Let's Get This Thing Started...
Want to motivate your kids to write? Read on.
I am coming out of blogging retirement (note: I only have one post. Ever.), and it's all because I think kids should be encouraged to write and should have a platform to do so.
My kids love to write. Just ask them. All they ever talk about is writing, do it from morning to night, and never want to do anything else. Bahahahaha! Actually, they DO like to write, and they are very creative when they do it, but they tend to get on "writing kicks" where they get excited about it for a while and write JUST BECAUSE, but then two minutes later complain about writing. I mean, literally TWO DAYS after my eight-year-old told me she hates writing, she wrote a book report. In August. Because she liked the book she was reading.
In my twelve years of teaching writing, one thing I have come to notice is that few kids actually hate writing. They may enjoy doing other things more, they may have bad penmanship which makes writing difficult (this is common, and a whole other blog post), they don't have time (either their schedules are too full of nonsensical homework or test-taking or video games; again, another blog post), or they lack motivation. This is the problem I want to address right now.
I try to address the other issues: I incorporate writing into areas that my kids enjoy. Want to write about legos and your favorite movie? Great! I make them learn and practice good handwriting so that when it does come time to write, their ideas can flow onto paper and not get stuck in their heads. I cut down screen time and refuse to buy a video game system, and I substitute writing assignments and projects for basic tests.
But motivation? I can only motivate them so much. Enter in: The Weekly Writing Contest.
When I proposed this idea to my kids, they were excited, so I hope this spreads and sticks. Here is my proposal:
A weekly writing contest. Every Friday, I will list a genre of writing (poetry, realistic fiction, etc), and kids can submit any writing piece in that genre. The writing must be submitted by Tuesday at 8pm. Winners will be announced and their work published on Friday by 10am. That's it.
Now, what about ages, writing ability? I'm not sure. If there is a wide range of people who submit (say, kindergarten and 8th grade), I'll need to formalize those ability groups. I can forsee a K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and highschool grouping, but let's see where this goes.
So, how do we begin? Write. Kids, that is, students of all ages, send me your best writing, and I will publish one piece from each genre submitted to give people an idea of what to write. That's right. I need examples of good writing. We all need to learn from each other. Not sure about what to write? How about:
Suspense fiction
Historical fiction
Poetry
First person narratives
Magical realism
Realistic fiction
Memoir
Non-fiction
Informative writing
Opinion and Persuasive writing
The possibilities are truly endless!
Deadline for this first submission will be next Wednesday, September 6. I will post winners on Friday, September 8. Send them to: shannonelawson26@gmail.com
Now get writing!
I am coming out of blogging retirement (note: I only have one post. Ever.), and it's all because I think kids should be encouraged to write and should have a platform to do so.
My kids love to write. Just ask them. All they ever talk about is writing, do it from morning to night, and never want to do anything else. Bahahahaha! Actually, they DO like to write, and they are very creative when they do it, but they tend to get on "writing kicks" where they get excited about it for a while and write JUST BECAUSE, but then two minutes later complain about writing. I mean, literally TWO DAYS after my eight-year-old told me she hates writing, she wrote a book report. In August. Because she liked the book she was reading.
In my twelve years of teaching writing, one thing I have come to notice is that few kids actually hate writing. They may enjoy doing other things more, they may have bad penmanship which makes writing difficult (this is common, and a whole other blog post), they don't have time (either their schedules are too full of nonsensical homework or test-taking or video games; again, another blog post), or they lack motivation. This is the problem I want to address right now.
I try to address the other issues: I incorporate writing into areas that my kids enjoy. Want to write about legos and your favorite movie? Great! I make them learn and practice good handwriting so that when it does come time to write, their ideas can flow onto paper and not get stuck in their heads. I cut down screen time and refuse to buy a video game system, and I substitute writing assignments and projects for basic tests.
But motivation? I can only motivate them so much. Enter in: The Weekly Writing Contest.
When I proposed this idea to my kids, they were excited, so I hope this spreads and sticks. Here is my proposal:
A weekly writing contest. Every Friday, I will list a genre of writing (poetry, realistic fiction, etc), and kids can submit any writing piece in that genre. The writing must be submitted by Tuesday at 8pm. Winners will be announced and their work published on Friday by 10am. That's it.
Now, what about ages, writing ability? I'm not sure. If there is a wide range of people who submit (say, kindergarten and 8th grade), I'll need to formalize those ability groups. I can forsee a K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and highschool grouping, but let's see where this goes.
So, how do we begin? Write. Kids, that is, students of all ages, send me your best writing, and I will publish one piece from each genre submitted to give people an idea of what to write. That's right. I need examples of good writing. We all need to learn from each other. Not sure about what to write? How about:
Suspense fiction
Historical fiction
Poetry
First person narratives
Magical realism
Realistic fiction
Memoir
Non-fiction
Informative writing
Opinion and Persuasive writing
The possibilities are truly endless!
Deadline for this first submission will be next Wednesday, September 6. I will post winners on Friday, September 8. Send them to: shannonelawson26@gmail.com
Now get writing!
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