Experiment with Goof-Around Writing

When you go to a formal gathering such as a wedding, you probably aren’t allowed to dress in a T-shirt, jeans, and sandals.

If your parents are like a lot of parents, you have to wear a clean shirt, a nice pair of pants, maybe a dress (if you’re a girl) or a tie (if you’re a boy).

Yet, when you get home, your mom or dad will probably want you to change out of your “dress up” clothes and change into your “play clothes” before you go outside to play.

Maybe school writing sometimes feels like wearing “dress up” clothes.

But think of notebook writing as changing into your comfortable play clothes.

Now you can relax, be yourself, and get rough and tumble if you want.

You can even get a little wild and silly when you write.

Let’s hear Ralph Fletcher talk about “goof-around writing”:

We call this “goof-around writing” and it’s one of the fun ways to use a writer’s notebook.

Now, let’s look at a piece written by Ryan, a 5 th grader:

My Nickle Philip I have a nickle named Philip. Philip has a blue head, eyes and a mouth. Oh I almost forgot Philip is a boy nickle. I made him out of paper and a nickle then decorated him. I also made a bed for Philip so he can sleep. Philip’s favorite number is 5 because he is made out of a nickle. Philip’s birthday is September 20th. I school him at home so he learns things. I hope to have Philip for a really long time.

Ryan chose to write about an odd, funny topic: his nickel Philip. Ryan chose to write about an odd, funny topic: his nickel Philip. He does a nice job, and it seems he enjoyed writing it. He does a nice job, and it seems he enjoyed writing it. My Nickle Philip I have a nickle named Philip. Philip has a blue head, eyes and a mouth. Oh I almost forgot Philip is a boy nickle. I made him out of paper and a nickle then decorated him. I also made a bed for Philip so he can sleep. Philip’s favorite number is 5 because he is made out of a nickle. Philip’s birthday is September 20th. I school him at home so he learns things. I hope to have Philip for a really long time.

How about this one by Alex, a 6 th grader:

The Morning Filled with Fog It was a foggy morning. Couldn’t even see my neighbors. Looking through the moist air. Hair not full of static, not sticking up. Legs shaking like I was doing a dance. Forgot a coat. Wish I didn’t. Bus coming. Getting happy. Loud but warm. Get into my seat right by the heater. Stopped doing the dance.

What do you notice about this entry in Alex’s notebook? What do you notice about this entry in Alex’s notebook? The Morning Filled with Fog It was a foggy morning. Couldn’t even see my neighbors. Looking through the moist air. Hair not full of static, not sticking up. Legs shaking like I was doing a dance. Forgot a coat. Wish I didn’t. Bus coming. Getting happy. Loud but warm. Get into my seat right by the heater. Stopped doing the dance.

With Alex’s notebook entry, it wasn’t so much WHAT he wrote about as HOW he wrote it. With Alex’s notebook entry, it wasn’t so much WHAT he wrote about as HOW he wrote it. He breaks the rules and uses short sentence fragments. He breaks the rules and uses short sentence fragments. The Morning Filled with Fog It was a foggy morning. Couldn’t even see my neighbors. Looking through the moist air. Hair not full of static, not sticking up. Legs shaking like I was doing a dance. Forgot a coat. Wish I didn’t. Bus coming. Getting happy. Loud but warm. Get into my seat right by the heater. Stopped doing the dance.

I invite you to try some goof-around writing in your notebook.

Try out ridiculous ideas, weird story plots, and poems with made up words.

What you write may never be published or even read by anyone else. But it’s fun. And who knows, something might come out of it that you didn’t expect!