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Shape Books Encourage Reluctant Readers

November 10th 2011 02:11
Reluctant writers can be encouraged to put the pen to the page with the help of a pair of scissors. Making shape books can turn writing into a crafty project, perfect for visual learners or kinetic, hands-on learners. The process of making a book in a particular shape can also provide the framework for a story.





Choose the shape
The easiest way to get your child writing, is to create a book in a familiar, well-loved shape. My daughter loves baby dolls, so her first book was in the shape of a baby doll. A baby bottle followed, then a rattle and a cradle. This series of books was easy for her come up with stories which helped her handwriting immensely. Other children may love cars and trucks or kittens, horses or balls.

Make the book
Draw a very simple outline of the desired object. Use a thick line coloring page image or enlarged silhouette from a clip art program to make a cardboard stencil.
Cut this shape out and then trace on a stack of five pieces of white paper. Trace it again on two sheets of construction paper. Once all the pieces of paper are cut out, sandwich the white paper between the construction paper and staple in a straight line down one side.

Read more, including...
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Illustrate and Write
Read
Store Proudly
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Encourage Creativity

November 3rd 2011 00:55
9 Ways to Encourage Creativity


Creativity is not a frivolous trait. Children raised to be creative thinkers are also often excellent problem solvers and have an innate trust in their abilities. Your child may not write a Pulitzer Prize winning novel or star on Broadway, but then again, you very well may have a budding creative genius underfoot. Regardless, the benefits of creativity are wide-spread. Here are 9 ways to encourage creativity.

1. Ask lots of questions. Let your child ask questions. Indulge your child's curiosity by letting them pursue tangents and explore new subjects.


2. Tell stories. Encourage your child to come up with alternate endings to favorite stories or movies. Before finishing a storybook, see if your child wants to guess the ending. Imagine new characters or put the same characters in a different setting. Retell these stories at bedtime, while cooking dinner or driving.

3. Allow time and space to create. Exploring takes time. Resist the urge to give short cuts, or exclaim that an idea won't work, let your child try. Unless of course their idea is dangerous to herself or others. If you can designate a corner for art work that can be left out, great.

4. Be silly. Singing and dancing along to the radio or making up your own silly tune is the best way to encourage the same freedom for your child. Even if you are not a natural extrovert, you can let your silly side show every so often.



Read more here - 9 Ways to Encourage Creativity
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A is for Always

April 2nd 2011 12:52
For 26 days in April (minus Sundays) I will be posting a blog for each letter of the alphabet.
"Sylvie's word of the day"
I am all for challenges, so when this was dangled in front of me in my writers group, I grabbed it.

Hundreds of people signed up, literally 1037 people. Go ahead, Sign up here, if you dare.

This mini adventure is fairly mundane, but with 1000 bloggers jumping in, stalking each other, chatting away everyday, something good is bound to happen.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Always is my word of the day, in honor of ALWAYS learning. Life is too ....oh wait, I'll just quote Henry Miller, he said it best.....


"develop interest in life as you see it; in people, things, literature, music, the world is simply throbbing with rich treasures, beautiful souls and interesting people. Forget yourself." ~Henry Miller

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Creative Ideas for Struggling Beginning Writers

August 30th 2010 02:18
Stepping into my first creative beginning writing class of the year was an eye opener. I quickly realized only two of the 12 students could write more than their own names.

A few quick revisions to my plans and we ended up having a fantastic year together. They progressed in both their story telling and writing skills by year end...thankfully. That class was a challenge...high energy, high creativity, high drama, little writing, yet lots of learning.

Creative Writing Lesson PlansStory Starters

Throughout the lesson time, I emphasize the elements of a story, beginning, middle, end and the elements, setting, characters and plot. By years end they were all fluent in those terms. Repetition is key!
Another beginning of the year activity, was to bring out a wide variety of magazines and let the kids tear out interesting settings and character possibilities. We set these in two big piles on the main table. Towards the end of the class, and in order to get help quickly cleaning up, I'd let the cleanest table go first picking out a setting and a character to tell an impromptu story.

a couple of reliable sources for interesting magazines...

* library book sales

* ask your neighbors, I discovered a retired couple down the street had been singlehandly keeping publishers clearing house in the money all these years. They had such a wide variety..which is also why many of my posted ideas include the sentence...bring out a variety of magazines....

* set a box out at school, church, your parents church...with a sign requesting magazines. This works well and also tends to bring out the surprising and obscure.magazines.

Throughout the lesson time, I emphasize the elements of a story, beginning, middle, end and the elements, setting, characters and plot. By years end they were all fluent in those terms. Repetition is key!

creative writing, beginning writing, elementary writing

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Science....and Father's Day

June 15th 2010 14:09
Incorporate science lessons into your summer fun. Using art materials to teach science is a sneaky way to slip abstract ideas into your child, making them easier to grasp. Let these ideas double as Father's Day gifts or activities for dad to do with their kids.

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Make Grass Head Characters
Nature Journals
Fossils
grass head, father's day gift, grass characters, chia pets
Grass Head Characters

Consider making a grass head character for Father's Day!
Make a whole family, mom, siblings...dog?
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