[You will need a notebook for your transcriptions and another notebook to serve as the learner's diary, on which he may want to put a personal label. Read aloud the instruction below for one step and then do it. The first routine is for those who have not learned to read and can be started when you start with Reading Activity 2.]

Writing and Reading Your Own Story

Many people write a record of what they did and what they thought. These writings are called diaries. Now you will start making a diary of your own.

First Writing Routine

1. Tell me about something you thought, did, saw, heard, or dreamed, and I will repeat the words and write them in my notebook.
   
2. I will read your passage aloud, and we will both point to the words.
   
3. I will dictate your words a word or phrase at a time. You say the words and write them in your diary. You may look at my writing as needed for the spelling. [Dictate the capitalization and punctuation. If he starts to misspell a word, tap it with your pencil.]
   
4. You read your entry aloud and point to the words. [If he makes a mistake, tap the word with your pencil. If he doesn't get it in a few seconds, say it.]
   
5. Let's review your problem words. [Point out word parts that he has studied.]
   
6. You will now read some previous entries. [Have him practice reading each previous entry until he can read it smoothly and accurately.]

The Intermediate Writing Routine

1. Tell me something for your diary, and I will write it in my notebook. [It should not be over about 50 words.]
   
2. I will now read your passage aloud to see if I got it right, and you point to the words.
   
3. I will dictate your passage including punctuation, and you say each word and write it in your diary without referring to my writing. [If he starts to make a spelling error, pronounce the word syllable by syllable and remind him of the of word parts. Underline on your sheet any common words he misspells.]
   
4. You read your entry aloud, and I will say the words you can't work out.
   
5. I will say the problem spelling words you haven't mastered, and you write them.
   
6. You will now read previous entries until you can read them satisfactorily.

[When the learner is ready, discontinue dictating punctuation.]

The Advanced Writing Routine

You think of something to write about for your diary and write a "rough draft" by yourself on scratch paper. In the rough draft you think mostly about what you want to say. Then I will read it, and we will talk about spelling, grammar, and composition. Then you will write a final draft in your diary.

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