6 Creative Lessons to Inspire Secondary Writers
Looking for outside-the-box ELA teaching ideas? This roundup from TeachWriting.org has valuable ideas for everyone, covering everything from differentiation ideas…to engaging mini lessons…to maker spaces…and more!
Let’s dive into the ideas linked below to find inspiration you can use to engage middle and high school students. Here are six different posts containing creative lessons, resources, and activities to inspire secondary writers.
PICTURE-INSPIRED POETRY
Read about THIRTEEN ways Reading and Writing Haven uses pictures to inspire students to write poetry. Heading into a literary analysis, poetry, or creative writing unit? These ideas will be especially useful!
Ready to dive into poetry analysis and written response? Add some zest to your typical lesson plan with this visual one pager that scaffolds students analysis of key poem or song elements.
SUSPENSE WRITING
In this post, Teach BeTween the Lines shares FOUR mini-lessons for teaching suspense writing, including character analysis, sensory images, literary devices, and more.
Dive into a spooky-type short story and character analysis with “The Most Dangerous Game.”
MAKER SPACE
This creative lesson to inspire secondary writers is a newer approach. Turn your writer’s workshop into a maker space with these unique ideas from Spark Creativity.
It’s true! Creative writing doesn’t have to be intimidating. Engage students with this short story maker assignment.
REFLECTION ACTIVITY
Bespoke ELA’s post is all about the recursive nature of writing. It goes all directions: forward, backward, and sideways. Support secondary writers by teaching them to be reflective throughout the process.
Use these FREE task cards by Bespoke ELA at the end of a Writer’s Workshop to emphasize that an essay can be edited and revised at any time. Communicate to students that writing is a continual, recursive process, not linear.
CREATIVE WRITING
Teaching a creative writing unit or class? In this post, Language Arts Classroom writes about THREE creative writing assignments you can use with students; how-to articles, children’s books, and movie scripts.
And! Help students organize their writing with a creative angle: cookies! These graphic organizers will help students with brainstorming, narrowing ideas, and more.
WRITING MINI LESSONS
One of the most popular ways to incorporate lessons that inspire secondary writers is writing workshop. The problem? Without training, it’s hard to figure out how to get started.
Amanda Write Now’s post covers various angles to consider when setting up a writing workshop. Specifically, this article features “how-tos” for FIVE of her favorite workshop mini lessons.
Eight Free Creative Writing Lessons
I know I throw around the word favorite all the time. But this is the truth: teaching creative writing lessons is my favorite.
I have taught creative writing enrichment for summer school students. I have taught creative writing in various homeschool settings and co-ops. I have taught big students and little students. And I love it.
Since I love to share homeschool co-op class ideas, I have compiled the creative writing lessons from a co-op class that I taught.
Creative Writing Lessons for a Homeschool Co-op Class
First, please remember that any teacher can use these creative writing lessons. You don’t need to be teaching homeschoolers. You can be a classroom teacher or a homeschool teacher at home with one student. You can even be a librarian who needs a fun program series.
Second, I used these creative writing lesson plans with upper elementary students (with maybe a few 7th graders thrown in). However, you can adapt and use them for older students or younger students!
Creative Writing Lesson Plans
Creative Writing Lesson One
The first lesson focuses on cliché and metaphor. It prompts students to consider how words matter.
Creative Writing Lesson Two
The second lesson teaches students about sensory details: why they are important and how to include them in their writing. Students will begin using sensory details to evoke smells and sounds and sights.
Creative Writing Lesson Three
The third lesson introduces showing vs. telling. Students learn how to recognize authors who utilize showing, and students are able to articulate the difference between showing and telling.
Creative Writing Lesson Four
The fourth lesson teaches students how to capture images. We use examples of poetry and prose to discuss this important writing skill.
Creative Writing Lesson Five
The fifth lesson introduces the story elements of character and conflict.
Note: You may choose to split this lesson into two lessons since it covers two big elements. I only had nine weeks with my students, so I had to jam character and conflict together.
Creative Writing Lesson Six
The sixth lesson introduces the students to point of view and perspective. We have fun reading poems and using pictures to write descriptions from different points of view.
Creative Writing Lesson Seven
The seventh lesson puts everything we’ve learned together. I read the students some fractured fairy tales, and we watch some, too. Students then use the prewriting activities and their imaginations to begin drafting their own fractured fairy tales.
Creative Writing Lesson Eight
The eighth lesson focuses on revision. After a mini-lesson, students partner up for peer editing.
For our final class day, students bring revised work, and I host coffee shop readings. This is a memorable experience for students (and their teacher).
Creative Writing Lessons FAQ
Since posting these creative writing lessons, I have had lots of questions. I decided to compile them here in case you have the same question.
Q: What are copywork quotes?
A: Copywork quotes are simply great quotes that students copy as part of their homework assignments. You can use any quotes about writing. I’ve included my favorites throughout the printable packs.
Q: Can I use this with a younger or older student?
A: Absolutely! Just adapt it to meet the needs of your student.
Q: Can I use this for my library’s programming or my homeschool co-op class?
A: Yes! I just ask that it not be used for profit.
Do you have any questions about teaching creative writing? What’s your biggest hang-up when it comes to teaching creative writing? I’d love to hear from you and help you solve the issue.
Comments
As long as you are not profitting from using them, they are yours to use! Enjoy! Wish I could be there to help facilitate all those young writers!