Explains how students can learn to write reports based on encyclopedia information without resorting to copying or becoming bored. (FL)

Offers a method for teaching penmanship whereby the different strokes of a penmanship exercise are used to illustrate the action in a story. Presents some story lines and shows how they may be adapted to imaginative penmanship drills that will hold the children's interest. (HTH)

Describes how to conduct timed writing exercises which extend into proofreading, correcting, and paragraphing exercises. (RH)

Presents seven writing lessons for elementary students: choosing effective words; writing similes; writing paragraphs; writing descriptions; letter writing; comparing and contrasting; and understanding point of view. Some of the lessons have unusual themes, such as pizza, pickles, and hoboes. (SJL)

Designed with children in mind, this workbook lays out the fundamentals of the italic alphabet so that it can be used by teachers and other adults as a guide in teaching children. The workbook is based on the idea that, besides being both "beautiful and readable," the italic alphabet has the advantage of presenting a logical progression…

Because children are experts in at least one subject--themselves--their best written work is usually autobiographical. This article suggests various specific autobiographical writing assignments teachers might want to use with their students. (JMK)

Suggests supplementary spelling activities involving selection of a phonetic element and construction of student-generated word lists. Designed for fifth graders, the activities can be adapted to any grade level. (CM)

Intended for elementary level students, this book presents 12 writing ideas and several suggestions on how students can make a book using their writing. Each writing idea is presented with a brief description (addressed to the student), several examples of student writing, and a blank page on which to write. Writing ideas include freewriting,…

A collection of plays, stories, and rhymes are offered in this article to help celebrate Halloween. (DF)

Discusses length and speed, spontaneity, and discipline as the attributes that affect creative writing assignments, students' development as creative writers, and appropriate methods of teaching creative writing. (RL)

Lists several classroom writing activities, including writing in sand, using letters cut from magazines and newspapers, and baking letter cookies. (HTH)

This writing unit with a Halloween theme includes exercises and worksheets to develop prewriting, writing, and rewriting skills. (SJL)

Argues that teachers of young children need to recognize and take advantage of suitable opportunities to model their writing skills. Offers examples of possible activities. (FL)

The author, who teaches a multischool writing seminar for K-8 students and their teachers, explains some of the activities of this interschool literary group and presents two writing exercises he has used, one on writing the introductory paragraphs for a novel, and the other on characterization. (SJL)

Describes a technique, based on story grammar research, that merges the reading of a basal story with a writing lesson. (FL)