Writing activities are often chosen to master various objectives. Lesson Planet suggests having students fill in blanks with adjectives to become familiar with descriptive writing. Gear this assignment toward boys by using sports-centered sentences. The sentence "Last night's baseball game was the __________ game I have ever seen," can draw on a boy's passion for sports to develop descriptive writing skills.
For more advanced writers, ask him to write three sentences about the most exciting baseball inning he watched the night before.
Tricky vowel sounds can be difficult to decode for budding writers, and practice is a key strategy for mastering spelling. Activities that focus on a vowel sound, such as the long "A," can use a word key for guidance. Fill the word key with words such as "space," "cape," "late" and "make," then ask him to pen a comic strip about his trip to outer space.
Seton Home Study School notes that boys develop vocabulary skills slower than girls do. Combining writing and illustrating can help generate ideas about proper word choices.
Action words make for strong writing pieces. Boys can learn to strengthen the power of their prose by writing about favorite superheroes. An activity that involves comparing Superman with Flash Gordon, for example, can transform superpowers into super writing. Ask him to write a sentence about each hero's mode of transportation, special powers and most compelling heroic acts.
This strategy draws on a boy's affinity for things that move, uses action words and exposes him to comparative writing.
Dr. Joseph Tobin, Professor of Early Childhood Education at Arizona State University, asserts that the school environment is geared more toward girls than boys. Coupled with Seton Home Study School's theory that boys have a more difficult time mastering writing, frustration with the learning environment can swiftly disengage male students.
While journaling is often an attractive activity for girls, encourage boys to recap a professional sports game or write about the kick-ball game they played during recess. Keeping topics and activities fresh and engaging helps boys stay interested in the writing process.