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Creative Writing Chatboard

Help!!

by Glory B.

Jul 4, 2012

I have been assigned to teach a Creative Writing class for next school year. In our school, this is a class that students take for an easy 4th English credit to graduate. Generally, these are students who are not on the level of higher students who progress on to Senior English or College Prep classes so the curriculum needs to be basic to meet the educational level of the students. Any ideas for classroom routine, lessons, etc. would be greatly appreciated. The class meets every other day for 90 minutes so the class sessions need to be broken up somehow each day in order to keep their already lacking interest.

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Sara On 7/04/12, Glory B. wrote:

Have them make up a character and then write that character's diary, emails, and texts. That is all creative writing. They can choose to be themselves or choose to be anyone including Prince William or Kate or somebody they've created.

You should write along with them!! And be willing to share your wr...See More

Aug 6, 2012

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Anne I also would love teaching this class. Have the students do a writing assessment on the first day. Give them an example by showing the students a short essay of yours about a special gift that was given to you or a lesson that you learned as a child. Let them write about themselves. Then, you can read the papers later and see what areas you will ne...See MoreI also would love teaching this class. Have the students do a writing assessment on the first day. Give them an example by showing the students a short essay of yours about a special gift that was given to you or a lesson that you learned as a child. Let them write about themselves. Then, you can read the papers later and see what areas you will need to work on. Don't make the students read their papers aloud but if some want to, allow time for that. Discuss the importance of writing and how it will relate to their future. For example, writing a personal narrative to include with a college application, etc.

Have them do free writing exercises. Discuss the basics of creative writing. A book that I enjoy is "Writing Fiction Step by Step" by Josip Novakovich. Your students might enjoy the book that Stephen King wrote about Creative Writing and his thoughts on the subject.

Study and analyze a personal narrative essay. One that I have used is "New Directions" by Maya Angelou. This is a good time to study the beginning, middle and end of a story. Also, have the students search for the main theme.Answer some questions about the essay. Then, explain about writing a personal narrative and start the students on writing a personal narrative for a grade. Give them extra credit if they read in front of the class at the end of that section.

Don't forget contests for students. I just won a contest yesterday from a major magazine and it feels good.

Also, have them get a black and white bound journal notebooks and let them use it for personal thoughts. Discuss journal writing and diaries. Bring in examples of old ones.

Discuss blog writing and bring in some quest speakers to discuss and answer more questions. A community college instructor could probably give you the information that you need.

Don't forget poetry but try to make it relevant to the students in your class.

There are a lot of fun activities from rewriting a fairy tale or folk tale or writing and taping a play.

Take it seriously and don't think of it as as extra course. It may be the course that helps them to make a living as an adult.

On 7/04/12, Glory B. wrote:

> I have been assigned to teach a Creative Writing class for > next school year. In our school, this is a class that > students take for an easy 4th English credit to graduate. > Generally, these are students who are not on the level of > higher students who progress on to Senior English or College > Prep classes so the curriculum needs to be basic to meet the > educational level of the students. Any ideas for classroom > routine, lessons, etc. would be greatly appreciated. The > class meets every other day for 90 minutes so the class > sessions need to be broken up somehow each day in order to > keep their already lacking interest.

Aug 21, 2012

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