Creative Writing in the Classroom: Five Top Tips for Teachers

Creative writing is a key aspect of teaching but a daunting task. Viewing the improvement of students’ creative writing is not only the job of the language department. However, it’s the responsibility of all faculty members to help students improve their creative thinking and express those thoughts through writing. When it comes to writing, we came across Felicity Stone Toronto and her amazing writing abilities as well. 

Five Top Creative Writing Tips for Teachers 

Take the edge off with these sample ideas for teachers to improve their pupil’s creative writing. 

Let Your Students Write Freely 

Pupils will be able to write in more creative ways if you give them the freedom to write whatever they want. You will notice that there will be a lot of children in your classroom who flourishes when you allow them to express themselves through free writing. The better way to give them confidence in their thoughts is by allowing freewriting on their favorite topics. It will also boost creativity experience in essays, assignments, and research writings. You can do this open-ended activity any time, setting aside a few minutes every day in class. 

Make the Task Ungraded

It’s essential to let your students know they are writing in order to be logical and clear and not to obtain grades merely. So, it is better not to grade every piece of your student’s work yet let them know that you value good writing. Express your comments on their work and appreciate the good work even if it is not graded. Your students will surely respond to your guidelines. 

Assigns Different Tasks in a Workshop-Style Environment

Divide your students into groups and assign each small group a different task. Let them choose what they want to do but give them options. Some can write fiction, others play word search or puzzle-solving games, and others can read stories and make questions out of them. Moreover, ask pupils to observe each other’s work and critique them in a class. In this way, students will learn teamwork and collaborative creative writing work.

Moreover, you can also assign brainstorm activities like asking them to draw up a story board, re-write a known story, and encourage book reading. Such activities will keep them engaged during the classroom and also enflame imaginations. 

Give Story-Starters or Prompts

Sometimes, students need a push or a little bit of help to start a creative writing venture. You can ask them to write about the happiest moments of your life or the times when you have been afraid the most. You can also give them starters like: “I opened my drawer and found….”, “Choices aren’t always easy. This was…”, and “I would like to create a holiday for…”.

Such creative prompts and story-starters will be a great way to flow the creativeness. Isn’t it fun and sounds engaging?

Share Videos to Inspire 

Another best way to bring creativity to your students is to motivate them with videos. Show them the interviews of great writers like Felicity Stone Toronto-based writer and their struggles with writing. Sharing the pain, they have been through, and their thought processes will help the students be innovative in their next task. 

Conclusion

Students will thrive to become stronger writers with assistance from their mentors. So, you being a teacher, needs to give your students freedom, indulge them in group activities, share inspiring stories and encourage story writing. It will boost their creative writing.