How to use Descriptosaurus book?

[Marksmum]

I've seen Descriptosaurus recommended on here a few times to help with creative writing. I've got it but I'm not entirely sure how to use it.

Do you go through and pick out some favourite words for a story? Or write the story and then go back and improve based on the word lists?

It's to use with a 6 year old.

It’s an 11+ resource, so I’d not use it with a 6 year old. In fact, it didn’t work for us when we did the 11+ either! Basically, it’s a series of prompts/fairly complex descriptions, suitable for a high achieving 10/11 year old. At 6, I’d say just read books aimed at 6 year olds, and don’t worry about descriptosaurus.

There are different versions of Descriptosaurus, one aimed at 5-9 year olds and the other 8-14 years (others for different types of writing action & adventure, fantasy, ghost stories etc).
I'd use it to support writing, perhaps starting with a shared piece and looking at different ways to set the scene or describe a character. I would also use it to improve a first draft ...can you find a more interesting way to describe the forest/castle/hero ...

Just to be clear we are using the 5-9 one - not teaching a 6 year old from a guide for 11+!

@Norestformrz So would you let a child write a story and then refer to the lists of adjectives etc?

Definitely a good way to learn to use different vocabulary in their own writing.

There's some interesting pushback from children's authors about all the writing coaching creating formulaic writing and killing the love of writing.

At six, I'd just leave them to it and focus on reading and writing for fun.

There's no formula to discovering new vocabulary and using it in your writing.

@Norestformrz

There's no formula to discovering new vocabulary and using it in your writing.

No, but focusing on that artificially at an early age is not helping children develop. Their writing is less creative not more because they are being taught to be self-conscious about it.

Totally disagree their writing is more creative if anything.

Marksmum How to write the best story ever by Christopher Edge is great for this age group.

Practicingperson you seem to be missing the fact that the child has already completed the "creative" part and then like all authors they "polish" it by adding /changing/expanding on the vocabulary.

@Marksmum

Just to be clear we are using the 5-9 one - not teaching a 6 year old from a guide for 11+!

@Norestformrz So would you let a child write a story and then refer to the lists of adjectives etc?

Phew! I did think you were being a bit ambitious ;-).