Inspire Curiosity With Writing A-Z
Share a Personal Narrative
Starting the year with a personal narrative project is a great way to get to know students and form connections with them early on. This may help you understand the experiences each student brings to the classroom and their interests – even if the personal narrative is meant to share a memory from over summer break.
If students aren't quite ready for that much writing, start with a graphic organizer to get thoughts on paper. (Available in Beginning, Developing, and Fluent levels)
Recommended PD: Getting Started With Writing A-Z
Build Community Through Writing
Treat writing like a communal activity! Use the back-to-school period for writing exercises that encourage students to get to know one another, like conducting classmate interviews, creating a Get To Know Me book, or hosting an ‘artifact bag’ exercise.
It’s fun to do these at the end of the year, too, to see how much your students change!
Make Writing a Habit
Like any muscle you want to strengthen, consistent practice means growth. Make writing a habit in your classroom by flexing those writing muscles regularly!
Lean on text or visual writing prompts to get students writing for even a few minutes a day. You can use one reading prompt for the entire class or encourage students to select their own topic from a list you provide.
Get in Touch With Their Creative Side
Have your students been earning stars in their Kids A-Z Star Zone for completing Learning A-Z activities? If so, they’ve probably been spending some time creating their avatar or decorating their Raz Rocket.
Get students to think out-of-this-world by having them create a story about their avatar or their next Raz Rocket trip.