In this last week of summer vacation before school starts, my writing students and I turned our attention to the beach. As Jersey girls, we know the shore well and can draw on our rich experiences to create vivid descriptive images. For our final assignment of the summer, I thought I’d slow Maddie and Violet down and have them delve deeper into descriptive storytelling. Elementary writers tend to rush through the most exciting parts of their stories. They sum up big events in a single sentence. I wanted the girls to focus on exploding a small moment by using sensory details, strong verbs, and showing, not telling, the characters’ actions and emotions.
Tag: fiction
Something Magical: Three Elements of Fantasy Writing With Children
Children love fantasy. Their minds are young and open to outrageous ideas and imaginative wonderings. Fantasy also helps them deal with stressful situations and allows them to feel empowered. This week with my summer students, I focused on three core elements of writing fantasy stories: portal transitions, living statues, and magic rules.
Book. Memory. Promise: Never Forget
I am encouraged and so thankful that Lois Lowry has written Tree. Table. Book. The octogenarian author of Number the Stars and The Giver, Ms. Lowry is an expert storyteller and isn’t afraid to take on controversial subjects. She is a master at presenting hard situations and ethical problems to a young audience. This most recent book spans generations and shows how stories can connect rather than tear people apart. With story and memory, we can build bonds and begin to understand each other. This connection between the old and young is crucial; it is the sticky hope that will ensure “never forget” leads to the promise of “never again.”
Inspiring Kindness With Picture Books
Sometimes when I talk to children about why they should be kind and treat each other with respect, they tune out. However, they rarely tune out when listening to a captivating story. Stories are the glue that holds their attention.
One Last Pearl of Wisdom
Since the moment I met my mother-in-law, we talked about books. We would speak of various characters as if we had actually met them and knew them like we knew family. I loved that about her. She was always exposing me to ideas and events that were new to me. She used books as breadcrumbs to show me the way and expand my thinking.
Writing Alongside Children
This week, I began working with two fifth grade girls on writing. I created digital notebooks so they could more easily type their thoughts and ideas. I also wrote alongside them. We talked, we shared our writing, and we laughed. My intention was to build a small community of writers...
Word Dancer: Literature, the Arts, & Education 