I watch as one of my writing prompts beginners looks at each writing prompts journal page, thinking, considering, planning. Finally she chooses the writing prompts about friendship, and she heads back to her desk.
In teaching there are so many difficult decisions, and, although I find writing instruction easy to differentiate, I often had some emotional turmoil as to whether or not I was “cheating” when I used writing prompts for kids.
Most of the time for writing instruction time in my class was focused on teaching the writing genre. Throughout each genre I would be teaching spiraling lessons on voice, punctuation, grammar, parts of speech, etc..
But then I would come across some super cute daily writing prompts for 2nd grade, and I would think, “Hmm, how can I incorporate this?”
Once I had that figured out I beat myself up, just a little, for letting “fun” prevail when serious work needed to prevail.
However, I continued to include writing prompts into my teaching because fun is essential for childhood.
But then I got to thinking, “Are writing prompts for lower elementary students bad? Or is that just me making assumptions? Was I listening to teachers with their own biases? Or was I following research?
Writing Prompts Beginners: Boosting Success for Your Writers Now!Ah! Time to look at the research for writing prompts beginners.
Inductive writing instruction using writing prompts with pictures for students
Let’s start with the technical stuff. Writing prompts are an inductive approach to learning.
This process is very different from a deductive approach which is a very centered on “sage on the stage” teaching in which students are given what they are “supposed to” learn.
Inductive learning for elementary students is when students are provided with learning activities that encourage students to make knowledge through inquiry or exploration, reason, observation, and experience.
Inductive learning is based on a constructivist and active learning approach in which students construct knowledge rather than just passively take in information.
Constructivism requires a more active learning approach on behalf of the student.
Children experience the world and reflect upon their experiences. Through this they build their own ideas and thoughts into their existing knowledge.
Supporting writing prompts beginners aligns with constructivism and active learning
Because writing prompts lean heavily upon an inductive approach to learning, writing prompts beginners will be drawing upon experiences of which students already have knowledge.
Many writing prompts for lower elementary are drawing upon text-to-text, text-to-world, and text-to-self experiences of the student who is writing.
For that reason, open-ended and broad writing prompts to improve writing are important for student success.
Students who are writing prompts beginners are then able to present material in a way that is familiar to them. The teacher may choose to fill in gaps and support making connections.
By supporting writing prompts with other activities such as writing provocations, student discussion, brainstorming with friends, partner editing, and sharing stories aloud, students are able to learn from each other.
Helping writing prompts beginners to get started
If you look at the research, there is actually research that says that images limit student creativity.
However, there is other evidence that supports the use of writing prompts with pictures as differentiation for ELL learners, visual learners and as an extra rung in the letter for students who need scaffolding in coming up with ideas for writing.
And images would support inductive learning.
So, a teacher has to know the students in order to make a decision to use writing prompts with pictures for students, or the teacher needs to leave the option to choose writing pages with or without an image or prompt to provide each student choice
I know that in my own life I am often making connections with what I see and hear. Those connections are not always the same as the connections that others are making.
As I transfer this thought to providing students with writing prompts, and to what I see as a primary purpose of writing prompts, I like this element of choice a lot.
And guess what, choice is also an element of differentiation. Win-win! 🎉
Do prompts help writing prompt beginners grow as writers overall?
Eight positive attributes of the use of writing prompts have been identified:
1) Using writing prompts to create engagement for writing prompts beginners
Writing prompts should provide writing prompts beginners with intriguing and thought-provoking topics that capture their interest. This often creates an emotional connection between the students and the topic. This emotional investment creates more active involvement in the writing process. This, in turn, can lead to increased motivation and a deeper connection to the material.
2) The development of critical thinking
A well written prompt that is appropriate to student knowledge and experience encourages critical thinking as students analyze, evaluate, and synthesize information.
As students then articulating their own thoughts in their writing, they are then challenged to consider different perspectives when they listen to the writing of others. In this way writing prompts stimulate higher-order cognitive skills.
Depending upon the prompt and prompt genre, this may lead students to develop a deeper understanding of the subject matter.
3) Discovery of new ideas and perspectives
Use writing prompts as a catalyst for discovery. Writing prompt beginners may end up exploring new ideas, perspectives, and areas of knowledge.
Their ability to Inspire enthusiasm for inquiry, and encourage curiosity make writing prompts a valuable teaching tool. Through peer discussion, reflection, editing and sharing teachers may create a learning environment where students can make new connections and expand their intellectual horizons.
4) Using writing prompts for writing skills improvement
One of the key benefits of writing prompts is how they help to develop writing skills in writing prompt beginners. Regular practice with different prompts strengthens students’ ability to express ideas coherently, use language effectively, and refine their writing style. Overall. this ongoing development contributes to students’ overall proficiency as communicators.
5) Using writing prompts to make teacher prep more efficient
Effective writing prompts can be used in more than just the writing block. For example, teachers can design a writing prompt that meets a specific learning prompt, and then find videos, readings, and hands-on activities that build student knowledge on that topic.
This creates a framework that makes designing activities that align with specific learning objectives easier. Time is utilized efficiently and students are guided toward meaningful and relevant writing experiences that align with curriculum.
6) Classroom collaboration and community building with
Some writing prompts can be designed to encourage collaborative efforts. Group writing activities foster teamwork, communication, and the exchange of ideas among students.
With appropriate classroom management collaborative quick write prompts with pictures can create a sense of community in the classroom, enhancing the overall learning experience. This impact on the learning environment is also a part of differentiation in the classroom.
7) Connection to Curriculum and Other Disciplines
As mentioned under “Class Preparation”, writing prompts can become a perfect way for teachers to align curriculum goals and connect with other subjects.
Integrating subjects by using writing prompts about animals during science, for example, helps students to see the relevance of writing in and for various contexts.
This, in turn, promotes a holistic understanding of how writing skills are applicable across different subjects,.
Meanwhile, you are using writing prompts to improve writing.
8) Development of personal values in writing prompts beginners
Personal narrative and opinion writing and prompts from other genres may prompt students to reflect on personal values and beliefs.
By providing students with this built-in opportunity to reflect, teachers may help students develop a deeper understanding of themselves, nurturing personal growth and self-awareness in addition to academic development.
Personally, I love to teach about subjects like bullying using good picture books and provide writing prompts inspiration to guide students thoughts and reflection. I have found this to be very effective.
Using writing prompts throughout the day
Writing prompts journals are well suited to be an important part of not only your writing class, but also throughout other parts of the school day.
I confess that I LOVE to teach science and parts of social studies, and I devoted extra time to it in my weekly lessons. I did have time blocked out for ELA every single day, of course. However, I found that other teachers spent more time on ELA than I did.
The extra time that many other teachers were dedicating to ELA I filled with rich explorations. We really got to dig into topics that students loved because of this extra time.
I was able to do this because we did so much writing during science.
I did not call it a “Ticket Out the Door”, or an assessment, or anything that may make the students balk at the writing assignment.
What we did was a really fun exploration that engaged the students, and then I saved enough time for them to release their enthusiasm for the topic onto the paper.
Because, when students are passionately invested in their topic, and they have learned that writing is a good thing, that is what they become.
Writing prompts beginners become passionate and engaged writers who release their enthusiasm onto the page.
Please share in the comments below your positive experiences with implementing writing prompts in your classroom.
Related posts that are also linked throughout this post:
Jumpstart Writing Now With Differentiation in Instruction Now!
Writing Workshop or Writer’s Workshop: How to Combine Them for Success!
Differentiation in Science Teaching: How to Make an Inclusive Classroom
What is classroom management Why is it important?
Jumpstart Writing Now With Differentiation in Instruction Now!
Let’s Connect! :
⭐ Youtube
☀️ Pinterest
✅ Store
