Because Writing Matters:
Helping Your Children Become Confident, Skilled Writers, In and Beyond School

The California Writing Project has assembled a handbook
for parents, guardians, teachers, and caretakers. It is a
booklet filled with writing activities and resources from
teachers and project leaders across California—most of
whom are also parents— for how they work in collaboration
with parents to help children become confident, skilled writers.

Each activity suggests what parents or teachers can do to
encourage writing and how to make each tip work and show
children the power and pleasure of writing.

NOW available in English, Spanish, Korean, Dari/Farsi, Vietnamese, Russian and Chinese!

Email info@californiawrites.org to find out how to get copies of this handbook for family, school, or community use.

Download the order form here.

Revised and updated with over forty writing activities for families that show children the power and pleasure of writing:

Writing connects families and friends.
Writing preserves memories.
Writing as a family teaches the power of collaboration.
Writing helps solve problems.
Writing helps children take a stand.
Writing is everywhere, not just in school.
Writing helps children learn responsibility.
Writing should go public.
Writing inspires creativity all year round.
Writing improves reading. Reading improves writing.
Writing improves with parents’ help.
Writing does not need to be just in English.

“This booklet provides parents with a way to help teach the writing process, something that is long overdue.”

“Many of the ideas presented are great ways to develop students’ thinking and writing, but they also contain greater life lessons.“

“The writing project, known for its good work, has authored a winner!”