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For some students writing is enjoyable, fun and an exciting challenge. For others it is just plain hard. As a teacher what can you do to spark the imagination and improve the writing skills of all?

Link your writing assignments with learning styles. One was of accomplishing this task is having several ways to inspire or start writing assignments. Have several different tubs from the students to choose from for a writing assignment.

1. An auditory tub will have music, or perhaps snippets of a conversation on a tape that they student can listen to and stimulate their thoughts. Something that they can listen to and be inspired.
2. A visual tub they will select an envelope with a picture of some kind in it. A simple picture of an object or a painting. Perhaps it's a picture of a group of people. It gives them something to look at and put the pen to paper.
3. A touching tub is when the student selects a physical object to touch, feel and write about.
4. On occasion it's fun to have a tasting tub and a scent tub as well. A scent tub can be created by using scent pots (like the one's provided at candle parties). The child would take the pot back to their desk for inspiration. The tasting tub is a little trickier because you don't want food to go bad and you have to be careful what you put in it. None the less it can have some great results.

Journals are another superb way to introduce children to writing. We have journal time everyday. There are journal starters listed on the board if you can not think of anything you would like to write, or you are welcome to free write. The timer is set for 10 minutes and it's on your mark, get set, go!

Letters are fabulous. Find pen pals for your students and use some of your time in writing letters. It's fun and exciting to have mail delivered to your home. Sending letters to your students once a month encourages them to write as well.

The traveling story is another opportunity to have some fun with writing. The teacher writes the first paragraph and then each student adds another paragraph and we watch how the story grows. Some of them turn out to be truly great writing and others flop, but children are still writing and that is the goal.

Give them paper, writing utensils and music and watch for a miracle.

Learn more about this author, Trenna Sue Hiler.
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