Category: Writing

DIY Comics

By Mariah Bruehl,

Description

Comic strips are a wonderful way for children to tell complex stories within a simple framework. Use our DIY comic printables to practice writing in a creative and fun way! Gather some examples of comic strips, from newspapers, books, or online, and put them out for inspiration. Explain to the children how we read the boxes from left to right and how speech bubbles are used to show that a character is talking (or thinking about something).

Encourage your comic writers to tell their story in pictures first, and then go back and add speech bubbles where appropriate. Children can cut apart the speech bubbles and glue them directly onto the comic! Remind them that not every box needs dialogue. Much of a comic’s storyline come from the illustrations, which is why comics are so accessible to younger writers, so talk about making the pictures detailed enough so that readers can interpret the story without too many words.

Tap into your inner superpowers and write one along with your children or students…

Materials

Books to Inspire

 

Join us over at the Teachers’ Lounge and enjoy access to our complete unit on Superheroes!

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New Year Reflections and Intentions

By Mariah Bruehl,

Description

When this time of year comes around, it’s nice to connect as a class or a family by reflecting on the year that has passed and envisioning the one we have before us.

With this in mind, we’ve created two inspiring printables to help facilitate this process…

Our Year-End Reflections lesson is an invitation to record our life events, both big and small. From important life lessons and beloved memories, down to our favorite foods and books—these are all features of the year that or worthy of documenting and fun to look back on.

Next, visualize the year ahead and put your ideas into action! Remember, the more specific you can be when setting goals, the better! The first step is taking your big-picture dreams and breaking them down into actionable steps—one intention at a time. It’s the small accomplishments that create a sense of well-being for children and grown-ups alike.

Spend some time imagining what it will feel like to accomplish your goals. Draw a picture of what it would like and feel like to once your goal comes to fruition.

Once you’ve shared this experience, find a creative way to save everything until next year. Then, you can reflect on your growth and celebrate your accomplishments!

Materials

Books to Inspire

 

May 2018 be filled with play, inspiration, and creative endeavors…

Happy New Year!

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Winter Haiku Poetry

By Mariah Bruehl,

 

Description

Celebrate the beauty of winter and nature by trying out a classic, three-line Japanese poem called a Haiku. This type of poem requires the writer to count the number of syllables per line; there are 5 syllables in line one, 7 syllables in line two, and 5 syllables in line three.  Younger children will enjoy clapping out each of the syllables in words, and older children learn that each syllable within a word must have at least one vowel.

Before writing the poem, we suggest heading outside to embark on a nature walk. Take a bag with you, because your child will want to collect wintry items like evergreens, berries, and twigs. Once inside, explore the treasures and identify words that describe the sights, sounds, tastes, feelings and emotions that these objects evoke. Cut apart the words, play with the number of syllables, and compose your winter Haiku. As an extension, grab your favorite art materials and illustrate your poem!

Materials

Books to Inspire

More to Explore

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Our Inner Poet: Write an Infinity Poem

By Mariah Bruehl,

Our Inner Poet: Write an Infinity Poem

What could be better than good literature, math explorations, and a dose of poetry? Good children’s literature naturally engages students and often initiates meaningful, rich discussions. Literature draws us in and keeps us together around a central theme, but also lets us enter based on our personal experiences and interests. Often, we can touch most, if not all children with a powerful story.

Kate Hosford has done a great job of personalizing abstract concepts in her book Infinity and Me. Her words along with Gabi Swiatkowska’s gorgeous illustrations personalize the concept of infinity. Uma, the main character, questions her friends and family members on how each person imagines infinity. The answers are varied and imaginative but also sweetly personal. Young readers will love to engage with this delightful story about a difficult, but now accessible concept.

After reading and discussing this book with your child, try writing an infinity poem:

  1. Brainstorm ideas about infinity including: (1) feelings, (2) images, (3) activities one might want to do and (4) wonderings or questions.
  2. Write a poem about the concept of infinity together to model writing to complete a sentence starter. Ask for ideas and show how to write these in sentence form.
  3. Using the brainstorming list, have your child or students write a poem of their own.
  4. Share finished poems with pairs or the whole class.

More to Explore…

  1. Draw a picture to share one of the ideas you presented in your poem. Look closely at the illustrations by Gabi Swiakowska for ideas.
  2. Visit Kate Hosford’s website and download the curriculum pack for more engaging activities.

 

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Nurturing Young Authors: Starting a Writer’s Notebook

By Mariah Bruehl,

Playful Learning: Starting a Writer's NotebookBlogPost

Often as parents we forget to see the forest for the trees when it comes to our children’s writing. It’s normal for us to get caught up in whether they’re writing letters neatly, spelling correctly, and using proper grammar. While these are important skills, they are most effective when utilized to support good writing. They do not make good writing.

Good writing comes from having something to say. Good writing comes from believing in something, wanting to explore something more deeply, or wanting to connect with others about something. Good writing comes from having a strong sense of your own voice and a solid belief in your ability to express your ideas.

A writer’s notebook is a place where children can discover all of those essential elements. When they can write on their own terms, children begin to find their voice and experience writing as it should be—an amazing medium for self-expression.

 

Starting a Writer’s Notebook

Did you know that almost all of your favorite authors keep a writer’s notebook?  Writing does not need to be an overwhelming process, it can be fun, light, and all about capturing the magical moments in our lives. Keeping a writer’s notebook is where it all begins…

 

Here’s a list of our favorite writing supplies…

Playful Learning: Resources for Starting a Writer's Notebook

1. Post-it Arrow Flags –  Add a fun dimension to capturing memories and writing down thoughts.

2. Japanese Washi Masking Tape –  Fun tapes are a wonderful way to add mementos and for the decorating of your cover or pages.

3. Glassine Wax Paper Bags –  These are great for taping into your notebook to inspire writing about found treasures.

4. Jumbo Paper Clips –  Another great way to capture and save different memories.

5. Sticky Tab Markers –  These come in handy if you want to create different sections in your notebook.

6. Blank Recycled Notebooks – We love using these blank notebooks. They offer a clean slate, so that children can make them their own.

7. Photo Corners – Wonderful for adding and writing about family memories and special events.

*This post contains Amazon Affiliate links.

Printables

For an extra dose of inspiration, here are some printables that can be glued into your notebook and used as writing prompts. You can find our full writer’s notebook curriculum on the, Playful Learning Teachers’ Lounge.

Things to Write About List...  Wonderings Story Paper I

Going on a Poetry Walk: Exploring List Poems

By Mariah Bruehl,

Going on a Poetry Walk: Exploring List Poems

As spring starts to present its self in all of it’s glory, there is no better time to explore writing poetry with the young authors in your life…

A wonderful way to introduce young poets to the art and craft of poetry is through list poems. They are simple, fun, and even our youngest writers can partake through the simple writing of words or dictation.

Recently in the studio, we started our exploration of list poems by venturing out on a poetry walk. Before we began our journey, I prepared a basket-full of poetry delights: a clip board, printable for writing down observations (see below), colored pencils, magnifying glass, and a dose of list poem inspiration.

Poetry Walk...

When we arrived at the park we found a nice, shady spot under a tree and read through a variety of list poems, which served to get our poetic juices flowing. Next, we started to search for treasured items that would make for a good list poem inspiration. You can see our collection below. Note: it was early spring so there was not a lot of greenery to be found. However, through the art of observation, even the littlest objects can catch your attention!

Going on a Poetry Walk: Exploring List Poems

Next, our aspiring poet chose one item to focus on and used her senses to describe her object using the printable below. Once all of her descriptive words were down, she use her notes from the field to create her list poem. A very satisfying experience indeed!

Exploring List Poems

Printables


*This post contains Amazon Affiliate links.

Me: In Poetry, Song, and Art

By Mariah Bruehl,

MichelleTitleWhen I was a classroom teacher, one of the most relaxing, yet beneficial professional development opportunities I attended was a “Picture Book Read In.” After various speakers, such as a local librarian who had been on the Caldecott committee, teachers had an opportunity to peruse new picture books at their leisure. I was always able to discover new books that sparked new ideas and new lessons.

It seems like there is always a steady stream of amazing books being produced, and this year is certainly no exception. There are many exciting new picture books and three of these that caught my eye are autobiographies or biographies.  Aside from the interesting life stories, these books are especially attractive because they feature outstanding artwork, and they also focus on unique and diverse individuals in the fields of poetry, music, and art.  Picture books easily engage children in non-fiction text, and these books can easily integrate reading, writing, and the arts. The more connections children can make across domains, the more effective learning opportunities become.

Enormous Smallness by Matthew Burgess is about the life of poet e.e. cummings. My favorite aspect of this book is the creative way the words themselves are incorporated into the illustrations. I love the use of the font style and the way the poems are presented throughout the book. Also, the book includes a nice chronology at the end.

Trombone Shorty by Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews is an autobiography. This book will resonate with children because it takes place in modern times. Troy is 29 years old, and the book covers his accomplishments and musical drive as a young child. The watercolors and collage by Bryan Collier are amazing.

Draw What You See by Kathleen Benson is a biography of Benny Andrews and features his actual paintings as the illustrations. What a better way to introduce his life and his art to students than by using his artwork. The book also ends with an nice timeline, and a listing of each artwork including the title, medium (mostly oil on canvas are featured in this book), and date created.

With each book covering an individual from a different artistic talent, there are so many possibilities for activities after reading and discussing these books, all of which can be adapted for different age levels and abilities.

  • Write an autobiographical poem
  • Compose an autobiographical song
  • Paint a picture of an important moment in your life
  • Create a timeline of your life so far
  • Create an autobiographical collage

I have created a printable booklet to inspire some of the ideas listed above (click on the photo below to download). A quote of e.e. cummings that speaks to me is, “It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are”.  Children thrive on expressing themselves and exploring what it means to be who they are. Poetry, song, and art are wonderful ways to delve into this. The booklet also has a chart to compare and contrast the individuals featured in these three books. An important comprehension skill with non-fiction reading is being able to locate and process factual information. Use of engaging texts, such as these picture books, is an excellent way to introduce and practice this skill in an interesting way for children.

Extending the reading of a book with supplemental experiences enhances children’s’ understanding as well, here are some links to use:

Me: In Poetry, Art, and Song

How To Create An Inspiring Writing Center

By Mariah Bruehl,

How to Create an Inspiring Writing Center

Create it and they will come… It’s almost like magic! If you would like to see your children writing for pleasure in their free time, then create an inviting space with engaging materials. Here are our tried and true favorites for creating a captivating writing center. What I love about these items is that they become household staples. We purchased many of the items on this list when the girls were young and we are still using and loving them!

1. Wall Organizer – This fabric magazine organizer is perfect for displaying a variety of interesting writing papers. We provide lots of interesting options in the workshop. You can also find a nice selection in the printables section of our book.

2. Acrylic Tote – I am a huge fan of creating caddies stocked with inviting supplies like pens, pencils, stamps, stickers, etc. They are easy to move from room to room and are great for taking your writing adventures outside.

3. Prismacolor Colored Pencils – Our all-time favorite colored pencils!

4. Highlighters – An inviting way to make writing fun.

5. Pencils – We are big fans of these triangular pencils, which help with encouraging proper pencil grip.

6. Alphabet Stickers – Fun no matter what age you are!

7. Sentiment Stamps – We love giving handmade cards for every occasion. Having these stamps handy has been very helpful throughout the years.

8. Paper Tray – Another wonderful way for organizing interesting writing papers.

9. Watercolors – It is wonderful to combine art and writing and we love these watercolor paints. These are also perfect for combing with the post cards below.

10. Watercolor Postcards – Embrace the handwritten tradition of corresponding with loved ones with these lovely blank watercolor postcards.

11. Blank Books – The more of these you leave in your writing center, the more books you will see popping up around your house. Try it!

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Throwing Out the Rules: Making Dada Poetry with Kids

By Mariah Bruehl,

Making Dada Poetry with KidsThe Dada art movement existed at the beginning of the 20th century and looked to explore meaning in art.  They were interested in abstract and surreal ideas and challenged the conventional notions of what art means.  So how does this translate to children?

 

Well, who do you know who likes to challenge ideas?  Who is creative?  Who likes to play?  Of course, your children do.  So why not play with poetry too?  We often think of poetry as grand and untouchable, serious even, but teaching children to be unafraid of poetry, to embrace its possibilities will quickly turn them into poets themselves.

 

The Dadaists believed in challenging the conventional, they wanted to throw away the old and embrace new possibilities.  An activity some Dadaists tried was simply pulling words out of a hat and turning that into poetry, they wanted to show that it could be simple and meaningful too.

 

I always loved the idea that words could flow into one another and still make sense, that we can find meaning in all sorts of constructions.  This is an activity I’ve tried with teenagers and young kids alike, they have all loved it and found meaning in their work.  It’s a great way to break down the barriers many people have around poetry and encourage creativity in a new way.

 

What you’ll need:

 

Word lists:

 

Color words (cerise, scarlet, cerulean..)

Verbs  (running, twisting, loving, flying…)

Prepositions (to, from, under, near….)

Articles (the, an, a….)

Nouns (she, cat, leaf, stars, Paris…)

Making Dada Poetry with Kids

The lists above are a good starting point but you’ll soon think of more!  Once your kids get the hang of making their own poetry they will want to start adding the words that they enjoy too.

 

Cut the words up and mix them together.  You could keep each category separate or mix them all in one big pile, it’s up to you.  Tell each child to pick a certain amount of words (10-20) and them simply place them on a piece of paper in the order the come out in.

 

I would suggest that you set a limit for the length of each line, 5-8 words should be more than enough.  That way your words will soon build to a stanza or verse.  Once your words are organized you can stick them down, add to them, reuse them…it’s up to you!

 

If your child doesn’t like the order of the words and wants to rearrange them, that’s ok too!  The point of the exercise is to inspire them and let their creativity take charge.  As long as they are playing with words then the enterprise is a success.

 

Once your child has completed their poem, encourage them to add images and to play with adding colors to their work.  It will help them to express the thoughts and feelings their poem has brought up for them.  They could cut out images from magazines, draw their own pictures or simply color around the words that attract them the most.

 

I’m constantly amazed at the powerful impact the simple act of creating poetry can have on the young ones in our lives.  Their capacity to embrace ideas that are different, or seemingly nonsensical, is what makes them natural artists, natural creators.
Don’t forget, this activity is also suitable for grown ups!

Sijo Poetry for Kids

By Mariah Bruehl,

Sijo Poetry for KidsOnce our children and students start to take an interest in writing poetry, we can introduce them to some of the different types of poetry. After exploring the format and syllabic structure of Haiku poem, students may take interest in writing an ancient Korean type of poem called the Sijo poem. Sijo poems also rely on a set number of stressed syllables but are a little longer in length than a Haiku poem. The fun and inviting thing about writing a Sijo poem is that each poem ends with a quirky ending such as a joke or a related twist.

 

One of the best places to begin exploring Sijo poetry is through Linda Sue Park’s book entitled: Tap Dancing on the Roof. In this small collection of Sijo poems Park explains how to write a Sijo poem and then invites her readers to read her examples. Her first poem: Breakfast, is a three line poem that share many delights we eat at breakfast but ends with a twist about enjoying sleeping in our nice cozy beds instead of breakfast. There are also poems about spring flowers, long division, collecting beach souvenirs and more. This is a perfect introductory collection for getting to know Sijo poetry.

 

Learning to write a Sijo poem will come naturally to our students’ as children often love sharing a silly, funny or twisted ending. To begin, introduce the structure of the Sijo: three to six lines with fourteen to sixteen stressed syllables for each line. Start with writing a three line Sijo poem with fourteen to sixteen syllables per line.  Brainstorm a list of topic ideas: loose tooth, soccer game, my favorite donut, spring blossoms, etc. Choose a topic and try writing a poem together or separately but remember to share and compare once finished.

 

Donuts

Chocolate covered, vanilla crème, delightfully tasty!

What would I do without this morning treat to fill my tummy?

 

Mom says I will live and to make sure I gobble up my oatmeal.

 

Talk about editing during the writing process. How many syllables do we have? Should we change this word with a longer or short word? Is the twist funny enough? Does the poem flow well? What other topics should we write about?

 

Linda Sue Park ends her collection with additional information about Sijo poetry: historical background, further readings and tips for writing your own Sijo poem. I love reading author tips for writing to my students. They often perk up a little more when I tell them the author wants to give them some writing tips. For our older children and students, there is another lovely collection entitled: Sunset in a Spider Web adapted by Virginia Olsen Baron. The Sijo poems in this collection center around the theme of nature; which I think makes this collection perfect for springtime poetry explorations.

 

Book Resources: