Creative writing

[Kardashianw]

Any ideas on how to get ds to start writing with a bit more excitement. His sentences are so boring and he has no ideas.
He also has short sentences and can't think of big words. I have printed off a list of openers, wow words etc but how can I get him to use these words in context?

HE is year 2 age 6.6years x

Is he willing to tell you creative stories? (ie use his imagination without the pressure of writing his ideas down). If he can use good vocab and come up with good ideas that way, then you know the writing should also come in time as his confidence improves and putting too much pressure on might be counterproductive. Also, try hard to find a subject of interest to him, rather than expecting him to delight in writing creatively about anything. My db spent almost a whole year at school writing virtually nothing at that age and giving the teachers the impression he was rather dim... until he was asked to write a story about a dragon, when he suddenly discovered the ability to write an entire book, complete with illustrations.

Read him lots of fantastic stories, that use language well.

Reading is the best way for children to improve their writing skills. I'd also make a 'creative box' where you can put in lots of different words, he has to pull some out and create a story with them. It's very easy, write words like 'dragon', 'knight', 'pickle', etc (anything), as many as you can and ask him to pull ten (or whatever) out. He then has to make up a story using all of the words.

I did that too with my dd, belle. My dd used a thesaurus from an early age. That seemed to help and the stories completely change.

I'd also say reading is the best way to go. Maybe a bit of Roald Dahl as his stories are SO creative.

Also, encourage the use of "y words". Including things as simple as "quickly, silently, creepily" Really improves a sentence

Ok thank u fantastic ideas. Books I will get. I loved roald dhal stories myself. Will try these methods. Thanks x

Look at Story Cubes on The Happy Puzzle Co Website.

What about telling a story together?

example

you............. I was walking down the long, wide street and it was very wet and windy.

DS............... There was a cat in the street.

you................ The black cat was playing with the leaves that were beside a red gate.

DS......................

Hopefully he will get the idea to describe more in his sentences and you can play this anywhere.

Talk and talk and talk and talk...........

If they can't talk for writing, then they can't write.

Focus on the question words... why was it like that? what do you think...? who do you think that looked like...? how did that work? what happened next? where is it? what did he see there? hear there? how did he feel? what did he think?

Encourage the use of adjectives and interesting verbs... he didn't say that, he ........ it!!!!!

fileserver.booktrust.org.uk/usr/resources/527/piecorbettpriandsec.pdf

Read together and write down sentences that you like. Helps the style stick in the memory. Also try to get him to use an adjective with every noun. The technique of writing is more important than the storyline at a young age. Experience will generate improved storylines ? so don?t worry too much. Google ?creative writing aid or cards? and you will get some age appropriate advice.