How can you incorporation meaningful writing practice into daily life?
Writer’s block tends to crop up every time students are given a time limit and a short writing project. They do well with week-long projects where they can think through things, but the short writes seem to stop them in their tracks. Getting started tends to be the biggest obstacle! Here are five suggestions for working writing into everyday life for students.
- Practice restating the prompt as a way to get started. One can always go back and strengthen the hook or opening statement at the end, but just get started by turning the prompt into the first sentence.
- Write often, even little things. Consider dictating your grocery list to your child or have them write down a phone message or note.
- Practice writing summaries of daily classes (great to use Cornel Note style and write a summary at the end) as a way to study. Use key vocabulary to strengthen the summary (great way to study for a test).
- The New York Times has weekly writing prompts for students. They can keep the writing in a journal or submit it online. (You don’t need a subscription to access the prompts.)
- Keep a daily journal. Not only is it a healthy stress management technique, it’s a valuable writing practice without a grade attached.
In summary, encourage students to write more often for academics and for everyday life. Make it a familiar habit so that writer’s block will be a thing of the past. Short writing assignments are a great way to strengthen writing practice and help students to overcome writer’s blocks.
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Table Talk: Are you a self starter or road block writer? What other suggestions do you have for incorporating writing into daily life?