal anecdote, where the writer gives details of personal experience while creating a project or skill set.
​
We often see this in videos on YouTube. Because we are seeking for our children/students to develop their writing skills, here is a personal anecdote approach for a how-to- on furniture restoration. It was created by Amber Hale, a multi-passionate entrepreneur who writes on her two blogs, is a health coach, a social media manager for businesses, and also enjoys thrifting vintage items for resale. 

​May God bless your writing times with your children or students. May God’s love shine brightly on all your teaching, and may your young writers have much joy in sharing their How-to writing projects with family, friends, or classmates. This style of writing lends nicely for students to practice public speaking by presenting their own area of expertise with lots of hands-on items to show while they present. Who knows, maybe they will present their work on YouTube or another social media audience!
 
An important focus of new Song Press is to inspire Christian parents, teachers, and pastors to guide youth to be young authors. If your children/students are interested in starting a blog, you can go to kidslearntoblog.com to read about different programs such as Edublog and Kidblog.

Your young authors also might like to query other bloggers about being a guest blogger on their websites. They can ask the bloggers for a copy of the guidelines so they will know the topics that are of interest to the blogger, the preferred length for a blog post, and other details.  
 Now to learn about our…
 
CONTEST
From now through March 1, 2023
First, second, and third place winners plus honorable mentions
We look forward to publishing parts of winning submissions in an upcoming blog post, so children and teens can have the joyful experience of being young Christian authors who are published.
Send your How-to entry via Contact on newSongpress.net. You may also send a brief summary and you will be sent an email with instructions on how to send the complete version. Please include child/teens’ name and age in each entry. Enjoy!
 
If you are not already a regular reader of these blog posts, I invite you to sign up for my email newsletter, to receive periodic blog announcements to help guide children and teens in their writing. Click here to do so.

For the promised recipe for Fried Ice Cream and Caramel Sauce, click here.

 
Blessings,

Heidi Vertrees
Author/Educator
newSongpress.net

​Today, I want to share with you seven ways you can help your children or students transition from their summer vacations to embrace school writing assignments, by honoring prewriting as a powerful tool for writing. Too often children and teens are rushed to the “high board” by over-eager, short-on-time teachers and parents, and expected to jump into a writing assignment with little preparation for the topic. Letting students doodle briefly before writing, while you pray they are staying on topic, is not enough.
 
Your children or students probably have some happy and exciting memories from their adventures this summer. However, I do not think most students want to be required to grind out an essay of what they did over the summer. Still, I do think they often want to remember their fun memories. Through prewriting, they can be inspired to share them creatively.

2. If they think it’s fun, let them audio record what they share.

​3. Take time to look at any “touchstones” (memorabilia) from their recalled experiences this summer…brochures, photos, emails, posts, journal writing (if they accomplished this). Maybe revisit the location by seeing more on the Internet.

​4. Then, as they are recalling, help them jot down keywords that they share. These keywords can be as a list or written inside ovals across a page where they can add subtopics as stems from the ovals. (webbing)

5. Prewriting is a fantastic time for enrichment. Children can be gently encouraged to share what they learned from their experiences as well as what they are wondering about. As part of their faith walk, they can be asked what they think Jesus wants them to learn from all of this. This pondering can again be recorded in keywords, to help them with their writing assignment.

6. Prewriting certainly can allow for drawing, coloring, or painting. Many children process their verbal ideas this way.

7. Some children may do well with a caring soul interviewing them. I suggest first writing a dozen or so key questions such as--

1. What experience did you have this summer that you really enjoyed?
2. Who did you do it with? How did that go? Did you have a special job or goal?
3. Where was it? Was it your first time there? Would you like to go again? If you did, how would you like it to be similar/different?
4. Why did you go on this adventure/have this experience?
5. When did you need to start planning this with your family? What did you need to do to prepare? If you do it again, how would you plan for the next time?

 
Before the interview, show this list to each child or teen to think about before starting the interview. You can audio record the session, or involve a peer or older student to record the answers so they also experience authentic writing with a purpose. If you are working with a group, each student can write his answers and then share them in a group before they start writing. Or students can be partners, taking turns interviewing each other, while the interviewer writes down key thoughts.
 
 Parents, I applaud you for all the positive, memorable experiences you have blessed your children with this summer. Honestly, they might be writing and talking about some of these memories for the rest of their lives. As their ideas bubble up, let them share. If they only want to write a poem or song this year, God may lead them to turn those memories into a play script another year.

​Whatever they choose to write about is special to them and can be kept sacred to their souls by letting them create their writing assignment format.
 
The main thing is to embrace the experience, and then see how God wants to water that garden to grow. Last spring, I was involved in a town history day where children created sand paintings based on historical photos rallied up from the heyday when trollies zipped through our towns and hilly countryside. I can’t say the results of their artwork would have been much improved if their parents first took them to the nearby trolley museum or popped them on a restored trolley for a jolly ride, but certainly the project would take on a great deal more meaning for the children if they first were enriched by personal experiences with the project theme. Parents and teachers, thank you for all the “in the field” experiences you provide for children and teens in your lives.
 

​Here is a fun way to celebrate with your children or students after they complete their writing assignment about their memorable summer experiences. Since it is still actually summer in the northern hemisphere till late September, I invite you to make Fried Ice Cream, using a kid-friendly recipe I wrote in my Teacher’s Guide for my book, Victor Survives Being a Kid. The Teacher’s Guide is available as a free download. You can click here. newSongpress.net/Victor. Scroll down that page to see the option. But here is the excerpt with the recipe. You may duplicate it for teaching purposes. 
 
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Fried Ice Cream and Caramel Sauce

Here’s a delicious dessert that will require working with a grownup’s help, especially when frying. It’s so yummy, but also requires patience since the ice cream needs time to freeze and refreeze. Either prep it one day and fry it the next, or start it at least 6-7 hours before eating.
Please note: Before cooking, always read a recipe through so you can anticipate what ingredients and supplies you will need and so you make sure you understand all the steps and timing needed. Reading a recipe is a type of functional reading…reading that helps us learn how to do things…a very important type of reading to practice. Have fun! Enjoy!
(Recipe inspired by recipes from Darlene Brenden, Jeri Zieman, and Villa Cocina.)
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Ingredients:
1 quart vanilla ice cream
3 cups crushed cornflakes cereal or 2 cups each crushed cornflakes cereal and sweetened shredded coconut finely chopped
1 tsp. cinnamon
3 egg whites or 2-3 eggs or 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tsp. vanilla
2 cups canola oil or other preferred oil, enough for partial emerging and stirring 1-2 balls at a time
 
Optional Toppings: whipped cream, slices of banana, strawberries, cherries, chocolate or caramel sauce, colored sprinkles
 
For Caramel Sauce:
1 cup sugar
½ cup butter, cubed
½ cup evaporated milk
 
Directions:

• Step 1.  Scoop ice cream into eight balls. (Tips: Dip ice cream scoop into hot water first. Also, really pack each ball while scooping.)  Place on no-stick pan or pan lined with parchment paper and freeze until firm. (At least one hour, up to three is good.) Exercise patience, so doesn’t melt when fried! :)
• Step 2.  Put cornflakes in sealable plastic bag and crush to smaller flakes but not powder. (Use three or two cups depending if you will add coconut flakes.)
• Step 3.  Combine cornflakes and cinnamon in a bowl. (Optional—Add sweetened coconut flakes.)
• Step 4.  In another bowl, beat egg whites till foamy. (Can also use whole eggs or whipped cream with vanilla flavoring.)
• Step 5.  Roll ice cream balls in your preferred liquid coating. Then dip balls in cornflakes. Cover ice cream completely. Repeat if needed or desired, but be quick. (Some cooks freeze the balls before re-dipping.)
• Step 6.  Freeze again until firm—about three hours.

 
Read and follow these cautions before frying with hot oil:
Work carefully with an adult. Have lid for fryer or heavy saucepan. Kitchen should have fire extinguisher. (Note: Never use water to put out a fire caused by cooking oil. Put lid on fryer or pot to reduce fire. Baking soda puts out oil fires too.) When the hot oil is not needed, cover the pot and put away from heat source.

• Step 7.  In deep fryer or heavy saucepan, heat oil to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius)

Use slotted spoon to fry one or two balls at a time for about 10-30 seconds, until golden. Drain on paper towels and serve immediately.

• Top with optional toppings. Drizzle sauce.

 
For Caramel Sauce:

• Step 1.  Heat sugar in heavy saucepan at medium heat till partially melted and golden, stirring occasionally.
• Step 2.  Add butter.
• Step 3.  Slowly add milk and stir for about eight minutes or until the sauce is thick and golden Keep warm.
  
  
  

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