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!
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!
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