READ and READ and READ Some More!

I'm currently sharing the key learning points discussed in my young writers'  workshop entitled, "Gotcha! How to Find and Capture Great Writing Ideas."

This week's post is about Big Idea #4:  READ and READ and READ some more.  Reading is the EASIEST way to become a better writer! 

I begin this section of the workshop by asking students to share why they think the above statement is true.  We talk about how reading exercises the muscles in the brain and how a stronger brain can write stronger stories.  We talk about how reading other authors' books can help writers come up with their own ideas.  We talk about how re-reading your own notebook or journal can remind you of writing ideas you forgot you remembered! We also talk about how reading a good book can be relaxing, which might be just what your brain needs to help you come up with good ideas.

This is when I bring out my beloved trophy. I let students know that this is the only trophy I've ever earned.  I tell them that I earned it in the 5th grade, and I invite students to make guesses about how I earned it. (I'm always touched that some kids guess it's an award for my current books!).

I eventually tell students that this trophy is the coveted Pleasure Reading Award that I earned in Mr. Snook's 5th grade class.  Mr. Snook ran a pleasure reading contest each year.  The student who read the most books during the school year won the award.  I explain that I started at  one end of my school library and snaked my way around the room.  I do not remember how many books I read or how far I got into the library's shelves, but I do know that I read the most books that year.  I also know that all of that reading contributed to my being an effective writer today.

And this brings us to the last learning point, Big Idea #5:  WRITE and WRITE and WRITE some more, which I'll discuss in my next post. 

Keep a Notebook to Capture Your Ideas

I'm currently sharing the key learning points discussed in my young writers' workshop entitled, "Gotcha! How to Find and Capture Great Writing Ideas."

This week's post is about Big Idea #3: Use a Notebook to Capture Your Ideas. Add SOMETHING to Your Notebook at Least Once Each Day.

By now the students are usually bursting with great story ideas and they are dying to share them with somebody.  Instead of allowing them to share these ideas verbally, I provide some time for students to write down their ideas in their own notebooks and journals. (Depending on the timing or the format of the class, sometimes I keep them wiggling with excitement and tell them that they'll get a chance to write down their ideas a bit later).  For students who don't have a notebook yet, I suggest loose paper.

I also like to share samples of some of my own writing notebooks, including ideas that were scribbled hurriedly on old receipts, grocery lists and other scraps of paper and then taped into my notebook.  I emphasize that this type of writing does not have to be pretty, or perfect, or complete.  They are simply ideas to be captured that can be explored and expanded upon later.  The only hitch is that the writing notebook should have something written (or drawn) in it at least once each day.

I also like to share some of the notebooks I kept when I was a child:

This was one of my diaries.

If you're interested in reading about the notebooks other authors keep, here is a great blog to visit:
http://www.sharingournotebooks.amylv.com/

This was the notebook I kept the summer I was Harriet the Spy. 

  

This brings us to learning point #4, READ, and READ, and READ Some More (and my famed Pleasure Reading Award, which I'll share a picture of in my next post).

Story Ideas Hide in Your Head

I'm currently sharing the key learning points discussed in my young writers'  workshop entitled, "Gotcha! How to Find and Capture Great Writing Ideas."

This week's post is about Big Idea #2: Story Ideas Hide in Your Head. Use Your Nose and Wiggle Your Toes to Find Them.

I start this section by asking students to chant along with me:  "Story Ideas Hide in Your Head. Use Your Nose and Wiggle Your Toes to Find Them," then I ask students to share what they think I mean by these words.  Kids have great, on-target responses.

Story Time with Signs & Rhymes

Next I introduce my book, "There's a Story In My Head" and explain that this story will further clarify what I mean by the words in the chant. This book incorporates the ASL signs for parts of the body, but the story itself makes the point that our everyday activities and experiences can be the foundation for great story ideas.

I pause at select page spreads and invite students to think about the different story ideas that are hiding in their own heads.  For example, on the "wiggle your toes" page, I ask students to remember the last time they took off their shoes and relaxed near a lake or ocean.  I also mention that going on a relaxing or vigorous walk before sitting down to write is another way to "wiggle your toes."  I explain that the walk itself can help wake up the story ideas that are hiding in our head, and that when we "use our nose," we can get new story ideas when we pay attention to what's going around us while we're walking.

Here are some great pictures from students that show their appreciation for this learning point.  I love the nose and toes picture at the top, and I especially love the speech bubble that says "scrumple" your nose and wiggle your toes!

As we continue reading, we get to the page spread that says, "There's a story in my arms.  Rock the baby nice and easy. Imagine all the stories I can write . . ." I ask students to hold their arms in front of them and imagine holding something very special to them in their arms.  It could be a younger sibling, or a doll, or a bear.  It could be a ball, or a trophy, or tickets to a special event.  We talk about how all of these special things can be the subject of great story ideas just waiting to be written.

By now, students are typically bursting with story ideas.  They want to share all the story ideas they have discovered hiding in their head.  I insist that they not tell me but instead write them down for me, which brings us to our next point, Big Idea #3: Use a Notebook to Capture Your Ideas, which I'll expand on in my next post! 

Find Your Feelings

I'm currently sharing the key learning points discussed in my young writers'  workshop entitled, "Gotcha! How to Find and Capture Great Writing Ideas."

This week's post is about Big Idea #1:  Find Your Feelings:  Stronger Feelings = Stronger Story Ideas.

I start this workshop by singing a song (such as "If You're Happy and You Know It" to teach students the ASL signs for the following feelings/emotions: excited, sad, scared, nervous, sorry and hurt. I replace the word "Happy" with the feeling words I want to teach, and make up the verses as I go along (i.e. "If you're sad and you know it cry, boo-boo..." "If you're scared and you know it, close your eyes...")

Story Time with Signs & Rhymes

Next I read related excerpts from my book, "So Many Feelings," and invite students sign along with the story. This story can be sung to the tune of "On Top of Spaghetti," (without the "echo effect"), so I often sing the excerpts rather than just read them.  Next I ask the students to sign each feeling word while they search their memory for a time they felt excited, sad, scared, nervous, sorry and hurt. This leads to a discussion about how each "feeling memory" they've uncovered is a story idea that might be worth exploring more deeply.  I remind students that Stronger Feelings = Stronger Story Ideas. I ask students to sign the feeling word that matches with the feeling memory they are interested in exploring further the next time they have an opportunity to write.

This brings us to Big Idea #2: Stories Hide in Your Head, which I'll discuss in my next post!