Yes! The online learning environment offers many opportunities to support reluctant writers and kids with challenges such as dysgraphia and dyslexia. Writing starts with ideas. Fast-flying sparks and brainstorming that rains down in a steady stream. All kids have creative, exciting ideas! During our weekly Zoom calls, we focus on brainstorming and sharing ideas. ForContinue reading “Can reluctant writers or kids with challenges such as dysgraphia and dyslexia take your writing workshops?”
Author Archives: ronnirowland
How to Use Treasure Maps as Story Outlines
“My child has lots of creative story ideas but struggles with putting them in a logical order.” I’ve heard this many times from parents, and it’s a common challenge for writers of all ages! But during the third week of my Pirate Adventure workshop, something happened that blew my mind. Even though I had providedContinue reading “How to Use Treasure Maps as Story Outlines”
Use word banks to enrich vocabulary and support young writers.
One way to support student writing is to provide word banks. With a word bank, kids have immediate access to a range of relevant words, from the “usual” to the challenging. There are many creative ways to craft word banks. For example, in my Pirate Adventure writing workshop, I stealthily provide a rich word bankContinue reading “Use word banks to enrich vocabulary and support young writers.”
In creative writing classes, are mechanics like grammar, punctuation, & spelling important?
I like to think of our writing workshops as a funnel. We start out brainstorming expansive ideas. We ask, “What if…?” over and over again, pouring our ideas into the wide opening at the top of the funnel. Then, we gradually focus on one topic, character, setting, etc. and brainstorm specific details about it, funnelingContinue reading “In creative writing classes, are mechanics like grammar, punctuation, & spelling important?”
What if my child keeps writing about the same character or theme?
During a past superhero-themed writing class, a character named Super Kitty was born. The young writer, a second grader at the time, had drawn cute illustrations to accompany the story. And when she shared it aloud with the mixed-age class, everyone went wild with compliments. In the student’s next story for an Indiana Jones-inspired class,Continue reading “What if my child keeps writing about the same character or theme?”