Innovative lessons/ideas for teaching creative writing, as well as samples of student writing resulting from the lesson. See complete submission guidelines here.
This lesson is part of Writing Our Way Through: clear, fun, and engaging “lessons” for writing at home with young people. Author/Teaching Artist: Libby Mislan Age Range: 3rd grade and up Materials: Paper and pencils/pens Overview This lesson is a great way to show kids how poetry has power when spoken or written. The mentor text, Sekou Sundiata’s…
Celebrate any season by writing original and daring poems inspired by E.E. Cummings and his rambunctious wordplay.
Use family photographs or magazine images to create 3-line Lune poems.
An activity that encourages young writers to explore the five senses, inspired by the Louis Armstrong song.
Delicious Details take center stage in this writing exercise inspired by N. Scott Momaday’s “Delight Song of Tsoai-talee.”
Tips for parents & guardians leading writing exercises with children at home. Part of the “Writing Our Way Through” series.
With so many parents and guardians at home with their kids, we want to offer clear, fun, and engaging “lessons” for writing at home with young people.
Teaching Students to Describe Emotions in Poetry FROM THE ARCHIVES: This article was originally published in Teachers & Writers Magazine, Winter 2009-2010. By Harriet Riley AS A FIRST-YEAR Writers in the Schools writer/teacher in Houston last fall, I have to admit I felt like I was entering an obstacle course blindfolded. Even though we had…
FROM THE ARCHIVES: This article originally appeared in Teachers & Writers Magazine Volume 29, Issue 3. By Mark Statman Jayne Cortez wrote a wonderful poem that is challenging and useful for inspiring student writing: Under the Edge of February Under the edge of February in hawk of a throathidden by ravines of sweet oilby temples…
I have found that one of the most successful pieces of literature for motivating students to read and write is the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave. It opens up so many issues of adolescence, such as self-esteem, identity, rebellion against unjust authority and laws, individual dignity, and control over one’s life and working conditions.