Lists, lists, and more lists!

My life is full of lists. I don't write grocery lists or "to do" lists...I should! Instead I make word lists. I have lists of words that show. A thesaurus just isn't enough for me. I take a word like fun and write at the top of a page in my notebook. Each time I think of another word that shows fun, I add it to my list. For example, on my fun word page, I paint pictures with words like: hilarious, jolly, playful, escapades, a riot, chortle, just for kicks, make merry, giddy...you get the idea. Every time I think of a word that would fall into that category, I add it to my fun word page. Actually, come to think of it, I should write a thesaurus for writers!

Lists are important for writers, teachers, parents and students. If you are a classroom teacher or parent, there's nothing more useful and fun than having your kids create lists for a reason. Since we're in the midst of winter, just think of the lists your kids could develop.

Here's an idea for you that I use all the time. First of all, have another hearty conversation with your kids about winter (or whatever topic you plan to write about). Lively conversations make for colorful writing.

Ask your kids to start a list of winter words. Ask them to start another list of cold words. Let them keep their lists in their desks. That way, new words can be added as they come to mind.

After a week or so has passed, ask your students to write a sentence or paragraph about winter using words from both lists. No matter how old they are, they will begin to write in similes without even thinking.

Let them share their sentences out loud. You should be hearing things like: Today was as cold as the ice cube is my freezer. Playing with lists and words works. It makes writing fun. It makes writing carefree (I got that from my own FUN list!)

A teacher (from one of the classrooms I visited last year) told me that lists had made a difference in her student's writing. One of her students had to write a letter to another student as a form of apology. Her teacher said that her letter read: "I was as mad as a tornado blowing my house down when you...." How's that for colorful writing?

So you don't want to write...right?

Today is just one of those days. We're literally snowed in....nothing is moving. No trucks. No cars. I haven't even seen a bus. Schools are closed. Libraries are closed. Even the Ohio State University is closed. Frankly, I don't feel like writing.

That's how all writers feel from time to time. That's how teachers and their kids feel too. This is the perfect time to forget about writng as a form of communication. Why not take it to an even different level? Write to have fun with no expectations or pressure!

If you're a writer, make your pen or pencil be you. Get creative. Go crazy! Just play.
Here's an example:
I am Jan's pen. Sometimes I think she'll never slow down and I want her to quit. I just can't take it anymore. She grasps me like there's no tomorrow and every now and then she puts me in her mouth and takes a bite. Who is this woman who has me in her control? What is she?

If you're a teacher play with your kids for a bit. Talk through this same kind of exercise, only make a paper the personified object. The act of sharing an activity like this will free your kids up to truly write later. Sharing is the key to successful student writing. You value what your kids have to say, (as well as write)so why wouldn't they want to become engaged in the game of writing?

After you've orally completed this exercise, do the first activity I suggested using the example of the pen. If your kids are too young to write, you can talk this one through too. Writing is fun. Writing is playful. Don't forget to take time to play with words just for the thrill of the game!

Go with the flow!

I had the pleasure of visiting a second grade classroom yesterday. Once again, the kids taught me more than I taught them! First of all, my intention was to have them paint with words by changing telling sentences into showing ones. The activity I had planned didn't go exactly like I expected. While it works great with fourth graders, I had to readjust it for this group. It's so important to be flexible to allow the kids to become successful.

I took starter sentences with me. The first sentence I gave the kids was: I went to the store. I wanted them to change it into something like: My cart was full of fruit and vegetables.

Instead, most of the kids added onto the sentence. I thought about really tyring to drive the point home that I wanted them to totally show and not tell, but then I realized what they were doing was just fine. The kids ended up showing by using two sentences instead of one. They still painted a picture with their words.

One child wrote: I went to the store. I pushed my cart past the apples. Did that paint a picture for you? It sure did for me!

My point is this, if one thing isn't working, don't be afraid to go with the flow and try something else.

For you adult writers, if you're having trouble painting with your words, try the same thing. Add onto your starter sentence instead of changing it...my guess is that once you've added on, you'll be able to totally take out the telling sentence. You will have painted a lovely picture with your words!

Revise is not a bad word...

Good morning! I want to respond to the teacher who asked me how to help her kids understand the need for revision.

First and foremost, ask your students to go back and look for telling sentences in what they have written. Help them paint pictures with their words. Ex: Tina was mad.(tell) Tina stomped her foot and slammed her fist into the wall. (show)

Have a hearty conversation with your kids before you actually start the revision process. Stimulate a love of language by talking through any activity before it goes onto paper.

Give the kids in your class a page of YOUR own telling sentences. Tell them that you need help with revisions...imaginative ones. The idea that these are YOUR sentences adds an element of fun. They let the kids know that YOU value what they have to say and write.

Here are a couple ideas for the sentences you will ask the kids to revise for you.

You write:
I went to the grocery store. (tell)

Kids show:
I pulled corn off the top shelf. It fell into my cart.

You write:
I graded papers.

Kids show:
I put a smiley face at the top of Andre's paper.


Making yourself a part of the writing process is critical. If you're reading this as a parent, the same rule applies. Have fun with your kids while they write. Help them to see that writing isn't a burden, just an awesome way to communicate.

Believe it or not, after a while the kids will want to revise punctuation and grammer too. Writing is and should be fun!

If you're an aspiring writer, use these ideas yourself!

Paint a Picture With Words!

Good morning! I looked out into my backyard today and found a slighlty new blanket of snow. It looked like icing on a carrot cake! Did that paint a picture for you?

When I write, I try to paint a picture with my words. I could have said, "It snowed last night." You would have known what the weather was like, but not how the ground looked.

Remember to paint pictures with your words as you talk and write. If you're a teacher, ask your students to paint pictures...tell them that their pencils are paintbrushes! Start by saying a few telling sentences outloud. Then put your imaginations to work. Paint glorious pictures with language.



EXAMPLE: Sally cried. (telling sentence)
Tears fell down Sally's face like a river flowing to the ocean. (Art at work!)

Have fun with telling sentences. Kids love to play with words! What a great way to start any morning.

By the way, I received an email from a student today. Kids are welcome here! I'll try to respond to each of them. If they want to email me about something on my blog, have them email at janmader.jan@google.com

"I have a Dream"

I was just thinking about a writing exercise to connect with Martin Luther King Day. It occurred to me that I should encourage all of you to always begin with the Braindropping activity that was the first post on my blog.

Whether you are an adult who wants to write creatively or a teacher/parent who wants to share the joy of writing with kids, start at the beginning. Everyone has so much background knowledge that's locked inside.

So, before you start an exercise that ties in with Martin Luther King's dream, make sure to braindrop the word "dream." The braindropping activity will always be visible on this blog!

What is your dream? What do your kids dream about? If you're a teacher, remember to set up boundaries so you don't have any nightmare stories but encourage the kids to have fun.

Share one of your own dreams with your class first. When you share the kids will want to share too. That makes me think of another thing! Start every writing activity with fun conversation. Play with words as you talk. Throw in some words that the kids may or may not know. Rhyme from time to time!

Use your senses to create a poem about snow...

Happy snowy Sunday! Let's write more since today's the perfect day to write yourself or prepare a fun writing activity for your kids. How about a fill in the blank poem? Try this:

Snow looks like ____________.
It smells like ____________.
It sounds like ____________.
It tastes like ____________.
Snow make me want to ______________.

If you're using this poem with kids, help them explore with their senses before they begin to write. It might be a good time to braindrop the word, "snow."

Making Mittens Come Alive...A writing exercise for winter

How about a writing activity that makes mittens come alive? Here's a starter sentence for you: I am Sandy's mitten. OR **I am _____ (your name in blank) mitten.

Just go on from there...I am Sandy's mitten. When she pushes her cold hands into me I want to shiver but there's no time! Why you ask? Because she can't wait to scoop of a handful of snow and make a snowball!

You get the idea...Once the mitten becomes real it can really get exciting! Let me know what you think!
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Moved from comment section. See what we can do with words.
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Brain Drop...it's like a game but with great results

I have a great 3 minute writing activity for for kids...I call it braindropping.

Pick a subject such as "winter" and tell your kids to write winter at the top of their paper. Tell them that their pencil is going to become a race car and that you are going to time them for three minutes.

When you say, "go" tell your kids to write every thought or word that falls out of their minds that reminds them of winter. There's only one catch...they can't lift their pencils from their papers. If they reach a point where nothing is coming to mind, tell them to write, "I can't think...I can't think..." Believe me, something else will come to mind and soon they'll be back to terrific ideas.
This activity works well for young kids (perhaps K-1) when you do it orally. Same concept...just move around the group and ask for words. Once again, "I can't think" is just fine.

You'll be surprised to see the free flow of background knowledge tumbling onto your student's papers or out of their mouths.

When the kids are done, let them share their lists (words, thoughts, and phrases are fine).

Another good idea would be to have them braindrop about a book they know. Just have them write the title of the book at the top of the paper. Have fun!

Don't forget, this is the activity that I do every single time I start a writing project. You can do it too!

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