Writing Made Fun
Unique and creative ways to encourage students to write
Toy Catalog Writing Prompts
Allow students to cut out pictures from catalogs that interest them, glue them to paper, and then write/draw about what they selected. The cutout pictures can even fill in where a child may not know the word to write.
Writing with Cars
Tape markers to the rear of vehicles and allow young writers to write/draw with the vehicles. This is a great way to spark interest in writing, particularly in Beginner and Intermediate students.
Fill-in-the-Blank Stories or Sentences
This is obviously an example more geared for early elementary, but consider writing a sentence with words left blank. Practice reading the sentence aloud (or read it aloud to younger students) and then encourage the child to write or draw in the missing words and ideas.
How to Draw Prompts
Use a simple step-by-step of how to draw animals or objects to encourage writing and expressing ideas on paper. You can easily make these yourself! For examples, follow this link: http://www.kidsfront.com/how-to-draw-pictures.html
Idea Chart
Sometimes it helps to just be given ideas of what to write about... I recommend using more realistic photos and selecting ideas relevant to your students.
Create an Idea Box
Fill this box with words, photographs, small objects, and surprises to encourage children to write. Change the contents of the box frequently to build novelty.
Name and Word Rubbings
Adhere heavyweight vinyl letter stickers to cardstock of each child's name (in proper case), sight words, letters, or anything else relevant to your students. Show the students how they can use crayons to make crayon rubbings of the letter or word. Encourage them to write it after rubbing it.
Writer of the Week
Whether this is a featured area of the classroom or simply a circle time helper job, consider naming one child "writer of the week." As "Writer of the Week," allow this child to read or "read" his writing to his class. This is a great way to make writing a focus and point of pride.
Rainbow Write
To reinforce a child's own writing, have him write his name with a marker. Show him how he can keep writing his name over top of his name in different color markers, crayons, or colored pencils to make a rainbow name.
Make a Comic
Show your students the comics from a Sunday newspaper or a comic book style book, such as Bad Kitty. Draw 4 squares on a paper (or have them do this) and encourage them to tell a story in 4 pictures with or without words.
Write the Room
Give a student a clipboard, paper, and a pencil. Have him walk around the room and write down as many words as he sees. Where does he see writing in your room?
Wordless Books
Make wordless books accessible. Have students try to write the story that the book is telling on their own paper. Have them flip through the pictures as they write or draw for inspiration.
Vertical Wall Writing
Create a graffiti wall (cover wall in butcher paper) where students are encouraged to come write or draw messages. The book "Harold and the Purple Crayon" would be a great inspiration to launch this idea.
Sign Making in Construction Center
Within Construction Center, set up a small table with inspiring pieces to encourage students to make signs. This can be done with letters, words, or drawings, and it is reinforced as students can then immediately use their writing.
Signing Birthday Cards
Whenever a student in your class has a birthday, make a simple birthday card or poster and allow each child to sign it. The birthday child then has a special memento, and the class gets an authentic chance to practice name writing.
Author or Illustrator Hat
Contribution from School 813:
Writing center has 2 hats (different). The students pick a hat, the hat will determine their writing “job” for that moment. Are they going to be an author or an illustrator. They have to work together to create a one page story. At the end of the week, we have “short stories” by the entire classroom to read.
Graduation Graffiti Wall
Contribution from School 301: PreK students are encouraged to write their names, thoughts, and ideas on a graduation graffiti wall in their classroom. This wall also includes a place where one child's writing can be featured.
Building Writing Endurance
School 20 found this idea to encourage children to continue to build writing endurance and a self-motivation to continue to communication in writing-- letters, words, and/or pictures.
Writing Metamorphosis
Contribution from School 1030: Our Intermediate classes are learning about the life cycle of the butterfly. We have placed our caterpillars in the writing center, along with magnifying glasses and books. The children were asked to examine the caterpillars and write (draw) their findings.
May the Force be with you
Contribution from School 810: For May the 4th, I created a writing center based on Star Wars. I had the box set of phonic books, figures with their names written on sentence strips, lined and unlined paper. The class was invited to come (with their art box) to explore the center. Some read or 'read' the books and other looked at the figures and talk about them with others. Everyone wrote about Star Wars - the entire class enjoys and knows about the characters. There were pictures drawn, the character's names were copied, sight words were written, stories were told both verbally and via letters, words, and symbols/scribbles on paper. Every child chose to come the center on their own, some multiple times in a day
Shaving Cream Writing
Contribution from School 805:
We use shaving cream often on the windows outside during the warmer weather. My PreK teacher typically takes laminated sight words outside with her for the children to practice or she lets them free write. The younger classrooms practice a lot of shapes and lines in the shaving cream.
Draw Around
Draw around the shape.
Glitter Sand Trays
Contribution from School 239: My teachers will often have children practice writing in glittered sand trays.
Light Writing
Contribution from School 1058: Writing with the awe and wonder of a light box... Students write in colored sand within a clear box on top of a lit light box
Touch of Nature
Contribution from School 1058:
Finger writing with natural elements and textures. Example: bird seed
Spark an Idea
Contribution from School 1058: Vertical writing on a wipe board with theme based writing prompt cards.
Writing/Painting Michelangelo style
Contribution from School 1058: Writing/painting under a table; sparks imagination with excitement and creativity.
Repurposed Blocks
Contribution from School 306: This class decided to repurpose old blocks by painting them with chalkboard paint. The children now use the blocks to practice writing and also to draw characters on the blocks to play in the house, castle, school, etc. that they built.
More Ideas Coming Soon!
More Ideas Coming Soon!
Dr. Lauren Starnes
Please reach out if you have any questions. Also, please send me any additional unique ideas you have to further spark writing in your classrooms. I will gladly add them to this Smore. :)
Email: lauren.starnes@nlcinc.com
Phone: 919-889-0503