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One prompt I used that worked well with third graders was:
If you were moving and you could take ONLY THREE things (not including people) along, what would they be and why? It is so interesting to see their priorities!
This also led well to doing a 5 paragraph write. One intro, three descriptive paragraphs and one ending . m.a.
I teach MS and my students would much more prefer creative writing to expository or narrative. I try to blend descriptive with creative so that I can meet the standards. Unfortunately the writing tests are either narrative or expository.
Teaching writing is the bane of my existence. If I give students a prompt for a specific kind of writing, they complain and want to write whatever they want. If I give them a "free write" day, they complain. I have a couple of fun ideas. One is to give the first person a two or three sentence story beginning. They get 3 minutes to continue the stor...See MoreTeaching writing is the bane of my existence. If I give students a prompt for a specific kind of writing, they complain and want to write whatever they want. If I give them a "free write" day, they complain. I have a couple of fun ideas. One is to give the first person a two or three sentence story beginning. They get 3 minutes to continue the story, then pass it back. Each person in the row then gets four minutes to continue writing. Of course, there are guidelines about appropriateness and about how nobody gets harmed - no blood or guts or weapons. They are taught at the beginning of the year that that is a lazy way of being creative.
The other thing I do is have students draw from baggies all the elements of a story. They have a plot, character (choose two), setting, theme... In pairs, they then write a story. They love to share these and it's a fun way for them to make sure they include all elements. We have a checklist and rubric so that they know they are on track with their stories. Karen
I do teach K, where they are learning the very basics of HOW to write a sentence, how to read, and lots of words, words, words!
Some themes lend to more creativity than others. Take PIRATES, for example. Taught from a basic, sort of historical perspective, my kids have learned that pirates were bad people who never bathed, didn't brush the...See MoreI do teach K, where they are learning the very basics of HOW to write a sentence, how to read, and lots of words, words, words!
Some themes lend to more creativity than others. Take PIRATES, for example. Taught from a basic, sort of historical perspective, my kids have learned that pirates were bad people who never bathed, didn't brush their teeth, hid their treasure, sailed on ships (learned names of parts of a ship!), couldn't read too well, but could read and draw a map, could use a compass, and knew directions (as do my kids).
Through some really good children's books, they also learned that pirates "talk funny". One great book is called "The Pirates Guide to First Grade". Practically the entire book is written in "pirate". As I was reading, I was constantly interrupted by children asking me, "What is THAT?" or "What does THAT mean?", so we would back up, re- read, use picture cues, until they figured it out. They really liked the book!
So today, for our Daily News/Morning Message...I wrote it in "Pirate" :-) See below:
Ahoy me hearties! ________ be the First Mate today. Today be June __, 2011. The date be __-__-__. Yesderday be _________. Today be ________, arrggg.. Tomorrow be _____________. Today be ____ day. Shiver me timbers, it's __________! (the season) Fair winds, the weather be _______ and _______. We've been in school _____ days. We've ___ more days of school. Today we be havin' ________ _________ _________ for grub!
They had a ball figuring everything out! It was creative writing on my part, but for Kindergarten we do guided writing and reading, so I felt I should share this.
Ahhhh...ye should hear the wee buccaneers sing a sea shanty!
by Gen Fulton
Jun 18, 2011
Use a program like Wordle the possibilities are endless for you as an instructor and for your students-creative writing will be falling from the clouds ;)
by Justin Greene
Jun 19, 2011
What is the one creative writing lesson that works best for you? Looking for middle school ideas.
I work on this constantly, telling students they have to know where the story is going before they begin to write, because that will help with crafting. Still, there are always two or three who start writing with absolutely no idea about direction. I always ban the "And then I woke up..." endings and, for the first part of the year, they are not al...See MoreI work on this constantly, telling students they have to know where the story is going before they begin to write, because that will help with crafting. Still, there are always two or three who start writing with absolutely no idea about direction. I always ban the "And then I woke up..." endings and, for the first part of the year, they are not allowed cliffhangers either. Any helpful ideas, please?
by Ceci Glusman
Nov 30, 2011
Conference dedicated to helping educators from all disciplines discover and nurture creativity in all subjects through exercises and lectures in guided visualization, creative writing, map making, drawing, storytelling, memoir. Grad credits.
EARLY REGISTRATION PROMOTION: $200 off early registration if you register by December 15, 2011 (Pr...See MoreConference dedicated to helping educators from all disciplines discover and nurture creativity in all subjects through exercises and lectures in guided visualization, creative writing, map making, drawing, storytelling, memoir. Grad credits.
EARLY REGISTRATION PROMOTION: $200 off early registration if you register by December 15, 2011 (Prague and Dubai workshops), and by January 15, 2012 (Crete, Barcelona, Portugal and Florence workshops). Mention code: Teachersnet12
Upcoming Workshops: New York March 16 - 19 -- Prague March 24 - 30 -- Dubai April 4 - 10 -- New York June 8 - 11 -- Crete June 26 - July 3 -- Barcelona July 5 - 12 -- Portugal July 15 - 22 -- Florence July 24 - 31
I teach kindergarten and our school is considering the Collins Writing Program. Does anyone out there use it? What does it look like at this level?
This might be a fun activity to start the new year. Generated a lot of interest the first time I used it before break. K-6 prompts. [link removed]
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