The Write Start (22 page)

Variations

For Scribblers:
Encourage your Scribbler to “sign” the autograph book by making their own marks on a page, and possibly dictating a thought or two.

For Spellers:
Spellers can sign their name in the autograph book and add a couple of words or a drawing.

For Storytellers:
Storytellers can write some simple sentiments, silly sayings, a special memory, or a sweet story.

For Scholars:
There is a long history behind autograph books, which date back to the fifteenth century. Scholars might get a kick out of doing some simple research to find out if their parents, aunts and uncles, or grandparents remember writing in autograph books as children, and what their favorite entry was.

30

Once Upon a Time

I
MAGINATION IS
the greatest natural resource of childhood. As luck would have it, it is also one of the most indispensable tools of a writer.

Children are perfectly suited for creating engaging stories, tall tales, and fanciful fiction. Just think about it. They have an amazing sense of wonder; a propensity to think in metaphor; a sensitivity to rhythm, rhyme, and repetition; and an enormous capacity for making things up. In fact, it’s actually much easier to teach children how to think like writers than it is to teach seasoned writers to remember how to be as creative as children.

When it comes to spinning a yarn, kids are at a definite advantage. Simply start a sentence with, “Once upon a time . . .” and wait for them to take over. By the time they get to “The end,” you’ll know exactly what I mean.

 

M
ATERIALS

 

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some favorite books

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paper

∗
pencil

 

H
OW-TO

 

1.  Read a few simple stories with your children and discuss some of the choices the author made. How did the story begin? Who were the characters? Where did it take place? What is the most exciting thing that happened? How did the author wrap up everything in the end?

2.  Brainstorm with your children some ideas for stories of their own.

3.  When you see their eyes light up about an idea, pull out paper and pencil, and help them get started.

 

Variations

For Scribblers:
Getting pre-writers accustomed to stories couldn’t be simpler. Read, read, read. Listening to the rhythm of stories is the best possible prep for them to write stories of their own someday.

For Spellers:
Emerging writers get a big kick out of fill-in-the-blank stories. They can make important decisions about the twists and turns of the story, without having to tackle the whole thing all at once (for a sample, see “
Fill-in-the-Blank Story
” in the templates section).

For Storytellers:
As their name suggests, Storytellers are perfectly suited to this challenge. Just give them a small stack of paper and some loving support, and then admire all the stories they crank out.

For Scholars:
Young authors-in-training can begin to consider some of the more technical aspects of writing a story, such as the parts of a story (introduction, body, and conclusion), character development, and setting.

31

Poetic License

I
F YOU REALLY WANT
to get children’s creative writing juices flowing, introduce them to the art of poetry. Poems capture a child’s innermost thoughts in a surprisingly eloquent way. Maybe that’s because poetry is a little more playful. It tends to dance around the page. It’s less linear, more rhythmic, and has fun little patterns to follow. It invites children’s brains to think outside the box a bit, and I think they appreciate that.

Writing a poem should be carefree and lighthearted, like skipping instead of walking, eating dessert before dinner, or bursting into song. Tapping into a child’s sense of play is not just fun, it’s functional as well. When children can relax and enjoy themselves, they are better able to engage both sides of their brain. The creative right side of the brain is activated at the same time the logical left side is, making poetry a whole-brain writing workout. And without even breaking a sweat! Who knew?

 

M
ATERIALS

 

∗
paper or notebook

∗
pencil

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colored pencils

 

H
OW-TO

 

1.  First off, read some poetry with your child. (We enjoyed starting with Shel Silverstein and e. e. cummings around here.) Don’t do too much explaining at first; try to let the verses speak for themselves.

2.  Sit down with your child and write a first poem together, taking turns writing lines. Just see where it goes.

3.  Introduce your child to different forms of poetry (some of which are described next), and encourage them to write poems of their own.

4.  Have a poetry reading, where your children get to recite their poems out loud in front of the family.

 

Variations

For Scribblers:
Introduce pre-writers to the pattern of poetry by showing them how to make any sort of repeating pattern with their scribbles. Try alternating two colors, lines with curves, or zigzags with loop de loops. This prepares them for some of the rules of poetry they will learn later on.

For Spellers:
Spellers are well-suited to trying out what is called an acrostic poem. They choose a significant word, and then write it vertically down the left side of the page, one letter on each line. Then after each letter, they write a word (or words) that begins with that letter, which is also related to their significant word.

Storytellers:
Who doesn’t love a haiku? I’m sure Storytellers will. Haikus are three-lined poems featuring seventeen syllables, five in the first line, seven in the second, and five in the third. Something like this:

Scholars:
Limericks have a distinct rhythm and rhyme (best illustrated by reading out loud) and a propensity for silliness. They’re my kind of poem! (Oh, and kids love them too.) I still remember one I wrote in the fourth grade that I was particularly proud of:

Need I say more?

Play

 

Play is the work of kids. Don’t let all of that fun fool you. Some serious skill building, learning, and, yes, hard work goes on while children are at play. And do you want to know what’s the best part about it? Playful activities are so irresistible, kids don’t even know they’re educational. (Come to think about it, let’s keep that part a secret, just between us.)

It’s perfectly okay to let them think it’s all fun and games. We know better. We know that some surreptitious setup on our part can go a long way toward making playtime a little more purposeful. We can capitalize on the fact that our kids are at their creative best while at play, by slipping some writing props in among their toys, and suggesting some bright ideas for adding some writing to the playful mix. As a starting point, check out the next group of activities, which feature the perfect blend of function and fun.

 

32

Priority Mail

P
EOPLE ARE CONSTANTLY COMPLAINING
about how the price of stamps keeps going up. Me, I don’t mind. Call me a throwback, but I have a great deal of appreciation for the USPS. Slip an envelope into a mailbox, and it gets hand-delivered to anyone, anywhere, in the whole country, in mere days. For less than a couple of quarters. Sounds like a bargain to me.

Kids share a similar respect for all things postal. They see a bit of magic when a letter disappears in a mailbox and is received by a faraway friend or relation. And when a response shows up on their own doorstep days later, well, that certainly gets their stamp of approval.

Encourage your kids to have fun with postal pretend play, to pique their interest in future letter writing (which we will discuss in more detail later on). For now, let them be in charge of delivering the goods, whatever they may be. Remember, when you’re a kid there’s no such thing as junk mail, and every delivery is special.

 

M
ATERIALS

 

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empty postal boxes (or shoeboxes)

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scissors

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junk mail

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paper

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pencils

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postcards

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envelopes

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stamps or stickers

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stampers and ink pad

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postal forms and stickers

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blank labels

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over-the-shoulder bag

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mail carrier dress-up clothes (optional)

 

H
OW-TO

 

1.  Help your kids set up their own personal post office.

2.  Turn empty boxes into mailboxes by cutting a narrow opening to slip in letters. You can make one mailbox for each family member, if you choose.

3.  Encourage your kids to write some letters. Then they can address, stuff, seal, and stamp the envelopes; use stamps to “postmark” the mail; and fill out postal forms.

4.  Kids can play letter carrier by filling up their mailbag and then delivering letters to the right mailbox.