Picture it; a whole room of kids – maybe aged between 8 and 14 – hunched over their desks, furiously typing away on their laptops, oblivious to the world around them. You’re an enthusiastic teacher and quickly realise that this could be the perfect way to engage the kids you teach and care for. A room of creative writing enthusiasts, collaborating on their stories, planning their poems and refining their spelling; it’s like the grown-up version of Story Hour, right?
Yes, you read that correctly. Story Hour, the beloved weekly adult event that brings books and storytelling to life in a non-traditional way, is now available to be replicated in your home. With the proliferation of e-readers and tablets, the world of books is now accessible to kids of all ages – and it’s an opportunity that shouldn’t be missed.
So, if you’d like to host your very own creative writing workshop for kids, what should you do? Before we answer that, it’s important to note two things. First, let’s be clear about what we mean when we talk about a “kids’ creative writing workshop”. To begin with, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to host the whole thing outside; you might want to do that for a while, but having a writing corner in your room is ideal. Second, this isn’t a competition. Writing is for everyone – no matter what age – and everyone has something to say. As long as you establish the ground rules for the workshop beforehand – like what age group you’re aiming at and that no one will be graded – you’ll be able to provide the perfect creative writing environment for your kids.
Find A Room (Or A Small Area On A Floor) To Hang Out In
You need somewhere quiet to conduct your workshop; somewhere where the kids can focus without being overwhelmed by outside distractions. It might be best to look for a space that’s specifically designed for writing, like a home office or a quiet study room. If you’re lacking in either of those areas, then you could always use an area on a floor. It doesn’t have to be dedicated to writing either; if you have a large family, you might want to find a space that can be used for collaborative projects, like art or design. There should be a place for everything in your workspace – and that includes things like laptops, tablets and e-readers. If that space is in your house, then make sure that it’s somewhere that everyone can access with ease. If you’re looking for a dedicated space, then look for a conference room at a public school. They’re normally available for rent and often feature everything you need for a successful workshop.
Make Sure Everyone Has What They Need (Electronics, Pens, Etc.)
It’s very unlikely that you’ll have everything a kid might need in terms of technology for a creative writing workshop. To begin with, an e-reader is a necessity these days, as is an internet connection. To ensure that your workshop runs smoothly, you should make sure that everyone has access to the necessary technology. If you’re running the workshop at home, then you can get by with just about anything – assuming you have the digital nomad’s knack for improvisation – but it’s best to have a few backup options in case something goes wrong with the primary connection.
Set Up Some Tasks (And A Few Rewards) To Keep Them Motivated
Writing is a notoriously tricky business. It can be both incredibly rewarding and incredibly frustrating. The key to getting the best out of your kids is to establish a few tasks and a few rewards – like a prize for the best story, for example – and ensure that they keep motivated by knowing that they’re working towards something tangible.
For instance, you might want to set some writing tasks for your kids; such as writing a short story (maybe for another class) or rewriting a poem that they’ve had a go at already. Establishing little rewards for your kids – like letting them watch TV or listen to music for a little while after they’ve completed a specific task – can also help to keep them motivated. The key is to find something that they find rewarding, but don’t overdo it and make it so that it becomes a chore. A little bit of carrot and a little bit of stick is all that it takes to get the best out of your kids.
The Importance Of Good Grammar
One of the things that makes writing easier for kids is that they don’t have to deal with grammar all that much. Although spelling is important, it’s largely irrelevant to kids’ stories. They’ll never need to worry about whether or not their story makes sense or if their grammar is correct. When they’re writing, the only thing that matters is that they’re expressing themselves clearly.
However, this doesn’t mean that grammar isn’t important. Far from it; in fact, good grammar is actually a vital part of any story. Grammar isn’t just about spelling errors and the correct usage of English words; it’s about the form and the structure of a story. When a story is composed of well-crafted sentences, it will undoubtedly be more engaging and less irritating. This is why proper grammar is so important when writing for kids.
Get Some Young Writers To Help
If you want to run a successful creative writing workshop for kids, then you should look for some young writers to help out. Although the focus should be on having fun and being creative, it’s also important to remember that writing is a craft; it is not just a pastime, and like any other craft, requires a certain amount of skill and knowledge to be able to do it successfully. If you’re looking for some extra help, then consider whether or not you should hire a professional – like a graduate of the prestigious English department at a university – to help out with your workshop. Although it might be tempting to try and do everything yourself, a little help from an experienced professional might just be what you need to get the best out of your kids.
In order to host a successful creative writing workshop for kids, you need to do your research. Be sure to familiarise yourself with any relevant laws and regulations, and make sure that you’ve got everything planned; from setting up the room to ensuring that everyone has what they need. Establishing a few tasks and rewards – along with some help from an experienced teacher – can help to get the best out of your kids while having fun and learning new things.