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)

This article presents 15 activities designed to motivate students to engage in creative writing. Also given are ideas on how to reinforce and maintain student interest in writing. (IAH)

Teachers can help elementary students cope at the beginning of the school year by assisting them in getting to know one another. Writing is a good tool for bridging the gap between personal and school lives. The article suggests writing activities and explains how to create a good writing environment. (SM)

An experienced teacher describes how to provide students with a real audience to motivate them to write. Suggestions include writing letters to make a difference in the community, preparing newsletters, compiling class literary magazines, and writing for local newspapers and businesses or for commercial children's magazines. (SM)

Examines the reasons why a child's writing gets bogged down and discusses ways in which the child can be gently encouraged to take writing risks. Also included are descriptions of writing exercises designed to stretch student creativity. (GLR)

Authors of "For the Love of Writing" suggest projects that will teach pupils how to write letters that will get responses, thus stimulating interest. Techniques for writing complimentary letters, mystery letters, animal letters, book report letters, bottle and balloon messages, and sending electronic mail are discussed. (PP)

By incorporating writing into everyday math activities, elementary students become better communicators and learn to express themselves, mathematically and otherwise, with more confidence and clarity. An elementary teacher presents several successful writing activities from her math classroom, including a math word web, a guided-response sheet,…