Please remember that every child is at a different point in the writing process. Children will
range from non-writers to fluent writers. The following ideas are to enhance fiction writing.
Make sure you model each idea 2-3 times before your child attempts it independently. We want to
create confident and capable writers. I hope you find the ideas helpful and successful!
Note: These ideas have been tested in a first grade classroom with beginning and non-writers.
It’s important to know that many young children need to see and manipulate the parts of a story
as well as how a story is put together from beginning to end before attempting to write their
own.
1) Choose a simple story. Make a photocopy of the story
pages. Make sure all the pages are loose so you can move them around. Show your child the parts of a story. This consists of
a beginning, middle and end. Talk about the story elements in each part of the story. Most
books follow the format below! In addition, this format is used when writing a fictional
narrative.
a) The beginning usually introduces the characters, setting (time and place), character’s
problem and the character’s feeling. There are times when the character’s problem and feeling
is introduced in the middle of a story. Be careful!
b) The middle includes all the events and many details. This is the longest part of the
story. It’s where the action begins.
c) The end of the story is where the character’s problem is solved.
Note: I have read a few stories during my teaching career where a character didn’t have a
problem or the character’s problem wasn’t solved.
2) Choose a simple story. Have your child read or you read it to him/her. You decide!
Then give your child a photocopy of the story pages (not in order) and have him/her put the
story in order from beginning to end. Once this is completed, read the story together.
Discuss if the story is in order. Does it make sense?
3) Choose a simple story. Have your child read or you read it to him/her. You decide!
Then have your child visualize and role-play the beginning, middle and end of the story.
However, when ready, have your child use imagination to role-play a personal story. If possible,
video tape your child and watch it! Discuss if the story is in order. Does it make sense?
4) Choose a simple story. Make a photocopy of the pictures (without text) and have your
child write the text to each picture. This will give him/her the practice of writing a story
from beginning to end. You decide the number of pictures to use. Don’t overwhelm your child!
5) Use an organizer so your child can brainstorm ideas before writing. Using the ideas,
encourage your child to write a complete story. For the non-writer, your child draws a picture
for each story element and then dictates the story. You write the text. If your child is capable
of using a computer, he/she can type it.
Note: To foster your child’s writing skills, it’s important that he/she has a quiet place to
think and write.
Create a writing center. Depending on your
child’s age, you decide what materials your child is ready to use. Include crayons, colored
pencils, markers, pencils, erasers, tape, paper clips, lined and unlined paper, construction
paper, index cards, post-it pads, thesaurus, dictionary, writing journal and a writing folder.
Watch your child grow and experience success in your homemade writing center!