Text Box: When working in classrooms with children, I find that all children can learn to love to write. They may say they hate to write, but they really don’t. They just haven’t had that moment of celebrating their writing for a very long time. When you write with young children, they love to write! All children think of themselves as writers until we begin to let them know that they can’t. Celebrate! Yes, celebrate even the smallest thing until you begin to give them back their confidence as a writer. Share their stories orally first. Let them talk to a partner about something important that has happened to them, a book or movie, a pet, a sport, find something that they are passionate Text Box: about. Telling a good story should come before writing a good story. Everyone has a story to tell! Instead of reading their writing, let the child discuss the writing he/she has written. What the child wants to do with the story may not be what he/she has down on paper. Celebrate the good ideas that are coming forth! With pencil in hand, let’s begin! Text Box: http://www.bethanyroberts.com/writing_quotes.htm "Show don't tell."  Henry James If there is one thing that will immediately improve children’s writing is “Show don’t tell.” Help them to see it, hear it, smell it, feel it, taste it...All the senses will help them show what they want to write. Teach them about the “movie” that should be playing in the reader’s head. Will your reader be able to see what you see when you are writing? Good questions can drive a writer to create mental images with their pencil. Text Box: Writing with Children Text Box: Writing Workshop Text Box: November 13, 2004

Everyone has a story—

Write yours today!