Sunday, November 9, 2008

IMs for Learning

Allie is a reluctant writer - or at least she used to be.

Until she discovered the joy of instant messaging.

When she is on the computer in the schoolroom, and I am on my laptop in the dining room, the messages fly.

-What are we having for dinner?

-I don't know. Any ideas?

-How about noodles? Or maybe-

Allie pauses to call to me through the open door,"Mom, how do you spell 'crepes?'"

Her spelling and written grammar have improved immensely in a very short time. Spelling now has a use - communicating with someone else.

I try not to be too much of a 'Grammar Nazi' at this point. I simply type back the correct form of her misspelled word in a question, like we tend to do with mispronunciations.

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