Interesting Writing Assignments That Take Students Beyond the Essay
How many five-paragraph essays do students write in their school career? A lot. How many standardized tests require an essay? Most of them. How many
The ability to read and write plays a major role in a student’s ability to succeed in the classroom. It also has enormous implications regarding mental and emotional development, self-esteem, and even health. Highly literate students are more likely to have higher IQs, develop a love for reading, and become sought-after employees as adults.
Those are just a few reasons why a focused language arts curriculum is so vital to a child’s development. Exposure to the concepts of spelling, grammar, storytelling, and composition gives students a basis for how to write and communicate effectively.
The best writing comes from a place of creativity that is easier to access when assignments are fun and engaging. The resources below include classroom exercises that teach students how to write clearly while also holding their attention.
How many five-paragraph essays do students write in their school career? A lot. How many standardized tests require an essay? Most of them. How many
Many students see the summer break as a time to put off their studies and stop thinking about school for three months. Yet parents and
In a recent interview in the Stories Teachers Share podcast, high school teacher Alexa Schlechter perfectly described the challenge instructors face with creative writing classes
On Saturday nights, my family sits down and plays a silly game called Munchkin. We go on a quest, establishing our race, class, and armor,
As a teacher, there are only so many things you can do indoors to help your students write. That is why more and more teachers
All educators agree that students are better writers when they have an understanding of grammar. To be effective writers in school and to effectively communicate
Figurative language is language that is not meant to be taken literally; it deviates from the normal meaning of words and phrases to communicate in a different and more interesting.
Students often use figurative language without even realizing it. Here are the six types of figurative language that students are most likely to come across and use when they’re reading and writing.
Figurative language allows students to find different and more creative ways to express themselves, both verbally and in writing.
The language arts curriculum should be taught according to the developmental stage of students. Younger students (grades 1 to 3) should be taught the building blocks of language. Students in grades 4 to 6 should be expected to start combining concepts and building vocabulary. Middle school students are taught delve into more long-form reading and writing, while high school students should begin putting everything they have learned together.
One of the most effective ways to teach students the building blocks of language is to give them the opportunity to see those building blocks in action.
Literature melds grammar, spelling, figurative language, and many other tenets of the language arts curriculum into a single, cohesive composition. Reading allows students to practice interpreting the meaning of certain words and phrases through context and to develop ideas regarding how to use them in their own work.
Essay writing allows students to apply what they have learned from the language arts curriculum. It gives them practice expressing themselves personally, and it teaches how to conduct effective research to support an argument.
Written communication is critical for success, so the consequences of not writing essays include missing out on the ability to clearly and concisely communicate with the written word.
The below links give inspiration for assigning essays and assignments that help students develop their research abilities.
It’s easy to mark up students’ papers with circles and write “WC” or “Word Choice” to encourage stronger verbs and adjectives. But how do we
Whether they’re comparing a book to a film adaptation or contrasting two speeches, students inevitably get many compare-and-contrast essay assignments throughout their academic careers. How
It is ironic that in the era of the Internet anyone should have any issues concerning basic research skills. The Internet, after all, is the richest,
Finding free Web resources for building research skills is essential for teachers who are on a restricted budget. Teachers can use the Internet to access
As the research skills you teach middle school students can last them all their lives, it’s essential to help them develop good habits early in
Few skills are as critical to educational success as essay writing for elementary students, and kids can get a leg up on their craft by
Essay assignments are a nightmare for many high school students. The fear of essay writing is often the result of not fully understanding the purpose
Making the essay writing experience more dynamic for students will help them attain those writing skills they need for the 21st century.