Little Authors / Big Tales: The Key to Independent Writing in the Primary Classroom
A story I heard during my university days stands out in the back of my mind every time I think about teaching my littles how to write. An accomplished author (I wish I remembered who) was speaking to our class and he attributed his success to his grade 1 teacher who told him, "Anyone can be a writer." That anecdote flipped a switch on in my brain in terms of the influence a teacher can have.
I couldn’t wait to be the encouraging teacher that made my students love writing. But I quickly realized, it takes a lot more than a kind word to get there.
So how do you do it?
Teachers do a lot of things to improve our students' writing over the course of a year. I did all kinds of direct teaching, independent centers, group activities, and so on. And all of those things were great and still have a place in my classroom. My students made progress over the year, which is what I hoped for.
But I found that they were just ‘doing the work,’ and not really enjoying what I was teaching them. They learned, but my lessons didn’t tend to stick very well. This was especially so for my kids who struggled with fine motor and writing skills in the first place. It was a fight every time I wanted them to write, and oftentimes the skills I had taught weren’t in the writing, and had to be retaught or the writing redone. Writing just wasn’t FUN for most of my students.
I knew I had to fix that. Nothing I taught would take off the way I wanted if my kids weren’t enjoying what they were doing.
In come the writing BOOKLETS. Not pages, BOOKLETS. What kid doesn’t love making a booklet? I know I did, and I have watched my students cut and staple a million pieces of paper together to make their own.
The problem? Managing scissors, staples, glue, and paper scraps during language arts time isn’t exactly ideal. Of course I already knew this and had mitigated that problem by supplying the classic 8.5 x 11 lined paper with a picture spot and a cute border. BORING. They didn’t interest the kids.
So, I made printable ones! Booklets meant my students got to be get to be REAL AUTHORS who wrote REAL BOOKS! They LOVED them! All of a sudden their reluctance to write went out the window. They wanted to write constantly!
The beauty of these writing booklets and comic booklets lies in their simplicity and effectiveness. These writing booklets are highly engaging to students, but low prep for teachers: they are easily printed, folded, and stapled by the photocopy machine, eliminating the need for additional prep (instructions included!).
Now, the creative writing center is one of the most engaging centers I have. Students with the biggest writing struggles go to the center and sound out words to tell their story and persevere through the difficulty. They’re writing confidence sky rocketed, and a lot of the struggle I had getting them to write during other times in the day went away.
So how does it work?
PRINT: I print off a handful of story booklets and comic booklets. I like to print them in 2 sizes (small and large) so students have a bit of choice. The larger size is friendly for my students who struggle with printing.
WRITE: Students get to pick a book and write and draw any story they want! If they don’t finish, it goes back into the bin to be worked on next time. I often have students asking if they can go to the writing center during regular play center time! I love putting our Rory’s Story Cubes for writing inspiration, and during the holidays students make their own story dice! Check those out here!
SHARE: Once done, students come and share their book with me. I make sure to make a big deal about how amazing their work is. I give lots of compliments, and I especially point out how much they wrote. If they only wrote a few words, I might say something like “Wow! I am so proud of you for adding words to your story! I bet you can add even more next time!” They usually leave pumped up to write the next one!
PUBLISH: After they have read it with me, they “publish” their book by putting it in a special bin in our classroom library. Anyone can read books from the student author bin during reading times. Nothing makes them happier than seeing someone reading their book.
Is it okay if they just draw pictures?
Absolutely! Creative writing time isn’t about how much they write, nor is it really about the quality of the writing. It’s about encouraging creativity and building confidence! Of course, I always encourage students to add more - but I do usually find that students who initially would only draw pictures, will begin to add words to describe their stories better as their confidence grows. Most students will naturally try to include what you have taught them about letter sounds and writing structure, and you can use these booklets as an opportunity to reinforce that learning with students who are struggling a bit more.
TLDR - Why You Should Start Using Writing Booklets:
User-Friendly Creativity:
Structured yet flexible framework for students to pen down their imaginative tales.
Easy, low prep, printable templates, students can focus on the creative aspect rather than grappling with the logistics of creating a booklet. (Plus lets be real, if we let them MAKE booklets during LA, no writing will be getting done.)
Effortless Implementation:
Just print and go!
I make sure students know that kid spelling is okay, and as a result, they do not need extensive teacher assistance to complete this task.
Showcase Student Work:
Publish your work like a real author by putting a finished creation in a designated bin within our classroom library.
Progressive Development:
As confidence grows, most students will naturally start incorporating words and sentences to enhance their storytelling all on their own. This progression not only demonstrates improved literacy skills but also reflects the growing confidence and creativity of each student.
Inspiring a Love for Writing
The implementation of writing booklets has not only made the process more efficient but has also sparked a genuine love for writing among my grade 1 students. The joy on their faces as they share their completed booklets with their classmates is priceless. Moreover, the ripple effect is evident – students who once hesitated to express themselves beyond illustrations are now eager to add descriptive words to convey their stories effectively.
In my classroom, writing booklets have become a cornerstone of our language arts centers, fostering a positive and creative writing environment. Give them a try, your students will thank you!
