Getting Kids Excited About Creative Writing

Every Wednesday my 4^th grade granddaughter has a pre-spelling test. Their Wednesday homework is to create a short story with their misspelled words. This writing assignment is an exercise to help the students study the words as well as to learn the correct definition and usage in a simple sentence.

As a writer it was a challenge [for me] not to re-write the stories for her. I needed to illustrate how a story is created and that there is a method to writing. A good story has a beginning, middle and ending. The words are the thread that holds the story together. I suggested she begin with a phrase or sentence that will bring the reader into the story. This is an area she struggles with; how to get past the opening phrase of, "Once Upon a Time." Her spelling words are usually random making them more difficult to tie together. It was even more important [for her] to understand the meaning of the words before using them in a sentence.

Misspelled Words: Conductor, Sketches, Leashes, Audience, Reception

Word Definition: Before we started she needed to review the word definitions.
Conductor - Someone who conducts music or musicians as in an orchestra or choir; or a conductor as in electricity

Sketches - A preliminary drawing used in art or a quick artist rendering; a short play or act.

Audience - A group of people assembled to watch and listen to a show, concert, movie, or speech.

Leashes - (Plural) a strap, chain, or rope used to control the animal it is attached to, especially a dog.

Reception - A formal or informal party to welcome somebody or celebrate an event.

After a few not-so-successful attempts she came up with the following story entitled, "A Trip to the Symphony."

"Hooray it's Tuesday! We are going on our trip to hear the orchestra play. The conductor came out with a baton and tapped it to let the audience know it would be starting soon. When I was there I saw a man that had crutches. He also was blind. He had two Seeing Eye dogs with him on leashes. The dogs liked the music as much as he did. Someone sitting in front of me was doing sketches of the instruments. After the orchestra finished we had a reception with small sandwiches."

I promised if she passed her spelling test I would publish her story. She got an A on her spelling test and story so I kept my promise. Helping young children learn the skill of creative writing is more than constructing a grammatically correct sentence. It should take them on a journey to new places. Challenge them to write a short story and reward their success by publishing it! Nothing encourages kids like seeing their creative work in print.

Source(s):
http://www.merriam-webster.com

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