In the English classroom, narrative writing is often separated from the work of reading literature or used merely to coax reluctant students into discussing textually relevant topics. This article discusses a close writing activity, Image Explosion, that engages students in narrative writing that brings attention to the smallest details of…

This study investigated the participation of children at the writing center in their classroom during free choice time. For this study, four and five year-old children in the classroom were observed during 20 free choice times, each one of which was one hour. I developed a coding system related to the activities that were intended to develop the…

The article describes the purposes of free-choice writing in a class of hearing impaired kindergarteners. Implications for writing instruction include the need for stressing writing as communication, planning activities based on student interest, and providing opportunities for students to explore and experiment. (CL)

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

Looks closely at the words of Whitman's "Song of Myself" to get a closer look at the mystery of poetry. Discusses how Whitman's work can be used with students to inspire their writing. (MG)

The article describes the use of dialogue journals with hearing impaired students. The approach allows teachers to engage students in the natural, purposeful use of written language in an immediately meaningful format. Examples of dialogue journal communication with children and college students are provided. (CL)

Writing can be a fun and rewarding form of self-expression for gifted students. Some specific writing activities which can provide enrichment include recording, in detail, visual observations; making observations about a specific topic (such as television shows or some other subject the students have experience with); and recording personal…

An approach to teaching the novel to high school students by tying literature and the printed media (newspapers and magazines) together is described in this brief article. PROCEDURE (excerpt): To link the study of the printed media to the study of the novel, book reviews, one positive and one negative, were duplicated for classroom use. Students…

The teacher of elementary level gifted students discusses successful creative writing activities. Among the reasons for students to learn writing early in the educational program are that written expression complements oral communication, heightens awareness of ordinary experiences, and helps students become more appreciative of language.…

This exercise is intended to teach the sense of sentences and their place in the larger fabric of paragraphs as they are woven into organized papers. Based on the five-paragraph theme (introduction, three body paragraphs, and conclusion), the exercise divides "What I Haved Lived For," the prologue to "The Autobiography of Bertrand…

THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF THIS DOCUMENT: LEVEL: College. AUTHOR'S COMMENT: When I first began as a college composition instructor, I gave a standard explanation that definition was necessary if students wished to argue logically or to explain an unfamiliar subject. I showed examples of definitions, discussed ones in the text, and then sent…

An approach to using values clarification exercises in a college freshman composition or a high school English class is presented in this brief article. AUTHOR'S COMMENT (excerpt): Since the integration of writing and thinking is vital in the development of writing abilities, the values clarification experience is a natural bridge for students to…

Presents a learning activity to involve 9-11-year-old children in history writing. Children toured Portsmouth, N.H., interviewed residents, inspected historical documents and artifacts, kept field notes, and wrote a final narrative. Applicability to other sites is favorably assessed. Reference materials for a case study of Portsmouth are supplied.…

Discusses rationale for use of children's counting books and guidelines for selection and use. Provides suggestions for writing individual or class counting books. Includes an annotated booklist. (HTH)