Idea Box Ideas from a Writer’s Box Deborah J. Rashell Greater Houston Area Writing Project Goforth Elementary 4 th grade Clear Creek I.S.D.

Goforth Elementary P.P.C.D. program for students with disabilities that might be mental or physical Deaf ed. students that are mainstreamed, teacher wears headset with mic. and has an interpreter High percentage of identified autistic students that are mainstreamed Alternative academics life skills class for deaf and blind students Social development class for students that are not able to work safely, or cooperatively with peers Dyslexic, and resource students One e.s.l. class per grade level

No Ideas? Everyone’s writing except me. I don’t know what to write about. I have nothing to say. How do we motivate reluctant writers to write?

Novice writers write best when they write about something they know well. Writing about familiar topics allows students to learn to write by using content that is important to that writer. How Writing Works Gloria Houston

Idea Box The box continues to be used throughout the year. Decorate the box to reflect you, your favorite things, books, movies, people, family, and anything that is special or important to you. Decorate your box.

Idea Box Just remember that this lesson may take an entire week to complete. You might wish to spend several days or even weeks on the targeted areas that teach children the three ways of obtaining ideas.

Start with the oral experience of a story, then move to the writing experience. Creative Power, The Nature and Nurture of Children’s Writing Ronald Cramer

Different Ways to Build Ideas for the Box Storytelling { students tell personal stories to each other} Shared book reading { big books, small books} Brainstorming { webbing for ideas}

Everyone should have a few ideas on their Post-its tucked inside the idea box. Please choose one idea, talk about it briefly with a partner, then begin writing your story.

In the classroom I would ask the students to tell their stories to each other. Then, I would show them how the storyteller puts his words on paper and read it to them.

When I teach writing, I often start by talking about ideas I might write about. What a Writer Needs Ralph Fletcher

Sharing with peers engenders a sense of success for children. The child who experiences success in writing will want to write. How Writing Works Gloria Houston

Extensions for Ideas  Girls write their ideas inside the shapes of hearts, teddy bears, and friendship bracelets.  Boys write their ideas inside the shapes of footballs, soccer balls, and tennis shoes.  Pictures are also an option for special needs students, and beginning writers.

Works Cited Houston,G.(2004) How Writing Works. Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon. Cramer, R. (2001) Creative Power The Nature and Nurture of Children’s Writing. Portsmouth, NH: Priscilla McGeehon. Fletcher, R. (1993) What A Writer Needs. Portsmouth, NH:Heinemann Publishers.