Writing Prompts

In order for our students to be successful in school and in life, they must know how to communicate. Most jobs I have ever applied for required "excellent oral and written communication skills." I think we can all agree that to be a good writer, one must read a lot as well.

Reading:

• improves vocabulary and spelling
• helps develop critical thinking skills
• encourages perspective by exposing one to other cultures and places
• increases understanding of abstract and complex thought processes
• reduces stress
• adds to one's knowledge base
• improves focus and concentration skills
  
• boosts self-esteem
  

Writing:

• expands vocabulary
• develops and provides an outlet for creativity
• invokes imagination
• encourages one to find their voice
• reduces stress
• gives a sense of pride and accomplishment
  
• boosts self-esteem
  
• improves writing skills

You may think that last bullet has circular logic, but it does make sense. Writing practice improves writing skills. You only get better by doing it. Children tend to fear writing. I did when I was in school, too. Only practice (and the environment in which the practice takes place) can reduce this fear. Hence, the reason it is so important for us as teachers not only to give students frequent opportunities to write, but also to offer a wide variety of topics to write about and different types of writing to do. We need to allow children to explore their own voice and ideas in their own way. They will have enough parameters and expectations put on their work when they are adults. For now, we must encourage them to explore and take risks so that over time they can find their own "unique writer's language". See theteacherconnection.net for many writing prompt ideas. (This site has more ads, but it also has a plethora of ideas.) Here is just one that I liked:

The Present--Four Ways (Paragraph Writing)

"Here's a great writing activity for the holidays that reviews the four basic types of writing styles and that can be adapted to any grade level. My students write one expository paragraph explaining how to wrap a present, one descriptive paragraph describing what the present looks like after it's been wrapped, and one narrative paragraph describing what will happen to the present. The final paragraph is a persuasive paragraph explaining why the present is the best present given."
Submitted by: Kevin Buchman, a fifth grade teacher at Perry Middle School in Perry, Ohio. This tip was published in the NEA's Weekly "Works4Me" Email list.

But you can find other prompts on this site. Take a look at the One Minute Writer blog by C.Beth. She adds a writing prompt idea just about every day. You are bound to find some that interest you.