Motivating students to write requires a blend of well-chosen topics and dedication that appeals to their growing sense of individuality and freedom. As an experienced teacher, you must allow your students to expand their horizons and write about topics that interest them. Keep reading to learn more about those different tips and tricks one must use while teaching a group of students.
● Know Your Students
It is essential to know your students and their interests as a teacher. Although some pupils may not share similar interests as their classmates, each age group focuses on specific interests depending on the environment. Knowing your students helps you design your writing exercises. One group of students may like hunting, camping, and adventure, while the other group is fascinated by society’s current issues. Assign the topics to the groups as per their interest to get the maximum results. Don’t forget to check Felicity Stone Toronto work about creative writing.
● Picture-Story Writing
Assign your students to write a story based on five photos cut from a magazine. In this assignment, students have the liberty to work individually and in groups. You can write story prompts on the board to help them kick start their writing process. Once each student or group has finished the study, allow students to read aloud and review the stories in the classroom.
● Combined Story
In this exercise, ask each student to take out a blank paper and write his name. Give each student five minutes to write the beginning of the story. Then the student passes the paper to another student who adds to the story for five minutes, creating the plot. This way, each student will contribute to the paper that comes before them for five minutes. In the end, they return papers to their original writers to read. Ask the students to share their stories voluntarily.
● Field Trips
Learning is not limited to a closed room. Take your students out of the four walls and let them observe human behaviors and visuals. It enables them to take note of the details that play a vital role in the creative writing process. Teachers can take students to libraries, parks, or even farmers’ markets with just a pen and notebook. Students can write down what they see and observe.
For example, if the student sees “a woman in a blue dress”, the teacher can help the student press more details, such as the person’s height, the color of hair, and any accessories. This will help them develop a habit of noticing little things; this goes a long way in creative writing.
● Meta-narrative Observations
Select a few movies, plays, and books, give students an assignment to get inside the writer’s head by asking questions to understand the writing process. Think about why the author chose a specific name, birthplace, or personal history for a character. Try to understand the connection between the writer’s biography and the main character. Meta-narration helps students abstract the creative process and further polish their writings. Want more exercise about teaching a group of students? Read more from Felicity Stone Toronto.
Conclusion
It is essential to come up with engaging creative writing lesson plans for students that allow the teacher to harness the creativity of the younger learners.