Using Biographies to Teach Writing: Biographies from Church History

By Maggie Dail

Beginner's writer's block? Does your child feel overwhelmed when asked to write? Using Biographies to Teach Writing: Biographies from Church History guides parents, step-by-step, in the teaching of writing. Each reviewed biography or historical fiction illustrates one aspect of learning to write. While not a complete curriculum, Maggie Dail does guide the parent in the teaching of her child to write beginning with paragraphs and building to multiple paragraphs. For those using Unit Studies, many extension activities can be added as described in chapter 13. As a bonus, Dail includes lists of books are also added to get you started.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Maggie Dail
• Release date: Apr 26, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370487332

Maggie Dail

Maggie was raised in a military family and moved around much during her childhood. She was raised in a Christian home. After high school she earned a BA from Faith Baptist Bible College in Christian Education, Missions and Bible in 1972. She earned a BA in Elementary Education in 1980 from Cedarville College and an MA in Special Education from Adams State College in 1989. She has lived in Spanish speaking countries (Costa Rica, Spain) for around 17 years as a military dependent, student, and missionary schoolteacher. She is certified in the State of Washington to teach: Elementary K-8; Special Education K-12; Reading K-12 and Spanish K-12. She maintains similar certifications with Association of Christian Schools International. During her years as a teacher in schools and working with homeschoolers she has searched for more tools to help students who have learning struggles. Maggie found that the neurodevelopmental approach provides the help that solve students' learning difficulties, not just accommodate for them. Maggie is a member of the International Christian Association of Neurodevelopmentalists and is a certified Neurodevelopmentalist at the Associate Professional level..

Book preview

Using Biographies to Teach Writing

Biographies from Church History

Published by Maggie Dail at Smashwords

Copyright 2017 Maggie Dail

ISBN: 9781370487332

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Cover Design:

Paul Barrueto

Formatting:

Caligraphics

All other photos provided by books reviewed.

Dedication

To all of my borrowed blessings who always keep me on my toes

Table of Contents

1. Using Biographies in Teaching Children

2. Biographies and Writing

3. Extended Paragraphs – The Middle Ages

4. Sentence Variety in Writing – The Reformation

5. Beginning Sentences with Variety – Post-Reformation

6. Writing Tips – Modern Missions

7. Writing in the Active Voice – Recent Times in World History

8. Reporting on Biographies – Religion in Shoes

9. Outlining Biographies – The Fifty Years’…

10. Writing Essays – Esther Burr’s Journal

11. Writing Essays – Arthur W. Pink

12. Historical Fiction and Writing

13. Using Historical Fiction for Writing Prompts

14. Book Lists

15. About Us

I. Using Biographies and Historical Fiction in Teaching Children

One of my favorite genres of reading is the biography. Not only do I enjoy this read for relaxation, I also believe it to be a great educational tool for our children. Children of all ages enjoy stories and what better story than that of a life lived?

1. History in action. Biographies are history in action. More real life history can be captured by the reader in a biography than in a history textbook. Here you can begin your discussion of the story with questions: Who?, What?, When?, Where? questions and can continue with Why? and How? Listening to your child’s answers help you understand how he is developing in his comprehension and thinking skills.

2. Heroes – Readers need heroes. From heroes we can learn how to live and how not to live. Not all heroes are positive examples, but many are positive in most ways. When reading a biography with your child you can ask them in what ways should he follow this character’s example and in what ways he should not follow the example.

3. Historical Time Line – Making a timeline can help readers to see how the lives of the persons in different biographies relate to one another.

4. Writing Prompts. Biographies provide wonderful writing prompts. For example:

These outlines work for extended paragraphs or five paragraph essays:

# 1: Compare / Contrast life of the main character and your life.

Introduction: Introduce three areas

Area #1: Main Character's Life vs. My Life

Area #2: Main Character's Life vs. My Life

Area #3: Main Character's Life vs. My Life

Conclusion: Review three areas

#2: Why I do / do not admire the main character?

Introduction: Introduce the individual and introduce three reasons.

Reason #1:

Reason #2:

Reason #3:

Conclusion: Review three reasons why you admire the individual.

#3: Describe the main character's distinguishing characteristics.

Introduction: Introduce three characteristics.

Characteristic #1 with examples from book

Characteristic #2 with examples from book

Characteristic #3 with examples from book

Conclusion: Review three characteristics.

#4: Describe the historical atmosphere in the main character’s day.

Introduction: Introduce three areas.

Area #1

Area #2:

Area #3:

Conclusion: Review three areas and your conclusion.

In addition to using these activities with biographies, historical fiction can be studied in other ways. With historical fiction, students can explore which parts of the story form part of the historical setting and which parts arise from the author’s imagination. Further students can write their own biographies and historical fiction stories and books. Write Your Roots and Learn to Write the Novel Way by Carole Thaxton provide step by step guidance.

I. Biographies and Writing: The Early Church

Children learn much by reading biographies and writing paragraphs. Once children can write a