Whimsical Ways helps young writers get creative with story stones. A simple and fun way to encourage character, setting, and plot development.
Teach Beside Me made color coded blocks labeled with interesting nouns, verbs, and places to set writers up with a story idea.
TLSBooks offer several creative writing prompt ideas, similar to this Serious Question activity.
With a few fun pebbles and a sharpie marker, First Grader at Last will inspire creative writing.
meg writes uses a simple jar to inspire creative writing.
I may have mentioned it before, but my favorite resource for creative writing prompts is Rip the Page by Karen Benke. {fyi: not an affiliate link, just a fave}
I also really like the idea of these story cubes from The Literary Gift Company. What do you think, do you have an idea for a DIY version of these cubes?
One of the great ways to learn to read is through phonemic awareness. Back when I was teaching I got to see several "master lessons" based on phonemic awareness. One of their suggestions was taking rhymes and songs we all know and creating your own version.
I still remembered this lesson and started doing this with my kids. Their favorite song to do this with is the old Raffi song "Down by the Bay." They love to take turns making up the silliest rhymes they can come up with.
So, I've created a printable and this week we're going to be making our own version of "Down by the Bay," you know where my mother will say, "Have you ever seen a ghost making a boast?" Down by the Bay Where the Watermelons Grow
Yes, it's very silly, and my kids love it. I foresee this being a very popular book in our house.
Update: This giveaway is now closed. It was fun to see all of the excitement about Mariah's book and e course. The winners below have been contacted regarding their gifts. Thanks for your participation!
Today we are thrilled to introduce you to Mariah Bruel, the author of Playful Learning: Develop Your Child's Sense of Wonder and Joy. We are honored to be part of her blog tour. She is a creative teacher and talented writer. Find out more about Playful Learning by checking out her site.
Creating A Writing Center
It never ceases to amaze me how a well stocked, organized writing center, inspires spontaneous writing among young children. The goal is to create a space that invites a variety of impromptu writing experiences for your child. By having an area dedicated to providing writing tools, papers, and a place to work children can independently write lists, letters, stories, or books—building writing skills through authentic and engaging writing experiences.
Creating a writing area in your home or classroom does not need to be complicated or overwhelming. By simply leaving out a few interesting writing supplies you can inspire the young writers in your life. Here is a helpful list of some fun materials you can add to your child's writing area...
A variety of writing papers printed on colorful, playful paper (download the Nurturing Young Authors printables here)
Alphabet Chart
Blank note cards and envelopes
Sticky notes
Blank books
Assortment of fun pens and pencils
Fine point permanent markers
Fine point black markers
Colored pencils
Alphabet stickers
Alphabet stamps
Interesting hole and paper punches
Tape
Glue sticks
Scissors
Erasers
Pencil Sharpener
One of my favorite ways to create interesting writing areas for children is to think "out of the box" when it comes to the storage, organization and display of the materials. I love it when I can re-purpose items I already have on hand. Below are some images of storage solutions that can be created by using everyday household items.
Magazine racks and file holders make great displays for a variety of writing papers.
If you have limited space, I recommend filling a utensil caddy with pens, pencils, and other interesting writing materials. Most caddies are big enough to hold blank cards and books as well. Simply place the caddy on your coffee table and watch the writing begin! Caddies are also great for moving from room to room or even outside when the inspiration strikes.
A wire fruit basket along with some buckets cab be used to house scissors, hole punches, tape, pens, pencils and glitter glue. Napkin holders also make great holders for blank cards, envelopes or list paper.
Hooks and buckets are an easy and inexpensive way to make use of open wall space above a table or desk.
Here are some more "out of the box" sources of inspiration...
After spending time reading and re-reading my copy of Playful Learning I am especially excited to be joining Mariah this fall for her Playful Learning Spaces E-Course. While taking the course I will be sharing brief tidbits here on ABC & 123 during our bi-weekly Show and Tell feature. However, I would love for as many of you to join me as possible.
Mariah, and her publisher Shambhla Publications, are offering 2 great resources as giveaways to you!
~1FREE admission to the 6-week e-course (value $125)
~1 copy of the book
Areyou as excited as I am about either of these opportunities? Please leave a comment here to be entered into the random drawing. If you would specify whether you are interested in the book, the e-course, or both that would be helpful. Comments will close on this giveaway on Tuesday, September 6th and the winner will be notified immediately.
If you are interested in reading more, here are other stops on the Playful Learning blog tour!
A while back I had written about writing programs in the preschool classroom with the intention of following up and blogging just a bit more on the subject. After my trip to Tampa and presenting at One Goal Summer Conference, I am geared up and ready to write!
As we are quickly approaching the new school year (crazy, I know), as early childhood teachers we want to begin thinking on how we can build on what we have already done, make it better and engage the children with much more anticipation for learning. The key is your passion as a teacher and the difference you make is up to you. You have the power to change what is going on across your state, in your classroom and in the minds of your children and families that you serve.
The key to a successful writing-rich class is inspirational materials! What better way to motivate children to write than to inspire them.
I want you to understand that if you engulf them with print, access to materials and different mediums and the time to initiate, engage and complete, they will be great writers.
Writing is a process and if you want them to be able to write you must start with the scribble! Scribbling is the first attempt of object to symbol relationship. They may see a cat in their little mind and then write the word cat in a scribble. As they are thinking it, they will write it. They may even draw the cat (which you may not be able to see it) and then write it (again, you may not see it).
As they begin to go through the different writing stages, you will begin to see symbols forming into actual letters. You will be able to begin decoding their writing.
I lke to st bi alk
(I like to sit by Alec.)
Don't take their scribbles for granted! This is the beginning of a beautiful writing experience.
Below are some pictures of activities that children can experience. Think above and beyond the paper and pencil when it comes to materials and think multiple mediums (rice, flour, beans, sand, etc.) and unexpected tools such as some of the ones you will see below.
cookie sheet micro scaffold for one child
Above in the pictures I have taken the blue rice medium, paired it with magnetic alphabet pieces, word family cards that they can use to spell out words and then write them down on their notebook.
Here I have again scaffold the tray for one child: purple sand, red alphabet pasta, a notepad, tongs, tools, and a sifter for easy clean up. Here the children could use the cards to find words or just pick out letters.
I also want to share with you a secret! Anything can become a writing center and it can be anywhere in the room. Other than you standard, stationary writing center have mobile writing centers that can go anywhere in the room and even outside. This encourages more writing and more creativity from the children. Below I have taken a box from a computer keyboard that is very sturdy and made it into a mobile writing center.
I love the magnetic drawing boards. These are so inexpensive and you can get them just about anywhere. I like to pair them with other materials. Below I have paired them with cards and trays. This activity is scaffold for two children with two of each materials.
Another way to encourage children to write is to write letters to each other, family members, etc. We all know they like to write letters! So come up with creative ways to implement letter writing. Here I have used a Purex All In One detergent box stuffed with envelopes and used as a mobile mail box around the room. There are so many things that you could do with this in your classroom. Get really creative with getting the children excited about send some mail!
There so much more to say about writing, so I will leave you with these thoughts. Surround your preschoolers with materials in their classroom that they can't resist. Be creative and have a well-balanced method of open-ended and teacher directed writing. Please don't ever make children sit for long periods of time and be forced to write. You want them to come back day after day with a motivation and persistence to write. Go non-traditional, think outside the box and give them the support that they need to become successful writers.
Small Types inspired her lego crazed little one to create poetry with his favorite toy. I imagine this would make a fun center activity in any classroom.
At Crayon Bits the first grade teacher encourages reading fluency using poetry.
Small Types also put together their own version of an on-the-go poetry activity that does not require any materials.
Read. Write. Think. has a fun interactive acrostic poem building activity.
First Grade Serenade explains how she uses poetry in the classroom and shares poems of the month.
Celebrate Poetry with a great list of activities from Kristine O'Connell George: Post It Poems, Balloon Poems, Cookie Poems and so much more!
Update: This giveaway is now closed. The winner has been chosen by Random.org
"Brandy said...
My daughter is gifted in language and would adore this book! She gets so giddy over word play and is constantly writing creatively. Thank you for this chance!"
Enjoy!
April is National Poetry Month. Poetry is one of those creative writing ventures that you can't just teach with a simple 1, 2, 3. There are many formula type poems: Bio Poems, Haiku, Acrostics, Limericks, and more. Yet, quality poetry requires a different way of thinking, looking at the world, and honestly reflecting on it.
True poetry requires word play, imagination, open ended questions, and plenty of blank pages for words to roam. Rip the Page! provides just what writers of all ages need to turn on their creative writing brain. Karen Benke, an experienced teacher of poetry, has put together an exciting resource for writers who are willing to explore.
My first grader and I have spent many April evenings diving in to the adventures offered on each page of this "Just Do It" book. I would never describe myself as a creative writer, but I will tell you what this book makes it fun! We started with the first exercise in the book, an open ended statement, "I Write with..." It was exciting to see Gavin begin to think beyond his pencil and paper.
Another exercise encouraged us to name each of our fingers and toes. It was interesting to watch my son thoughtfully consider what each one of his fingers should be named and why. Since I have never named his fingers as pointer, ring man, and pinky he really had no schema tying his imagination down on this one.
Rip the Page encourages vocabulary and word experimentation in a way that is zany and entertaining.
As writers work their way around the book they are encouraged by notes from famous authors such as Annie Barros, Lemony Snicket, and Patricia Polacco.
According to the press release for the book, "The exercises in Rip the Page! aren’t designed like a school assignment or extra-credit composition. They’re meant to amuse and inspire your child, showing him or her how fun and freeing creative writing can be even when it’s not being graded. Benke, who has led creative writing workshops for children for sixteen years, knows what kinds of prompts excite her students and how to get their pens moving."
This eye catching, engaging book would be a wonderful addition to any classroom. With a very reasonable price it would be a nice gift for your favorite teacher during Teacher Appreciate week or as a year end gift. for ordering information, additional reviews, and a workshop possibilities check out Karen's site.
We are pleased to be able to offer one of our readers a copy of the book thanks Shambhala Publications, Inc. Leave a word or two of your own in the comment blank to be entered to win.
There is no special consideration necessary for entry, although we would love if you would also take a moment to vote for ABC & 123 on the list of TOP 25 Homeschool Blogs or if you would look us up on facebook!
We will use Random.org to select a winner from the comments below after entry closes on May 1 at 10PM EST.
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