how do you introduce creative writing to students

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How to Teach Creative Writing | 7 Steps to Get Students Wordsmithing

“I don’t have any ideas!”

“I can’t think of anything!”

While we see creative writing as a world of limitless imagination, our students often see an overwhelming desert of “no idea.”

But when you teach creative writing effectively, you’ll notice that  every  student is brimming over with ideas that just have to get out.

So what does teaching creative writing effectively look like?

We’ve outlined a  seven-step method  that will  scaffold your students through each phase of the creative process  from idea generation through to final edits.

7. Create inspiring and original prompts

Use the following formats to generate prompts that get students inspired:

• personal memories (“Write about a person who taught you an important lesson”)
• imaginative scenarios
• prompts based on a familiar mentor text (e.g. “Write an alternative ending to your favorite book”). These are especially useful for giving struggling students an easy starting point.
• lead-in sentences (“I looked in the mirror and I couldn’t believe my eyes. Somehow overnight I…”).
• fascinating or thought-provoking images with a directive (“Who do you think lives in this mountain cabin? Tell their story”).

Don’t have the time or stuck for ideas? Check out our list of 100 student writing prompts

6. unpack the prompts together.

Explicitly teach your students how to dig deeper into the prompt for engaging and original ideas.

Probing questions are an effective strategy for digging into a prompt. Take this one for example:

“I looked in the mirror and I couldn’t believe my eyes. Somehow overnight I…”

Ask “What questions need answering here?” The first thing students will want to know is:

What happened overnight?

No doubt they’ll be able to come up with plenty of zany answers to that question, but there’s another one they could ask to make things much more interesting:

Who might “I” be?

In this way, you subtly push students to go beyond the obvious and into more original and thoughtful territory. It’s even more useful with a deep prompt:

“Write a story where the main character starts to question something they’ve always believed.”

Here students could ask:

• What sorts of beliefs do people take for granted?
• What might make us question those beliefs?
• What happens when we question something we’ve always thought is true?
• How do we feel when we discover that something isn’t true?

Try splitting students into groups, having each group come up with probing questions for a prompt, and then discussing potential “answers” to these questions as a class.

The most important lesson at this point should be that good ideas take time to generate. So don’t rush this step!

5. Warm-up for writing

A quick warm-up activity will:

• allow students to see what their discussed ideas look like on paper
• help fix the “I don’t know how to start” problem
• warm up writing muscles quite literally (especially important for young learners who are still developing handwriting and fine motor skills).

Freewriting  is a particularly effective warm-up. Give students 5–10 minutes to “dump” all their ideas for a prompt onto the page for without worrying about structure, spelling, or grammar.

After about five minutes you’ll notice them starting to get into the groove, and when you call time, they’ll have a better idea of what captures their interest.

Did you know? The Story Factory in Reading Eggs allows your students to write and publish their own storybooks using an easy step-by-step guide.

4. Start planning

Now it’s time for students to piece all these raw ideas together and generate a plan. This will synthesize disjointed ideas and give them a roadmap for the writing process.

Note:  at this stage your strong writers might be more than ready to get started on a creative piece. If so, let them go for it – use planning for students who are still puzzling things out.

Here are four ideas for planning:

Graphic organisers

A graphic organiser will allow your students to plan out the overall structure of their writing. They’re also particularly useful in “chunking” the writing process, so students don’t see it as one big wall of text.

Storyboards and illustrations

These will engage your artistically-minded students and give greater depth to settings and characters. Just make sure that drawing doesn’t overshadow the writing process.

Voice recordings

If you have students who are hesitant to commit words to paper, tell them to think out loud and record it on their device. Often they’ll be surprised at how well their spoken words translate to the page.

Write a blurb

This takes a bit more explicit teaching, but it gets students to concisely summarize all their main ideas (without giving away spoilers). Look at some blurbs on the back of published books before getting them to write their own. Afterward they could test it out on a friend – based on the blurb, would they borrow it from the library?

3. Produce rough drafts

Warmed up and with a plan at the ready, your students are now ready to start wordsmithing. But before they start on a draft, remind them of what a draft is supposed to be:

• a work in progress.

Remind them that  if they wait for the perfect words to come, they’ll end up with blank pages .

Instead, it’s time to take some writing risks and get messy. Encourage this by:

• demonstrating the writing process to students yourself
• taking the focus off spelling and grammar (during the drafting stage)
• providing meaningful and in-depth feedback (using words, not ticks!).

Reading Eggs also gives you access to an ever-expanding collection of over 3,500 online books!

2. share drafts for peer feedback.

Don’t saddle yourself with 30 drafts for marking. Peer assessment is a better (and less exhausting) way to ensure everyone receives the feedback they need.

Why? Because for something as personal as creative writing, feedback often translates better when it’s in the familiar and friendly language that only a peer can produce. Looking at each other’s work will also give students more ideas about how they can improve their own.

Scaffold peer feedback to ensure it’s constructive. The following methods work well:

Student rubrics

A simple rubric allows students to deliver more in-depth feedback than “It was pretty good.” The criteria will depend on what you are ultimately looking for, but students could assess each other’s:

• use of language.

Whatever you opt for, just make sure the language you use in the rubric is student-friendly.

Two positives and a focus area

Have students identify two things their peer did well, and one area that they could focus on further, then turn this into written feedback. Model the process for creating specific comments so you get something more constructive than “It was pretty good.” It helps to use stems such as:

I really liked this character because…

I found this idea interesting because it made me think…

I was a bit confused by…

I wonder why you… Maybe you could… instead.

1. The editing stage

Now that students have a draft and feedback, here’s where we teachers often tell them to “go over it” or “give it some final touches.”

But our students don’t always know how to edit.

Scaffold the process with questions that encourage students to think critically about their writing, such as:

• Are there any parts that would be confusing if I wasn’t there to explain them?
• Are there any parts that seem irrelevant to the rest?
• Which parts am I most uncertain about?
• Does the whole thing flow together, or are there parts that seem out of place?
• Are there places where I could have used a better word?
• Are there any grammatical or spelling errors I notice?

Key to this process is getting students to  read their creative writing from start to finish .

Important note:  if your students are using a word processor, show them where the spell-check is and how to use it. Sounds obvious, but in the age of autocorrect, many students simply don’t know.

A final word on teaching creative writing

Remember that the best writers write regularly.

Incorporate them into your lessons as often as possible, and soon enough, you’ll have just as much fun  marking  your students’ creative writing as they do producing it.

Need more help supporting your students’ writing?

Read up on  how to get reluctant writers writing , strategies for  supporting struggling secondary writers , or check out our huge list of writing prompts for kids .

Watch your students get excited about writing and publishing their own storybooks in the Story Factory

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25 Fun Ways to Introduce Yourself to Students

By Med Kharbach, PhD | Last Update: May 8, 2024

Ways to introduce yourself to students is the topic of our blog post today!

Ever found yourself standing in front of a sea of fresh faces on the first day of school, feeling a mix of excitement, anticipation, and just a tinge of nervousness? We’ve all been there. The first impression we make as educators can set the tone for the rest of the school year. It can ignite a spark of interest, create an atmosphere of camaraderie, and set the foundation for a warm, supportive learning environment .

But how can we introduce ourselves to our students in a way that’s both engaging and genuinely reflects who we are as individuals and teachers? Is there a way to make it more fun than just a standard monologue of our credentials and teaching experience? Of course, there is!

In this blog post,we will share with you this collection of creative, and genuinely fun ways teachers can introduce themselves to their students. Not just to tell them who we are, but to inspire them, to intrigue them, and to let them know that they’re about to start a learning journey that’s exciting, safe, and full of endless possibilities.

For more resources, check out our Back to School section .

Fun Ways to Introduce Yourself to Students

Here are some practical suggestions for fun ways to introduce yourself to students:

1. Two Truths and a Lie

Tell them three things about yourself, two of which are true, and one is a lie. Let them guess which one is the lie. This will not only help them learn about you but it’s also a fun game that encourages interaction.

2. Create a Personalized Comic Strip

Use free online tools like Canva or Pixton to create a comic strip about your life or your experiences as a teacher. This could be a fun, visual way for students to learn about you.

3. Slideshow Presentation

Make a slideshow presentation including pictures from different stages of your life, favorite hobbies, pets, or travels. This can be a fun and personal way to share about yourself.

4. Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality Experience

If you’re technologically inclined and have access to the necessary equipment, you can create a simple virtual or augmented reality experience for your students that introduces you in a unique way.

5. Interactive Quiz

Create an interactive quiz about yourself using tools like Kahoot! or Quizizz. This can make your introduction more engaging and fun for your students.

6. The Mystery Box

Bring a box with various items that symbolize who you are or things you like. Let students pick items from the box and guess their significance to you.

7. Scavenger Hunt

Create a small scavenger hunt that leads to clues about who you are. It could be as simple as clues leading to different parts of the classroom or as complex as an online scavenger hunt that utilizes the school’s website or learning platform.

8. Personalized Video

Create a short video or an animated clip introducing yourself. You could include clips or photos from your life, have a little tour of your classroom, or even create a fun animation.

9. Storytelling

Tell a story about a significant event in your life that helped shape who you are today. You could also share a story about your journey to become a teacher. Make sure to keep it engaging and age-appropriate.

10. “Who Am I” Puzzle

On the board or a large paper, draw a silhouette of your head and inside write words that describe you. You could write your hobbies, favorite food, places you’ve been to, and so forth. Ask students to guess what these mean to you.

11. Introduction via Art

If you’re into art, draw or paint something that represents you and your life. Share your artwork with the students and explain the symbolism.

12. The Hot Seat

Let the students ask you any questions (within appropriate boundaries) they want about you for a set amount of time. It’s like an open forum where students can get to know you better.

13. Time Capsule

Show them a “time capsule” filled with items that are meaningful to you or represent various aspects of your life. These could be items related to your interests, previous jobs, childhood, and family.

14. Music Playlist

Share a playlist of your favorite songs. For each song, explain why it’s significant to you. This can give students insight into your personality and taste.

15. Collaborative Word Cloud

Use a tool like Mentimeter to create a live, interactive word cloud. You can start by entering keywords about yourself, and then invite students to add their own guesses or questions about you.

16. Virtual Background Challeng e

If you’re introducing yourself online, use a virtual background that reflects something personal (like a photo from a favorite trip or your hometown). Challenge students to guess its significance.

17. Guess Who?

Provide clues about yourself to the class and let them guess who you are. Clues could range from your favorite book to your favorite vacation spot.

18. Letter to Students

Write a heartfelt letter to your students introducing yourself and explaining your teaching philosophy. Invite them to write a response or a letter about themselves back to you.

19. Create a Personal Emoji

Use online tools to create an emoji that best represents you. Share this with your students and ask them to guess the meaning behind it.

20. Board Game

Design a simple board game that lets students learn about you as they progress. This could include trivia questions about you, and fun facts could be the rewards for moving forward.

21. An Acrostic Poem

Use the letters of your name to start each line of a poem. Each line can reveal something about you.

22. Teach Something You Love

A great way to introduce yourself could be to teach a mini-lesson on a subject you’re passionate about. This gives students insight into who you are outside the classroom and shows them that you’re a lifelong learner, too.

23. Digital Breakout: Create a digital breakout game using information about yourself. As the students solve the clues, they’ll learn more about you.

24. “I am” Poem

Write an “I am” poem filled with descriptors about yourself. You could even incorporate literary devices like simile, metaphor, and personification to give it a bit of a creative twist.

25. Personal Symbol

Show the students a symbol that represents you. It could be anything—a tree if you love nature, a book if you’re a bibliophile, etc. Explain why you chose that symbol.

Final thoughts

And there you have it, a treasure trove of creative, engaging, and genuinely fun ways to introduce yourself to your students. Remember, the key to a memorable introduction is authenticity. It’s about letting your unique personality shine through while setting the tone for a vibrant, engaging classroom environment.

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Meet Med Kharbach, PhD

Dr. Med Kharbach is an influential voice in the global educational technology landscape, with an extensive background in educational studies and a decade-long experience as a K-12 teacher. Holding a Ph.D. from Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, Canada, he brings a unique perspective to the educational world by integrating his profound academic knowledge with his hands-on teaching experience. Dr. Kharbach's academic pursuits encompass curriculum studies, discourse analysis, language learning/teaching, language and identity, emerging literacies, educational technology, and research methodologies. His work has been presented at numerous national and international conferences and published in various esteemed academic journals.

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Inspiring Ink: Expert Tips on How to Teach Creative Writing

The world of creative writing is as vast as it is rewarding. It’s a form of expression that allows the writer to explore different worlds, characters, and narratives – all within the power of their pen.

But what exactly is creative writing and why is it important? Let’s explore the value of creative writing and how to inspire young (or old!) minds to embark on the curious and exciting journey of writing creatively – it’s easier than you think!

What is Creative Writing?

Creative writing, in its simplest form, is writing that goes beyond the bounds of normal professional, journalistic, academic, or technical forms of literature.

It’s characterized by its emphasis on:

• narrative craft
• character development
• the use of literary devices

From poetry to plays, scripts to sonnets, creative writing covers a wide range of genres . It’s about painting pictures with words, invoking emotions, and bringing ideas to life . It’s about crafting stories that are compelling, engaging, and thought-provoking.

Whether you’re penning a novel or jotting down a journal entry, creative writing encourages you to unleash your imagination and express your thoughts in a unique, artistic way. For a deeper dive into the realm of creative writing, you can visit our article on what is creative writing .

Benefits of Developing Creative Writing Skills

The benefits of creative writing extend beyond the page.

It’s not just about creating captivating stories or crafting beautiful prose. The skills developed through creative writing are invaluable in many aspects of life and work.

1. Creative writing fosters creativity and imagination. 

It encourages you to think outside the box, broaden your perspective, and explore new ideas. It also enhances your ability to communicate effectively, as it involves conveying thoughts, emotions, and narratives in a clear and compelling manner.

2. Creative writing aids in improving critical thinking skills.

It prompts you to analyze characters, plotlines, and themes, and make connections between different ideas. This process activates different parts of the mind, drawing on personal experiences, the imagination, logical plot development, and emotional intelligence.

3. Creative writing is also a valuable tool for self-expression and personal growth.

It allows you to explore your feelings, experiences, and observations, providing an outlet for self-reflection and introspection. By both reading and writing about different characters in different situations, readers develop empathy in a gentle but effective way.

4. Creative writing skills can open up a host of career opportunities.

From authors and editors to content creators and copywriters, the demand for creative writers is vast and varied. You can learn more about potential career paths in our article on creative writing jobs and what you can do with a creative writing degree .

In essence, creative writing is more than just an art—it’s a skill, a craft, and a powerful tool for communication and self-expression. Whether you’re teaching creative writing or learning it, understanding its value is the first step towards mastering the art.

The 3 Roles of a Creative Writing Teacher

Amongst the many facets of a creative writing teacher’s role, three vital aspects stand out: inspiring creativity , nurturing talent , and providing constructive criticism . These elements play a significant role in shaping budding writers and fostering their passion for the craft.

1. Inspiring Creativity

The primary function of a creative writing teacher is to inspire creativity.

They must foster an environment that encourages students to think outside the box and explore new possibilities . This includes presenting students with creative writing prompts that challenge their thinking, promoting lively discussions around various topics, and providing opportunities for students to engage in creative writing activities for kids .

Teachers should also expose students to a range of literary genres , styles, and techniques to broaden their understanding and appreciation of the craft. This exposure not only enhances their knowledge but also stimulates their creativity, encouraging them to experiment with different writing styles .

2. Nurturing Talent

Nurturing talent involves recognizing the unique abilities of each student and providing the necessary support and guidance to help them develop these skills. A creative writing teacher needs to identify the strengths and weaknesses of each student and tailor their approach accordingly.

This means:

• offering personalized feedback
• setting realistic yet challenging goals
• providing opportunities for students to showcase their work

Encouraging students to participate in writing competitions or to publish their work can give them a confidence boost and motivate them to improve. Furthermore, teachers should educate students about various creative writing jobs and what you can do with a creative writing degree . This knowledge can inspire students to pursue their passion for writing and explore career opportunities in the field.

3. Providing Constructive Criticism

Providing constructive criticism is a critical aspect of teaching creative writing. It involves assessing students’ work objectively and providing feedback that helps them improve .

Teachers should:

• highlight the strengths of the work
• address the areas that need improvement
• suggest ways to make the piece better

Constructive criticism should be specific, actionable, and encouraging . It’s important to remember that the goal is to help the student improve, not to discourage them. Therefore, teachers need to communicate their feedback in a respectful and supportive manner.

In essence, a teacher’s role in teaching creative writing extends beyond mere instruction. They are mentors who inspire, nurture, and shape the minds of budding writers. By fostering a supportive and stimulating environment, they can help students unlock their creative potential and develop a lifelong love for writing.

3 Techniques for Teaching Creative Writing

When it comes to understanding how to teach creative writing, there are several effective techniques that can help inspire students and foster their writing skills.

1. Encouraging Free Writing Exercises

Free writing is a technique that encourages students to write continuously for a set amount of time without worrying about grammar, punctuation, or topic. This type of exercise can help unleash creativity, as it allows students to freely express their thoughts and ideas without judgment or constraint.

As a teacher, you can set a specific theme or provide creative writing prompts to guide the writing session. Alternatively, you can allow students to write about any topic that comes to mind. The key is to create an environment that encourages creative exploration and expression.

2. Exploring Different Genres

Another effective technique is to expose students to a wide range of writing genres. This can include fiction, non-fiction, poetry, drama, fantasy, mystery, and more. By exploring different genres, students can discover their unique writing styles and interests. This variety also offers the chance to expand their writing skills and apply them to various writing formats.

To facilitate this exploration, you can assign writing projects in different genres, conduct genre-specific writing workshops, or invite guest speakers who specialize in different genres. You can also encourage students to critically analyze how different authors approach their work.

3. Analyzing Published Works

Analyzing published works is a powerful way to teach creative writing. This technique allows students to learn from established authors by studying their:

• writing styles
• narrative structures
• use of language.

It also provides a practical context for understanding writing concepts and techniques.

As a teacher, you can select diverse pieces of literature for analysis , ranging from classic novels to contemporary short stories. Encourage students to identify elements they admire in these works and discuss how they can incorporate similar techniques into their own writing.

These techniques for teaching creative writing are effective ways to inspire creativity, encourage self-expression, and develop writing skills. As a teacher, your role is crucial in guiding students through their creative journey and helping them realize their potential as writers.

Creative Writing Workshops and Exercises

One effective method on how to teach creative writing is through the use of targeted workshops and exercises. These interactive sessions can stimulate creativity, foster character development , and help in understanding story structures .

Idea Generation Workshops

Idea generation is a crucial aspect of creative writing. It is the starting point that provides a springboard for writers to explore and develop their narratives. Idea generation workshops can be an interactive and fun way to help writers come up with fresh ideas.

Workshops can include brainstorming sessions , where writers are encouraged to think freely and note down all ideas, no matter how unconventional they may seem. Another method is the use of writing prompts , which can serve as a creative spark.

A prompt could be:

• even an image

Editor’s Note : Encourage children to create a big scribble on a scrap piece of paper and then look for an image in it (like looking for pictures in the clouds). This can be a great creative writing prompt and students will love sharing their writing with each other! Expect lots of giggles and fun!

Character Development Exercises

Characters are the heart of any story. They drive the narrative and engage the readers. Character development exercises can help writers create well-rounded and relatable characters.

Such exercises can include character questionnaires , where writers answer a series of questions about their characters to gain a deeper understanding of their personalities, backgrounds, and motivations. Role-playing activities can also be useful, allowing writers to step into their characters’ shoes and explore their reactions in different scenarios.

Story Structure Workshops

Understanding story structure is vital for creating a compelling narrative. Story structure workshops can guide writers on how to effectively structure their stories to engage readers from start to finish .

These workshops can cover essential elements of story structures like:

• rising action
• falling action

In addition to understanding the basics, writers should be encouraged to experiment with different story structures to find what works best for their narrative style. An understanding of story structure can also help in analyzing and learning from published works .

Providing writers with the right tools and techniques, through workshops and exercises, can significantly improve their creative writing skills. It’s important to remember that creativity flourishes with practice and patience .

As a teacher, nurturing this process is one of the most rewarding aspects of teaching creative writing. For more insights and tips on teaching creative writing, continue exploring our articles on creative writing .

Tips to Enhance Creative Writing Skills

The process of teaching creative writing is as much about honing one’s own skills as it is about imparting knowledge to others. Here are some key strategies that can help in enhancing your creative writing abilities and make your teaching methods more effective.

Regular Practice

Like any other skill, creative writing requires regular practice . Foster the habit of writing daily, even if it’s just a few lines. This will help you stay in touch with your creative side and continually improve your writing skills. Encourage your students to do the same.

Introduce them to various creative writing prompts to stimulate their imagination and make their writing practice more engaging.

Reading Widely

Reading is an essential part of becoming a better writer. By reading widely, you expose yourself to a variety of styles, tones, and genres . This not only broadens your literary horizons but also provides a wealth of ideas for your own writing.

Encourage your students to read extensively as well. Analyzing and discussing different works can be an excellent learning exercise and can spark creative ideas .

Exploring Various Writing Styles

The beauty of creative writing lies in its diversity. From poetic verses to gripping narratives, there’s a wide range of styles to explore. Encourage your students to try their hand at different forms of writing. This not only enhances their versatility but also helps them discover their unique voice as a writer.

To help them get started, you can introduce a variety of creative writing activities for kids . These tasks can be tailored to suit different age groups and proficiency levels. Remember, the goal is to foster a love for writing, so keep the activities fun and engaging .

Have Fun Teaching Creative Writing!

Enhancing creative writing skills is a continuous journey. It requires persistence, curiosity, and a willingness to step out of your comfort zone. As a teacher, your role is to guide your students on this journey, providing them with the tools and encouragement they need to flourish as writers – and most of all – enjoy the process!

For more insights on creative writing, be sure to explore our articles on what is creative writing and creative writing jobs and what you can do with a creative writing degree .

Brooks Manley

Creative Primer  is a resource on all things journaling, creativity, and productivity. We’ll help you produce better ideas, get more done, and live a more effective life.

My name is Brooks. I do a ton of journaling, like to think I’m a creative (jury’s out), and spend a lot of time thinking about productivity. I hope these resources and product recommendations serve you well. Reach out if you ever want to chat or let me know about a journal I need to check out!

Here’s my favorite journal for 2024: 

Gratitude Journal Prompts Mindfulness Journal Prompts Journal Prompts for Anxiety Reflective Journal Prompts Healing Journal Prompts Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Journal Prompts Mental Health Journal Prompts ASMR Journal Prompts Manifestation Journal Prompts Self-Care Journal Prompts Morning Journal Prompts Evening Journal Prompts Self-Improvement Journal Prompts Creative Writing Journal Prompts Dream Journal Prompts Relationship Journal Prompts "What If" Journal Prompts New Year Journal Prompts Shadow Work Journal Prompts Journal Prompts for Overcoming Fear Journal Prompts for Dealing with Loss Journal Prompts for Discerning and Decision Making Travel Journal Prompts Fun Journal Prompts

Enriching Creative Writing Activities for Kids

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How to Teach Creative Writing to High School Students

Creative Writing was forced onto my schedule; I didn’t ask for it. But it ended up becoming my favorite class period of the day. While academic English courses can feel high-stakes and always short on time, Creative Writing can be a refreshingly relaxed elective class. In many districts with loose curriculums, Creative Writing is what you make of it. In this post, I outline six steps to show you how to teach creative writing to high school students.

Why Teach Creative Writing

Before we get into the how , let’s first address the why . Why bother teaching Creative Writing in the first place? Students’ basic skills are lower than ever; is now really the time to encourage them to break the rules?

If you want to get really deep into why you should teach Creative Writing, I have a whole post about it here.

But think about why you love reading. Is it because you were made to annotate or close read a bunch of classic novels? Probably not. You probably fell in love with reading while you were reading something that was fun. And because it was fun, you read more, and your skills as a reader grew.

The same principle applies to writing. If we can make it fun for our students, perhaps we can foster a love for it. And passion is what leads, eventually, to mastery.

Giving our students the opportunity to fall in love with writing is a gift that might help them grow in their academic writing later.

Teach Creative Writing to High School Students Step #1: Decide on Your Standards or Goals

Your school or district may have a mandated syllabus or curriculum. Mine did not. 

Whether you’re given student goals or have to create them, you must have an overall vision for what your Creative Writing class will accomplish. 

Is this a laid-back, engaging course designed to help students discover the fun in writing? Or is it a supplement to rigorous academics for college-bound high school students? 

If you know your school’s student population well, I encourage you to think about their needs. Some students just need to write more–more of anything, but lots more. Some students are high achieving and ready to write their first novels! If possible, design your course around the needs and interests of the general student population in your school or district. 

Regardless of how rigorous your Creative Writing course will be, deciding on these goals first will help you in backwards planning. 

Teach Creative Writing to High School Students Step #2: Choose Your Final Assessments and Big Projects

Before we can start planning our lessons, we have to decide what skills or knowledge our students will need. And to know what they need, we have to decide on their summative assessments.

Will your final assessment be a short story? A collection of poetry? Are you required to offer a final exam?

Once you know what students will need to do, you can make a list of the skill they’ll need. This list will become a list of lessons you’ll need to teach.

Fairy Tale Retelling Project

My Fairy Tale Retelling Project is a great Creative Writing assessment. For this project, students had to first choose a fairy tale. Then, they rewrote the story from the perspective of the villain.

This project works really well because students have structure. They can pick any fairy tale they want, but they can’t write about just anything.

Secondly, students already know the story, so they don’t have to worry about a beginning, middle, and end. The open-endedness of writing a story completely from scratch has paralyzed my students before. Structure allows students lots of creative freedom without the excuse of “I don’t know what to write.”

Author Study Project

If you’d like your Creative Writing class to help beginner writers have fun and just get some practice with fiction writing, a Fairy Tale Retelling Project would probably be perfect for your class.

Another project I’ve done with my students is an Author Study . In this project, students choose one author to study in-depth. Then, they attempt to replicate that author’s style in an original work.

If you’d like your class to also include lots of exposure to other writers or classic literature, then this might be a great assessment for your class.

Learn more about doing an author study in this step-by-step post.

Test or Final Exam

I also gave my students a final exam focused on literary terms.

This Literary Terms Test allowed me to test students on the academic knowledge they gained throughout class instead of their writing ability. This test also helped me fulfill my district’s requirement of having a final exam at the end of each course.

Once you’ve decided on your class’s major projects and assessments, you can begin designing the rest of your class.

Teach Creative Writing to High School Students Step #3: Backwards Plan

Now that you know what your students will need to do at the end of this class, you can list out everything you need to teach them in order for them to be successful.

For example, if you opt for an author study as a final project, you know what you will need to cover. You will need to teach students some literary terms so that they can describe an author’s style. You’ll need to show them how to analyze a poem.

During the course of your class, you’ll also want to expose students to a variety of authors and mentor texts. Students will need to practice basic writing techniques in order to replicate those of their chosen authors.

If you need some inspiration for what kinds of lessons to teach, check out this post on essential Creative Writing lessons.

Teach Creative Writing to High School Students Step #4: Decide on Your Class Structure

Once you’ve decided on the end goals for your Creative Writing class, you can use them to help create day-to-day plans. 

What will your class look like? Will it be full of lots of quiet and independent work time? Will it be full of frenetic energy with students working in collaborative groups? Are students writing in notebooks or on laptops?

Of course, a successful class will most likely include a mixture of all of the above. But it’s up to you to decide on your ratio. 

Again, I encourage you to think about your school’s population. If you’re on ninety-minute blocks, is it realistic for students to be quietly writing that whole time? If you have high-achieving students, might they benefit from working independently at home and then getting and giving peer feedback during class time?

Use your goals to help decide on a general class structure. 

Warm-ups for Creative Writing

You’ll need a consistent way to begin each class.

When I initially began teaching Creative Writing, I just wanted to provide my students with more time to write. We began every class period with free writing. I gave students a couple of prompts to choose from each day, and then we’d write for about ten minutes. 

( Those journal prompts are right here . Every day includes two prompts plus a third option of freewriting.)

Students were given the option to share part of their writing if they wanted to. Every couple of weeks I’d flip through their notebooks to make sure they were keeping up, but I only read the entries they starred for me in advance. 

Later, I wanted to add some rigor to my Creative Writing class and leverage more mentor texts. I created a Poem of the Week activity for each week of the course. 

This gave students the opportunity to study professional writing before using it as a mentor text for a new, original piece. 

(You can read more about using these Poem of the Week activities here.) 

As my goals for the class and my students change, so did the way we began class. 

How can you begin your class in a way that supports the end goals or teaches the desired standards? How often will peers work together?

Teach Creative Writing to High School Students Step #5: Focus on Engagement Strategies

Now you can actually start planning lessons and projects!

But as you do so, focus on creating engaging ones–especially if your class is meant to be a fun elective.

Need more tips? Check out this post full of Creative Writing teaching tips!

Use Mentor Texts and Lots of Examples

Have you ever tried putting a puzzle together without knowing what the image was going to look like? It would be pretty difficult! Similarly, students need lots of examples of strong writing to aspire to. 

Without clear models or mentor texts , students will happily turn in unread drafts. They’ll choose the first word that comes to their mind instead of searching for a better one. 

But if you surround students with great writing, highlight strong technique when discussing the writing of others, and challenge them to notice the details in their own writing, they’ll naturally become better at self-editing.

I don’t believe that you can provide students with too many mentor texts or examples of strong writing. As you teach Creative Writing, keep or take pictures of strong writing samples from students to use as examples later. 

Nearly all of my lessons and projects include an example along with instruction.

Model and Create with Your Students

You can even use your own writing as an example. When I had students free write to creative writing prompts, I always wrote with them. Sometimes I would then put my notebook under the document camera and model reading my own work.  

I would cross out words and replace them or underline phrases I thought were strong enough to keep. Model for students not just great writing, but the process of strengthening writing.

And then give them plenty of time to edit theirs. This is when having students engage in peer feedback is a game-changer. 

Without great writing to aspire to, however, students easily become lazy and turn in work that is “good enough” in their eyes. Don’t let them get lazy in their writing. Keep throwing greater and greater work in front of them and challenge them to push themselves. 

(This is another reason I love using Poem of the Week warm-ups –they expose students to a new writer every week!)

Set Clear Expectations

Creative writing causes a lot of students anxiety. There’s no “right” answer, so how will they know if they creatively wrote “correctly?”

Help them out by setting clear expectations. Offering a rubric for every project is great for this. If you can, give them specifics to include. “At least 500 words” or “three or more similes” are nice, concrete guidelines that students can follow.

Give Students Choice

Offering students choice always boosts engagement. It lets students take charge of their learning and pursue something that interests them.

For example, when I teach odes , students are given the opportunity to write about something they love.

With an author study , students can study a writer whose style and work they admire.

Teach Creative Writing to High School Students Step #6: Use Clear and Structured Expectations

While showing students excellent prose or perfect poetry should help inspire students, your writers will still need some hard parameters to follow. 

Academic writing is often easier for students than creative writing. Usually, academic writing follows a structure or certain formula. The rubric dictates exactly how many quotes need to be included or how long an essay needs to be. MLA or APA formats tell students how to punctuate quotes and citations. 

These rules don’t apply to creative writing. And while that’s exactly what makes creative writing awesome, it’s often overwhelming. 

So do your students a favor and give them some clear expectations (without, of course, entirely dictating what they need to write about).  

The project also includes a rubric, so young writers know what should be included in their stories.

Don’t give your students so much creative freedom that it paralyzes them! Your writers are still students; give them the same level of structure and organization that you would in any other class. 

Engage your students in more creative writing!

Sign up and get five FREE Creative Writing journal prompts to use with your students! 

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Teach Creative Writing to High School Students Step #7: Give Students Choices

So how do you give students frameworks, requirements, and uphold high expectations without stifling their creativity?

Give students choices. You can write about A, B, or C, as long as you meet requirements 1, 2, and 3. 

Offering choices works with small one-day assignments or lessons as well as bigger, longer-term projects. 

The previously mentioned Fairy Tale Retelling Project is a great example of offering a narrow selection of choices that uphold expectations without dictating what students write. 

Another one of my favorite examples of offering students choices is my “Show. Don’t Tell” Mini-lesson . This lesson touches on everything students need to successfully learn creative writing. 

First I teach them the concept of showing vs. telling in writing through direct instruction. I show them lots of examples of expanding a “telling sentence” into a “showing paragraph.”

Then I model for students how I would write a paragraph that shows crucial information, rather than telling it. 

Lastly, I have students pick a strip of paper from a hat or a bag. Each strip of paper contains a “telling sentence” that they must then write as a “showing paragraph.” Students are limited by the sentences I provide, but they still have complete freedom over how they achieve that detailed paragraph. 

If you wanted to give students even more freedom, you could let them pick their sentences or trade with a peer rather than blindly choosing. 

Any time you can give students a choice, you give them permission to use their creativity and allow them to take some of the initiative in their own learning.

Teach Creative Writing to High School Students Step #8: Encourage Peer Collaboration and Feedback

We can tell students something a hundred times, but they won’t listen until a peer says the same thing. Us educators know the value of positive peer interaction, so don’t limit it in a creative writing class!

There are a ton of ways to implement peer interaction in a creative writing class. I often do this on the first day of class with a writing game. You’ve probably heard of it: everyone writes a sentence on a piece of paper, then everyone passes the paper and adds a sentence, and so on. 

I highly encourage you to use peer feedback throughout the class. I usually start having students share their work from day one with my free “I Am” Poem Lesson so that they can start getting used to having their work read by others immediately.

Make getting feedback so routine in your room that students don’t even question it.

It’s really tempting to let students get away without sharing their work. We don’t want to make shy or anxious students uncomfortable. I mean, what better way to completely ruin creative writing for a student than to make them feel embarrassed all the time, right?

But keep trying to encourage shy students to share. Even if that means you share it anonymously or read it aloud for them. 

I recommend including some kind of peer feedback with every writing assignment . Yes, even short practice assignments. This will work as a kind of “immersion therapy” for receiving feedback on more involved work.

After some time, you might find that your students even begin to share their work without your prompting! 

I like to organize the desks in my Creative Writing class so that students are in little groups. I’ve found that at least half of my classes will begin talking and sharing with one another in their little groups while working on projects. 

They’ll ask each other questions or to remind them of a word. They’ll read sentences aloud and ask if they sound right. Personally, I would much rather hear this kind of chatter in my class than have a dead silent room of boring writers!

However you decide to allow students to work together, be sure to provide the opportunity. Reading and getting feedback from peers could possibly teach students more about writing than any of your instruction (sorry!).

One of the truly great things about teaching creative writing to high school students is that there often isn’t a rigid curriculum. Of course, this is also sometimes one of the worst things about teaching creative writing to high school students!

You have total freedom over the assignments you give, the standards you teach, and how you organize and structure your classroom. After a few years of teaching Creative Writing, however, I’ve found that sticking to these six steps is a great way to have a successful semester.

If you’re excited about teaching your Creative Writing class, but are running low on prep time, check out my complete 9-week Creative Writing course ! Included are two different types of warm-ups, poetry analysis activities from well-known authors, mini-lesson, projects, and more!

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How to Teach Creative Writing

Last Updated: March 13, 2024 References

This article was co-authored by Christopher Taylor, PhD . Christopher Taylor is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at Austin Community College in Texas. He received his PhD in English Literature and Medieval Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014. There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 118,258 times.

Creative writing is one of the most enjoyable types of writing for students. Not only does it allow students to explore their imaginations, but it helps them to structure their ideas and produce writing that they can be proud of. However, creative writing is a relatively difficult type of writing to teach and offers challenges to both new and seasoned teachers alike. Fortunately, though, with some work of their own, teachers can better develop their own abilities to teach creative writing.

Providing Students with the Fundamentals

• Theme. The theme of a story is its message or the main idea behind it.
• Setting. The setting of a story is the location or time it takes place in.
• Plot. The plot is the overall story, narrative, or sequence of events.
• Characterization. Characterization is how a character or person in a story is explained or presented to the reader.
• Conflict and dramatic action. Conflict and dramatic action are the main events of focus in the story. These events are often tense or exciting and are used to lure the reader in. [1] X Research source

• Explain how your students, as writers, can appeal to the humanity of their readers. One great way to do this is to ask them to explore character development. By developing the characters in their story, readers will become invested in the story.
• Discuss the triggers that engage readers in an effective story. Most great stories start with a problem, which is solved with the resolution, or conclusion of the story. Encourage students to create an engaging problem that will hook the readers in the first few pages of a short story or novel. [2] X Research source

• By setting the tone and atmosphere of a story, the author will establish his or her attitude to the subject and the feel of the story.
• Tone can be positive, neutral, or negative. [3] X Research source
• Atmosphere can be dark, happy, or neither.
• Descriptive words like “darkness” or “sunshine” can help set both the tone and atmosphere. [4] X Research source

• Active verbs are used to show action in the story.
• Active verbs are very often a better alternative to passive voice, as it keeps your writing clear and concise for your readers. [5] X Research source
• For example, instead of writing “The cat was chased by the dog” your student can write “The dog chased the cat.”

Guiding Students through the Process

• Tell your students to brainstorm about ideas they are truly interested in.
• If you must restrict the general topic, make sure that your students have a good amount of wiggle room within the broad topic of the assignment.
• Never assign specific topics and force students to write. This will undermine the entire process. [6] X Research source

• Letting your students know that the outline is non-binding. They don’t have to follow it in later steps of the writing process.
• Telling your students that the parts of their outline should be written very generally.
• Recommending that your students create several outlines, or outlines that go in different directions (in terms of plot and other elements of storytelling). The more avenues your students explore, the better. [7] X Research source

• Tell students that there is no “right” way to write a story.
• Let students know that their imaginations should guide their way.
• Show students examples of famous writing that breaks normal patterns, like the works of E.E. Cummings, William Faulkner, Charles Dickens, and William Shakespeare.
• Ask students to forget about any expectations they think you have for how a story should be written. [8] X Research source

• Gather the first drafts and comment on the student's work. For first drafts, you want to check on the overall structure of the draft, proper word use, punctuation, spelling, and overall cohesion of the piece. [9] X Research source
• Remind them that great writers usually wrote several drafts before they were happy with their stories.
• Avoid grading drafts for anything other than completion.

• Let students pair off to edit each others' papers.
• Have your students join groups of 3 or 4 and ask them to go edit and provide feedback on each member’s story.
• Provide guidance so students contribute constructively to the group discussion. [10] X Research source

• Reward your students if they are innovative or do something unique and truly creative.
• Avoid evaluating your students based on a formula.
• Assess and review your own standards as often as you can. Remember that the point is to encourage your students' creativity. [11] X Research source

Spurring Creativity

• Teach your students about a variety of writers and genres.
• Have your students read examples of different genres.
• Promote a discussion within your class of the importance of studying literature.
• Ask students to consider the many ways literature improves the world and asks individuals to think about their own lives. [12] X Research source

• Make sure your room is stocked with a wide variety of fiction stories.
• Make sure your room is stocked with plenty of paper for your students to write on.
• Line up other writing teachers or bring in writers from the community to talk to and encourage your students.

• Cut out pictures and photographs from magazines, comic books, and newspapers.
• Have your students cut out photographs and pictures and contribute them to your bank.
• Consider having your students randomly draw a given number of photos and pictures and writing a short story based on what they draw.
• This technique can help students overcome writer's block and inspire students who think that they're "not creative." [13] X Research source

• Pair your students with students from another grade in your school.
• Allow your students to write stories that younger students in your school would like to read.
• Pair your students with another student in the class and have them evaluate each others' work. [14] X Research source

• If you just have a typical classroom to work with, make sure to put inspirational posters or other pictures on the walls.
• Open any curtains so students can see outside.
• If you have the luxury of having an extra classroom or subdividing your own classroom, create a comfortable space with a lot of inspirational visuals.
• Writing spaces can help break writer's block and inspire students who think that they're "not creative." [15] X Research source

• Involve students in the printing process.
• Publication does not have to be expensive or glossy.
• Copies can be made in the school workroom if possible or each student might provide a copy for the others in the group.
• A collection of the stories can be bound with a simple stapler or brads.
• Seek out other opportunities for your students to publish their stories.

Expert Q&A

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/courses/creative-writing-101
• ↑ https://kobowritinglife.com/2012/10/14/six-tips-for-engaging-readers-within-two-seconds-the-hook-in-fiction-and-memoir/
• ↑ https://www.dailywritingtips.com/in-writing-tone-is-the-author%E2%80%99s-attitude/
• ↑ http://ourenglishclass.net/class-notes/writing/the-writing-process/craft/tone-and-mood/
• ↑ https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/539/02/
• ↑ http://www.alfiekohn.org/article/choices-children/
• ↑ https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-fiction/7-steps-to-creating-a-flexible-outline-for-any-story
• ↑ http://thewritepractice.com/the-formula-to-write-a-novel/
• ↑ https://student.unsw.edu.au/editing-your-essay
• ↑ http://orelt.col.org/module/unit/5-promoting-creative-writing
• ↑ http://education.seattlepi.com/grade-creative-writing-paper-3698.html
• ↑ http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2016/04/educating-teenagers-emotions-through-literature/476790/
• ↑ http://www.wrightingwords.com/for-teachers/5-tips-for-teaching-creative-writing/

About This Article

To teach creative writing, start by introducing your students to the core elements of storytelling, like theme, setting, and plot, while reminding them that there’s no formula for combining these elements to create a story. Additionally, explain how important it is to use tone and atmosphere, along with active verbs, to write compelling stories that come alive. When your students have chosen their topics, have them create story outlines before they begin writing. Then, read their rough drafts and provide feedback to keep them on the right path to storytelling success. For tips from our English reviewer on how to spur creativity in your students, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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35 Unique Ways To Introduce Yourself to Students This Year

It’s all about that first impression!

If you’re looking for a new and creative way to introduce yourself to students this year, we’ve got you covered! We gathered lots of terrific ideas, including some from teachers on the WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook . They range from quick and easy options to some that will take some planning, but they’re all great ways to start the new year off on the right note.

1. Do a Teacher Feature on school social media

Lots of schools use their social media accounts to introduce teachers, like this example from @tstlongview . Propose the idea at your school, suggesting they do a teacher a day in the weeks leading up to back-to-school time.

2. Have last year’s students introduce you

This fun learning activity not only allows your current students to introduce you to next year’s class, it gives you a chance to get feedback about how this year has gone! See how this teacher runs the lesson with her students .

3. Send postcards to introduce yourself

No time for a full letter? Try postcards instead. “I took a picture of me playing fetch with my trusty golden retriever and sent it to each of my new students over the summer,” James C. shares. “On the back, I wrote a short note introducing myself and telling them how excited I was to have them in my class.” See how The Techie Teacher uses this idea here.

4. Show them a slideshow

Lots of teachers use a slideshow to introduce themselves. We’ve made it even easier to create one with our free editable template—grab it here !

5. Introduce yourself with a quiz

First-day quizzes are a really popular way to introduce yourself to students. Kahoot even has an easy-to-customize template just for getting to know your teacher! Lisa T. does a slideshow about herself on the first day and then follows up on the second day with a quiz to see how much they remember.

6. Share your talents

Students expect the usual bio intro—I’m Ms. Smith, I’ve been teaching for 10 year, etc. But why not open with a bit of pizzazz by sharing one of your unique talents with students? Play a song on your trumpet, pass out cookies you made, display a quilt you made. Opening up with something personal will encourage your students to do the same. 

7. Plan a meet-the-teacher escape room

Source: @thekellyteachingfiles

OK, we admit this is going to take some work. But it’s a surefire way to amp up student excitement from day one! Set up an escape room to help kids learn more about you and explore the classroom at the same time. See how Mskcpotter does it here.

8. Play 20 Questions

After a brief introduction, open the floor to students’ questions about yourself and the coming year. This is a great way to reveal students’ wishes and hopes for the year as well as any concerns that are lurking beneath the surface. Be sure to have a “pass” option if students ask any questions that are too personal for you so you can deflect with good humor.

9. Use a student-created brochure

Emily F. lets her previous year’s class help her introduce herself to incoming students. Then she gives a quiz to see if kids really took the time to read it! “At the end of the year, I have my students make a brochure for next year’s students. If the kids read it, they get a lot of answers to my quiz questions right.” Looking for a template? We like this one from Teacher Trap .

10. Decorate a Bitmoji virtual classroom

Whether you’re teaching in person or online, Bitmoji classrooms are a fantastic way to show off your personality. This one from The Social Studies World of Ms. J has clickable images to take students to different important links.  Learn how to create your own here.

11. Read, run, and write

Get your students working collaboratively and focusing on their writing skills right away with this activity from the Busy Teacher . Write a list of facts about yourself—your background, family, hobbies, etc.—and post several copies of the list in the front of the room.

Divide your class into small teams and give each team a sheet of paper. One student in each group will stay at their desk while the others take turns running up to the board, reading and memorizing as much as they can before running back to the student at the desk who will listen and write down what they’re told. The first group to correctly write down the full list wins.

12. Build a word cloud

Word clouds are fun to make, and you can use this as an activity for all your students on the first day if you like. Make your own using instructions from Happy Hooligans using words that describe your background, hobbies, style, and more. Plus, check out these free word cloud generators for teachers .

13. Set up a question-and-answer match

Image source: JobCase

Fourth grade teacher Lori Silviera shares this fun activity: “I make Q and A’s on index cards about me,” she says, “and then the students try to find a classmate who has the answer or question that matches the card they get. After they partner, the person with the question reads it and then the partner that has the answer reads it to the rest of the class. For example: How many pets do I have? (One cat named Lenny).” 

14. Pop an emoji bubble

We love this clever little game that works with Google Slides and is perfect for virtual or traditional classrooms. Students pick an emoji and “pop” the bubble, and you answer the question to tell them a bit about yourself. Kids can play too! Get the game from SSSTeaching on Teachers Pay Teachers .

15. Create a Fakebook profile

It’s not a great idea to show students your real social media pages. Instead, create a “Fakebook” profile, like teacher Marissa Q. does. Use the free online tool , or mock up one on paper, sharing interesting facts, photos, and other info about you that you’re comfortable with kids knowing.

16. Model a survey

Try this fun and educational activity from the Art of Education. Student questionnaires/surveys are a great way to get to know your students, and for students to have an opportunity to share things with you at the start of the school year. Ask things like, “Do you have a nickname or middle name that you go by instead of what is on the roster?” “What is your preferred pronoun?” “How do you like to receive feedback?” etc. We like this list of questions from the Inspiration Board. 

17. Let students research your life

Introduce yourself to your students with a lesson on gathering info from trustworthy primary sources . “I give students a stack of primary documents from my life (letters, report cards, class pictures, etc.) with all the sensitive information blacked out,” eighth grade teacher Phil L. says. “I ask the students to create a timeline from that information, hypothesize about what happened in the gaps, and draw conclusions about the kind of person they think I am.”

18. Try a game of This and That

Your new students will love this hands-on “get to know you” game from Amateur Craft Hour . The game begins with the first person securing a ball of yarn to their wrist. Then, they choose a stick with a word written on each side—for example, fame and money. They choose which one they would prefer. Then, they ask those who would make the same choice to raise their hand and toss the yarn to one of them. Play continues until the yarn has woven quite a web illustrating that we are all connected in some way.

19. Hold a scavenger hunt

Jan R. expands on the research activity by turning her students into detectives. She puts all the documents in envelopes marked TOP SECRET and stashes them around her room. She even gives them magnifying glasses to read the fine print! Use the free printables from Moms & Munchkins to make this even more fun.

20. Introduce yourself in a movie

It’s a bit more work, but teachers point out that you can use these to introduce yourself again and again. Plus, a movie works in both regular and virtual classrooms. Many teachers already have access to iMovie on their school computers. Learn how to use it here.

21. Introduce yourself on Flip

Flip (formerly Flipgrid) is the best interactive tool you’re not using yet. It allows teachers and kids to record and safely post short videos … and it’s completely free! Record a Flip video to introduce yourself to students, then have them do the same. Whether you’re teaching in person or online, this is such a fun way for everyone to get to know each other.

22. Let them do the math

Sneak a little math review into your teacher introduction with this clever idea! Come up with a series of facts about you that can be represented in numbers, then turn those into math problems. This works at a variety of grade levels, and kids always get such a kick out of it! Learn more from The Magnificent Fourth Grade Year .

23. Design a T-shirt

Wear your personality on your sleeve! Draw the outline of a shirt and decorate it with information about yourself. Have your students do the same and then use them to adorn your room, like Counseling Corner does. (Feeling ambitious? Decorate and wear a real T-shirt instead!)

24. Draw a name map

Mapping is an excellent writing strategy, and you can teach the concept early on with a fun name map. Create one to introduce yourself on the first day of class, then have your students do the same. Find out more from TeachWithMe.com .

25. Put together a name tent

Name tents work in traditional or virtual classrooms. In an in-person classroom, prop this on your desk for the first week or so. Online, post the image during breaks or leave it on the corner of the screen. (Kids can do this activity too!) Learn more from Spark Creativity .

26. Give them the scoop on you

Is there any cuter way to introduce yourself to your students? If you really want to guarantee yourself the “best teacher ever” award, you could have an ice cream sundae party to go along with it! Learn more from True Life I’m a Teacher .

27. Let your star shine

“Every week during the year, one student is Star of the Week and they get to display a collage of their favorite things in the classroom,” says Judith G. “For the first week, I’m the star and my collage allows my students to get to know me.” Use this example from Amanda Hager on Pinterest for inspiration.

28. Dress the part

“I know my students think of me as a bit of a geek (hey, what can I say, I’m a math teacher!) so I totally geek out for the first day of school,” admits Greg S. “I wear a pi T-shirt and thick glasses and really play up the geeky math teacher thing.” Want to go all out? Try these teacher dresses that make you look just like Ms. Frizzle!

29. Play Red Light, Green Light, getting-to-know-you style

Here’s a fun twist on the classic “Two Truths and a Lie” (another teacher-introduction favorite). Line kids up on one end of the room or playground. Stand on the other side, and make a statement about yourself. If students think the statement is true, they take one step forward. If they’re wrong, they go back to the start! The first student to reach you is the winner. Learn more about this unique way to introduce yourself from Rulin’ the Roost .

30. Write an autobiographical poem

This idea comes from Brianna H., who says, “I like to do an autobiographical poem. I do a model about myself to use as a guide for them. Students write their own using the template and then write it on construction paper and cut out images to create a collage around it.” See this project in action from Melulater.

31. Show them you’re one part of the puzzle

Use this cute idea to introduce yourself and create a terrific back-to-school bulletin board all at once! Personalize your puzzle piece with pictures or facts about yourself. Have kids do the same, and put all the pieces together to make a terrific mural for your classroom. Learn more from Supply Me .

32. Assemble a picture collage

Use pictures to make a collage that tells kids about you with pictures instead of words. “We do a Get to Know Me in Pictures,” says Paige T. “I made one for myself and I introduce myself to the whole class using mine.” If you really want to get creative, make your collage in the shape of your silhouette. Learn how from Kix. (This works online too— try it using Padlet .)

33. Map out a timeline of your life

Draw a timeline on the whiteboard before you introduce yourself, suggests Jan R. As you share facts about yourself from different points in your life, have kids come up and add those events to the right place on the timeline. Make it even more fun by adding photos from your life, like this one from Surfin’ Through Second .

34. Craft a get-to-know-you cloudburst

This simple and colorful craft lets students know what’s important to you. Have them make their own so you can get to know them too. Hat tip to GuysTeachToo on Instagram for this idea.

35. Write a Mystery Box essay

Dawn M. explains, “I put 3 items that represent me in a bag and use it to teach the 5-paragraph essay format. Each item is one paragraph of my essay. Then I share my essay with the kids and pull each item out while reading that item’s paragraph.” She follows up by having kids write their own introductory essays using the same format. See how one teacher uses this activity at Welcome to Room 36 !

36. Pop an emoji bubble

How do you introduce yourself to your students come share your ideas and get advice on the weareteachers helpline group on facebook ., plus, check out icebreakers for middle and high school students that really work .

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Engaging Creative Writing Lessons for Your Students

I often hear students protest, “But I’m not creative.” And moms look at me with a shoulder shrug and a mirror claim, “I’m not creative either.”

I don’t buy in.

We have been gifted with a creativity muscle. It’s just that it doesn’t work properly if it hasn’t been exercised.

As I design creative writing lessons , my goal is to provide you with engaging, hands-on activities–creative writing exercises to keep your students smiling, laughing, and moving that yellow pencil (or purple marker!) across the page.

The Importance of Creative Writing

Why should you care about creative writing? Because creative writers are creative thinkers.

Creative thinkers are resourceful problem-solvers. They aren’t afraid to try new things as their curiosity leads them to experiment. Creative thinkers gain emotional intelligence as they explore their own thoughts and feelings, the thoughts and feelings of others, and the big, big world around them.

Creative writing doesn’t have to be hard, scary, or dreadful. I promise. I’m here to help you deliver interesting, enjoyable lessons to your students.

Browse the lessons below to find the just-right creative writing activity for your students.

Creative Writing Lessons and Activities for Early Elementary

Character Sketch: My Pet Dragon Even young students can write a character sketch with this guided writing activity. Students fill out the pet dragon form and then write a short sketch using the information on the form.

Christmas Story Writing Prompts Flip, flap, and mix until you find a setting, characters, and conflict you want to use for your short story.

Circus Writing Prompt Cards This set of writing prompt cards is great for kids who need help generating ideas. The prompts are questions. As the students answer the questions, they will have ample ideas for writing a circus themed story.

Creative Writing Activities for Kids This group of activities from other bloggers will provide you with lots of new ideas for your students.

Creative Writing Dice Game You can partner with your student for this fun dice game; it is the perfect remedy for students who balk at pushing their pencils.

Design a Circus Poster Creative Writing Activity Another great activity for reluctant writers; the circus poster only includes a tiny bit of writing, but a great bit of creating thinking.

Dialogue Lesson Plan for Young Writers Introduce the importance of dialogue with This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen. This lesson also includes a hands-on dice writing game that helps students write their own dialogue examples.

Dinosaur Creative Writing Prompts This set of writing prompts will help your student write a paragraph or journal entry about dinosaurs.

Dinosaur Writing Prompt Cards This set of writing prompt cards will motivate your student to write a dinosaur themed short story. The cards are structured in a way to help your student generate gobs of ideas for a short story.

Fairy Tale Writing Prompts Inspire your student to write with fairy tale settings, objects, and characters.

Halloween Story Writing Prompts Write spooky stories with this set of flip, mix, and match strips. Students are given various options for settings, characters, and conflicts.

Hot Air Balloon Writing Prompt Cards If your student complains about not knowing what to write about, try this set of adventure themed writing prompt cards. You can easily guide your student through the writing process with these prompts.

Imaginary Animals Writing Activity Even young students in kindergarten and first grade can enjoy a creative writing lesson. Your students will love creating crazy animals with playdough and using the writing form to compose simple paragraphs.

Listmaking Writing Prompts Students may not be ready to write sentences or paragraphs, but you can entice them to make lists with these engaging prompts.

Mad Science: Adjectives Writing Lab First, students will imagine wonderful and strange things hissing and fizzing in a mad scientist’s lab. Next, students will name and write a description for each item. Finally, students will use their descriptions to write paragraphs about the mad scientist’s lab.

Monster Creative Writing Prompt Cards Boost your student’s imagination with these monster creative writing prompts. You can use these for paragraph writing or journal entries; some of the prompts might even lead to short stories.

Mystery Writing Prompts Do you have a super sleuth? Let your detective try writing some mystery stories using these prompts.

Nurture Creative Thinking with Wordless Books The precursor to creative writing is creative thinking. This activity, designed to build your student’s creative thinking skills, is based on Aaron Becker’s wordless books, Journey and Quest .

Pet Picture Writing Prompts I love using pictures for prompts! Grab this set of free pet pictures and use some of the ideas in the post to get your students writing about pets.

Pirate Writing Prompts It’s a pirate’s life with these fun prompts. Print and cut out the cards. Laminate and put them on a ring and let your student pick one and write.

Teach Parts of a Story with a Picture Book Use Help! We Need a Title!  by Herve Tullet to teach your student about author, title, characters, setting, conflict, and resolution.

Super Hero Writing Prompts Save the day with these fun prompts for your students.

Thanksgiving Dice Writing Activity Your students will laugh out loud as they create silly sentences about Thanksgiving.

Use a Picture Book Teach the Story Element of Conflict The Pencil  by Allan Ahlberg is a fantastic base for teaching how to add conflict and resolution to a short story. Use the lesson and game to teach it to your students.

Writing Activity for Sam and Dave Dig a Hole: Make a List Use the book Sam and Dave Dig a Hole to inspire your student to create a fun (and funny!) list.

Write Backstories for Fairy Tale Characters Have you ever wondered what Rapunzel was doing before she got trapped in that tower? Or what about Goldilocks? What was she doing before she invaded the Three Bears’ house? Explore all kinds of writing possibilities with this fun creative writing lesson.

You can also find an assortment of creative writing lessons and activities for elementary students in the Tip-Top Printables Shop .

Creative Writing Lessons and Activities for Upper Elementary

Pictures to Inspire Creative Writing If you are looking for an easy way to boost interest in creative writing, try this simple activity.

Pourquoi Tales Writing Lesson Why does the leopard have spots? How did the bear lose its tail? Let your students build their creative thinking skills while composing pourquoi tales with this lesson plan.

Creative Writing Lessons for a Homeschool Co-op

I taught this series of posts for a local homeschool co-op, but you can use them however you want.

Creative Writing Lesson One: Cliché and Metaphor Students learn the importance of words with this lesson–including how to avoid clichés and what makes a great metaphor.

Creative Writing Lesson Two: Sensory Details Students consider how a reader experiences the world through writing and how sensory details are a key part of that experience.

Creative Writing Lesson Three: Showing vs. Telling Students learn how to recognize authors who utilize showing, and students will be able to articulate the difference between showing and telling.

Creative Writing Lesson Four: Capturing Images Image is essential. Students learn why images are necessary and how to capture their own.

Creative Writing Lesson Five: Character and Conflict Introduce character and conflict and why these story elements are vital for short story writers.

Creative Writing Lesson Six: Point of View Students learn about point of view and then enjoy reading poems and using pictures to write descriptions from different points of view (and perspectives).

Creative Writing Lesson Seven: Fractured Fairy Tales As we work to put together everything we’ve learned in the previous lessons, students begin composing their own fractured fairy tales.

Creative Writing Lesson Eight: Revision After a mini-lesson about revision, students partner up for peer editing.

You can use this Writing Ideas Notebook to help your students record and explore dozens of writing ideas.

Unleashing Creativity: A Guide to Teaching Creative Writing

Thu Apr 18, 2024

Introduction: Creative writing is more than just putting words on paper; it's an exploration of imagination, a journey through the depths of the human experience, and a means of expression unlike any other. Teaching creative writing isn't about simply imparting rules and techniques; it's about nurturing the innate creativity within each individual and providing them with the tools and guidance to unleash their imagination. In this blog post, we'll delve into the art of teaching creative writing and explore strategies to inspire and empower budding writers.

Understanding the Fundamentals: Before diving into the creative process, it's essential to establish a solid foundation of the fundamentals of writing. This includes grammar, sentence structure, punctuation, and vocabulary. While creativity knows no bounds, having a grasp of these basics provides writers with the necessary framework to effectively convey their ideas.

Encouraging Exploration: Creativity flourishes when writers are encouraged to explore different genres, styles, and perspectives. As an instructor, provide opportunities for students to experiment with various forms of writing, whether it's poetry, fiction, non-fiction, or even hybrid forms. Encourage them to step out of their comfort zones and embrace the unknown.

Creating a Supportive Environment: Building a supportive and nurturing environment is crucial for fostering creativity. Encourage open dialogue and constructive feedback among peers. Establishing a community where writers feel safe to share their work without fear of judgment promotes growth and collaboration.

Embracing the Writing Process: The writing process is unique to each individual, but it often involves stages such as brainstorming, drafting, revising, and editing. Teach students to embrace each stage and emphasize that writing is a journey rather than a destination. Encourage them to embrace uncertainty and to see challenges as opportunities for growth.

Igniting Inspiration: Inspiration can be found everywhere, from everyday experiences to dreams and fantasies. Encourage students to keep a journal to capture fleeting ideas and observations. Encourage them to draw inspiration from art, music, nature, and personal experiences. Sparking creativity often involves encouraging writers to see the world through a different lens.

Exercises and Prompts: Engage students with writing exercises and prompts designed to stimulate their creativity. These could include visual prompts, word prompts, writing sprints, or even collaborative storytelling exercises. By challenging students to think outside the box, you'll help them tap into their creative potential.

Cultivating a Growth Mindset: Instill in students the belief that creativity is not fixed but can be developed and nurtured over time. Encourage a growth mindset where setbacks are seen as opportunities for learning and improvement. Celebrate progress and effort rather than focusing solely on outcomes.

Celebrating Diversity: Encourage writers to embrace their unique voices and perspectives. Celebrate diversity in storytelling and highlight the importance of representation in literature. By valuing and amplifying diverse voices, you'll create a richer and more inclusive creative community.

Conclusion: Teaching creative writing is an art in itself, requiring patience, passion, and a deep appreciation for the creative process. By fostering a supportive environment, embracing exploration, and igniting inspiration, you can empower budding writers to unleash their creativity and embark on a lifelong journey of self-expression. As an instructor, your role is not only to teach the craft of writing but to nurture the creative spirit within each student, guiding them as they discover the power of their own voice.

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7 ways to bring Creative Writing into the #EFL classroom

Here are 7 ways to bring creative writing to your classroom from teachers all over the world:

1. Bag of Props 

Stefan Chiarantano – Stefan has taught English in Taiwan, Japan and China for several years and in his hometown of Toronto, Canada.

To make learning English fun for my students I would bring in a bag of props that I could incorporate into my lessons. My bag of tricks included CDs of children’s songs, chants and pop music. I would use a chant with Total Physical Response (TPR) to begin a class with young learners or a pop song with adolescent junior high school students as a means to teach idioms, vocabulary or grammar. My bag also included puppets, which allowed me to teach target language such as greetings by acting out a dialogue skit with the puppets. I varied my voice for the puppets and soon discovered that it had introduced another native speaker in the classroom.. . It included stuffed animals, which I used to teach prepositions of place. There were coloured plastic balls to teach colours but which I also used in playful activities. . As silly as it sounds, I would be lost without my bag of tricks. It has infused creativity into the way I teach but more importantly it has made learning English an enjoyable experience for my students. 

2. A Sense of Adventure

Ezekiel Yerimoh – Ezekiel is a Certified Supply Chain Officer and the CEO of Tonell & Cole. He is also the National Coordinator of Quizzing Nigeria (a member of the International Quizzing Association – IQA) and the President of Knowledgefield International.  

Creative writing can bring a spirit of adventure into the classroom. Thinking about an unusual, exciting and dangerous experience or event is not only a great way to widen the horizons of students but also to give them great exposure to new vocabulary. Moreover, students’ talents, gifts, skills, environment, background and personality will play a major role in its ability to function effectively in creative writing. Basically, students should be well trained to undertake the task of creative writing.

A good example of an unusual event is for one to imagine the sunlight when it is supposed to be dark or a wild animal that speaks like a human being. Students can become more engaged if they use their personality traits and experiences to come up with their own unusual events and then perform free writing based on the event, letting their stories becomes more and more unusual.

3. Debates and Quotes

Tatyana Fedosova  – Tatyana has a PhD in English Philology, and is Professor of English at the Department of German Philology of Gorno-Altaisk State University, Altai, Siberia, Russia.

My favorite written task for intermediate-level students is to write an expert viewpoint on a challenging real-life situation or problem for a column in a magazine, for example, how to behave in a new school. I like to provide students with a quotation of a famous person on some hot topic and have them write a short argumentative passage on it. I also have my students debate a proposed amendment to the constitution by writing a speech for the TV debates or write the presidential pledge for the elections. I find it useful to ask students to make up an ending to a story, to complete the beginning of a sentence, or to write a report about an exotic place that they visited or a cultural/sporting event that took place in their region. These tasks help to reinforce key concepts under study, develop critical-thinking, cognitive, and creative skills and have practical applications as well. 

4. Mad-Libs

Peter Winthrop – Peter has been teaching kindergarten and primary school students in Shanghai, China since 2009. In addition to teaching he also assists in teacher training and mentoring.

Bringing creative writing into the classroom can be difficult, most textbooks do not focus on that part of learning another language. I like to start with Mad-libs, funny word substitutions. This allows students to have fun with the language and slips in a lesson on the importance of word choice. My big tip is to celebrate originality and learning language learned outside the classroom as much as using correct grammar. We want to show students they can use the language they have learned and can make their own sentences. They don’t just have to rely on the sentence patterns they drill in class.

I always base the Madlibs on whatever the lessons content is, so even while being silly we are practicing and using the lessons language. An example would be:

“Tim is going to the ___ because he wants to eat ___ .”  

Student One will pick the location, say library, then Student Two pick the object, say books. That gives us the sentence:

  “Tim is going to the library because he wants to eat books .”

The grammar is correct, the vocabulary is in its correct place but the meaning is silly, so everyone gets a laugh.

5. Shared Writing

Amira Shouma – Amira is a certified ESL teacher in Quebec and Ontario. She is also currently an MA graduate student in Applied Linguistics at Concordia University.

I found the article “Activities for Writing Instruction” by Sharon M. Abbey a good resource for teachers in their writing classes. The author offered various activities to activate students’ sense of writing, including shared writing. With shared writing, the teacher teaches students writing by writing with them. The process of writing starts with brainstorming ideas in a shared writing session. For example, at the beginning of the session, a teacher can establish the purpose of the shared writing session with his/her students. Then, he/she brainstorms ideas with the group. Next, the teacher selects one of the ideas and invites students to develop it. At the time of composition, the teacher and students start writing together. Finally, the teacher and his/her students revise their text together. Shared writing helps students gain their confidence, build their motivation, and also enrich their ideas. 

6. Alternate Endings

Anna Klis is an experienced English teacher and has worked for several renowned language schools. She holds a master’s degree in English from the University of Wroclaw and a bachelor’s degree in Film Production from the University of Wales, Great Britain.

Students (at least intermediate level) are asked in advanced by a teacher to watch a famous/popular film (or choose a  chapter from a well-known book) and choose one important and meaningful scene. At home they prepare a short description of a continuation of the scene but the way they want it to be, so that it is completely different from the original, and they work on a new version that would possibly lead to a different ending. When working on such a piece of writing students are supposed to use newly-learned grammar and/or vocabulary structures to practice them. Then during the lesson they can guess the alternate endings or compare their versions to decide which one is the best and how it fits the original story.

7. Writing with the Senses

Rachel Playfair – Rachel is a teacher-trainer and language coach working in Barcelona, Spain.

From time to time I like to use a short writing activity as a ‘Warm-Down’ end of class activity to help balance the ‘Warm-Up’ oral activities I do. One of my favourite ones is “Respond With Your Senses”: I will give students a sensory prompt (i.e. show them a picture, play them some music, put an object in a bag that they can’t see and let them feel it, let them smell something like peppermint extract), then students do free-writing about the prompt for about 3-5 minutes, depending on their level. I can also use the prompts to preview or review classroom topics. For further creative and/or collaborative writing activities, I will then put students together into small groups to combine and develop their paragraphs, which we can then share together or put up on the classroom wall. This activity can be adapted to a wide range of levels and ages as long as you make sure they have had previous vocabulary input. 

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Teaching excellence & educational innovation, how can i help students become better writers in the discipline when i am not a writing teacher.

There are a variety of things you can do that do not require expertise as a writing teacher, as well as ways of creating assignments and assessments that will aid students in this academic endeavor.

Share Useful Strategies with Students.

Many of the writing strategies we take for granted (e.g., how to write an introduction, how to research relevant sources) are not at all obvious to our students. And yet, these issues arise so frequently that there are resources available for us to share with our students. For example, the library offers workshops on various topics such as conducting literature searches and evaluating sources that can be scheduled during class time so students all get the chance to learn these basic skills before they need to be applied in writing assignments. In addition, there are several sources of information on the web that we can share with our students on basic writing tips and strategies:

• For general advice on the various steps in writing a term paper, see Princeton University's Writing Center .
• For strategies in writing introductions and conclusions, see MIT's Writing Center .
• For a checklist to help students edit their own writing for grammatical errors, see University of Wisconsin at Madison .

Provide Examples.

Use examples of good student writing to discuss with your students what makes these pieces of writing effective. This helps students identify the elements of good work for particular assignments within particular disciplinary domains that, in turn, helps them become conscious of these elements in their own work. Diverse models of student work also illustrate that there are different ways to approach the same assignment, thus offering students some sense of creative scope.

Model Your Process.

It may also be helpful for you to share with students your process in approaching writing tasks. For example, you can tell students:

• What questions you ask yourself before you begin (you might, for example, ask: Who is my audience? What am I trying to convince them of? What do I want to say, and what evidence can I use to back it up?).
• How you go about writing (Do you sketch out ideas on scrap paper? write an outline? hold off on writing your introductory paragraph until you have written the body of the paper?).
• How you go about diagnosing problems and making revisions in your writing (pdf). (Do you ask a friend to read and comment on your work? Do you step away from the paper for a day and return to it with fresh eyes?).

This is not always easy: it means we must become aware of and then make explicit the processes we engage in unconsciously and automatically. However, illuminating the complex steps involved in writing and revising to both you and your students is a useful exercise.

Design Assignments that Offer Appropriate Practice with Feedback.

Of course, one of the best ways for students to become better writers is through practice. However, as our learning principle on practice and feedback shows, not all practice is equally effective. An important way to help students develop as writers, even in a course not solely designed for this purpose, is to match the writing assignments to the students' skill level and offer practice (with feedback) on the aspects of writing where they can benefit. See more information on designing effective writing assignments and on responding to student writing .

Embed Milestones.

It is also helpful to include milestones into an assignment so that students submit either preliminary drafts (so they can incorporate feedback in their subsequent revisions) or components of a larger paper (so they avoid leaving the entire assignment to the last minute). For example, you could require your students to read and comment on at least two other classmates' early drafts by a specific deadline (for information on peer review, see the University of Wisconsin's Writing Center ).

Require Drafts.

Few people are able to turn out high-quality writing in first drafts. For most people, good writing requires rereading, rethinking, and sometimes fairly extensive revising. Many students, however, misconstrue or underestimate what good writing involves, believing that it's a simple linear process when, in fact, it is complex and iterative. Many students leave writing assignments to the last minute, expecting to be able to sit down and rapidly turn out a good paper. Thus, they may not give themselves enough time to re-examine premises, adjust the organizational scheme, refine their arguments, etc. Requiring drafts forces students to build in appropriate time frames for their work.

Create Rubrics.

A detailed scoring guide or performance rubric helps students to recognize the component parts of a writing task and understand how their competence will be assessed in each of these areas. A good rubric helps students to see what comprises high quality writing and to identify the skills they will need to perform well. You might want to provide your rubric to students along with the assignment so they know what the criteria are in advance and can plan appropriately.

Recognize Cultural Differences.

Besides the differences between skilled and unskilled writers, there are cultural differences that often manifest themselves in the written work of non-native speakers of English. For example, Arabic speakers may develop their arguments by restating their position rather than stating rationales. Japanese speakers are inclined to argue both for and against an issue, and to be more tentative in their conclusions. Some non-native speakers generally provide lengthier treatments of historical context, minimizing their own arguments. For more information about this area, contact the Intercultural Communications Center 's Writing Clinic for non-native English speakers.

Be explicit with students about the behaviors of skilled writers.

Understanding the behavioral differences between skilled and unskilled writers can help us work more effectively with students, even to "warn" them in advance of potential pitfalls to be avoided.

Skilled/successful writers

Unskilled/unsuccessful writers.

Conceive the writing problem in its complexity, including issues of audience, purpose, and context.

Conceive the writing problem narrowly, primarily in terms of topic.

Shape writing to the needs of the audience.

Have little concept of audience.

Are committed to the writing.

Care little about the writing.

Are less easily satisfied with first drafts. Think of revision as finding the line of argument. Revise extensively at the level of structure and content.

Are more easily satisfied with the first draft.

Think of revision as changing words or crossing out and throwing away. Revise only at the level of single word or sentence.

Are able to pay selective attention to various aspects of the writing task, depending on the stage of the writing process.

Often tried to do everything perfectly on the first draft. Get stuck on single word choices or on punctuation, even at early stages. Tend to believe that writing well is a gift you either have or don't have.

Sharing this information with students in advance of writing assignments can aid them in the writing process.

Self-introduction for Students [With Sample Intros]

• Updated on Jan 13, 2023

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You would want to make a good impression on your friends when you introduce yourself on the first day in class at your school or college – or at some other gathering. Wouldn’t you?

A small note before we dive into thick of things: Self-introductions can be context-driven, implying that because of unique situation you’re in, you may have to customize some part of the introduction. So, feel free to add or subtract to what’s covered here.

What to include in self-introduction?

Is there a format (for the introduction) to follow? The organizer, for example, may ask to include your name, place you come from, and your hobbies in the introduction.

If there is a format, follow it, but feel free to venture into areas that aren’t included in the format if they provide a more complete picture of yours.

You may include following in your introduction:

1. The start

You can start with the obvious – your name.

But that’s a common start. You can be bit innovative by starting with an attention-grabber. Watch the beginning of this video on marketing to get a feel of what I’m saying (watch the first 15 seconds):

Neil didn’t start with his name. He started with things that will grab people’s attention immediately and came to his name later on.

You can follow the same strategy to stand out among your classmates, most of whom would be following the standard ‘name first’ approach. You can start with a unique experience or a peculiar fact about your city or your uncommon hobby. The first sample intro (later in the post) follows this strategy.

More resources on conversations and introductions:

• How to introduce yourself in different settings?
• How to say ‘thank you’?
• How to respond when someone asks ‘how are you’?

2. Where are you from?

Mention the city you come from. You may add a sentence or two about the city as well if there is something interesting to talk about. Maybe the city is known for historic monuments. Maybe it’s known for natural resources.

And if you’ve lived in multiple cities, you may briefly mention the names and, as mentioned above, a sentence or two on the most interesting of them.

3. Where did you last attend the school?

If you recently moved to a new school (or college) and are introducing yourself there, you can briefly talk about your last school. Are there any interesting facts about your last school? If yes, mention them. Maybe it was established a long, long time ago. Maybe it has produced few famous alumni.

If you’re continuing in the same school, you may mention how many years you’ve been studying there.

4. Interests, hobbies, and achievements

What are your interests and hobbies?

Playing a sport? Traveling? Hiking? Reading? Kite flying? Or something unusual, say bull fighting?

Go into details if you’ve pursued the hobby with serious interest. For example, if you’re into reading, mention what genres you read, your favorite books, your favorite author, and how reading has affected you.

Don’t forget to mention your participation in extracurricular activities in school, if you did. Don’t forget to mention any significant achievements you’ve had?

5. Which stream/department/subject have you enrolled in?

You can briefly talk about which subjects (math, science, arts, commerce, biology, and so on) you’ve picked or you intend to pick in future. Optionally, you may also mention why you made the choice you have. Was it because you love it? Was it because it’ll help you achieve your career goals?

If you’re a college student, you can mention the department you’ve enrolled in. Are you in Arts, Commerce, Mechanical Engineering, Science, or Economics?

This doesn’t apply though if you’re introducing yourself to students who’re all from the same stream/department/subject.

6. Do you’ve clarity on interests/goals you want to pursue in future?

If you’re in K-12, you may not have seriously evaluated what career path you want to follow, and that’s fine. But if you’ve certain career aspiration and if you want to talk about it, you can. Some want to become engineer. Some, astronaut. Some, doctor. Some, model. Speak out what you aspire to become.

Most college students though have more concrete idea on post-college career. If you’ve decided the career path you want to pursue after college, you can share it with your classmates. You never know few of your classmates harboring same career aspirations may just approach you to be friends. You may also mention professional clubs you want to join to hone your skills.

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7. Where can you help others?

If you’ve a strength others in your class can benefit from, feel free to share it. For example, if you’re good in dancing, you can offer to teach the ropes to anyone interested. If you’re strong in a particular subject that is part of your syllabus, you can offer to help others in that subject.

If people know of your strengths, they’ll readily approach you when they need help. This is an easy way to make friends in college. And if you think helping others may be a time waster, you should remember that you too may need help in areas where others are stronger.

This is also a good stage – by offering help – to finish your intro. (See the first sample intro.)

Should I talk about my family?

Avoid it unless the format of the intro requires you to talk about your family as well. You need not go into what your parents do and which class your siblings study in.

Should I mention my last year’s grades?

You shouldn’t unless specifically asked to or others are mentioning it. Top grades can lend a snobbish air to your intro, even if you’re otherwise. Students may make an impression that you’re flaunting your grades, even if you aren’t.

Remember, the primary goal of your intro is to make friends, find people with shared interests.

Four do’s and don’ts when introducing yourself

1. listen to other intros.

Listen to intros that come before yours. If you can refer to someone else’s point or two seamlessly in your intro, you’ll impress people around.

2. Practice, but don’t cram

People often go blank on some of the points or get nervous when they stand up to speak. The best long-term way to overcome this is exposure to such speaking experiences . But in the immediate term, practice what you want to say few times (don’t cram though) to increase your odds of speaking with confidence.

3. Appear confident even if you’re not

After the presentations by executives and entrepreneurs (presumably confident speakers) as part of an executive program at Harvard University, Carmine Gallo , one of the judges, asked them how their presentations went. He heard following comments:

“I was so nervous. I was shaking.”

“I forgot what to say about a slide.”

“I stumbled over my words.”

“I totally lost my place.”

But, no one in the audience spotted those mistakes.

This phenomenon is called spotlight effect , which in nutshell means that people overestimate how much others are noticing their actions and appearance.

What’s the lesson?

If you’re nervous or you make few mistakes, don’t let them rattle you. Most won’t even notice them. Caroline Goyder captures this sentiment aptly in her book Find Your Voice: The Secret to Talking with Confidence in Any Situation :

When you dive into contribution [speaking], and move beyond the anxious competing, you realize that all the worry was such a waste of time. No one is ever judging you as harshly as you judge yourself. Because the truth is that most people are thinking about themselves.

But if you let nervousness and mistakes overpower you, you may make a mistake or display body language that will be noticed by all. And once you’re through the first few lines in your intro, your nerves will start easing.

So, stay composed and carry on. Many in the audience in fact wouldn’t even be listening to most introductions, as they would be busy silently rehearsing their own lines.

4. Make eye contact and be enthusiastic

Make eye contact with other students while speaking. Don’t fix your eyes on a familiar section of the audience. Move your eyes around. And, last but important, your voice and body language should show enthusiasm.

Here are few sample self-introductions for you to get a hang of how they’re done:

Sample self-introductions

Introduction 1

I once spent an entire night in a dense forest with a friend. Well, this act was not to show off how brave I was, but it was forced on me… by my foolishness. During a trek in [name of the region], I and a friend got too adventurous and strayed from our regular route despite instructions to the contrary by our trek guide. We got lost. We survived somehow (that’s a story for another day), but I haven’t given up on my adventure streak and love for outdoors.

Friends, I’m [your first name] and I love outdoors. I’ve been to treks in Himalayas on multiple occasions. These outdoor expeditions have also forced me to learn basic cooking. Well, I don’t boast of cooking dishes you’ll relish, but yes when you’re dying of hunger in the middle of night, you can count on me. I also love cycling long distances – 20+ kilometers in a stretch – and I can manage singing which some may find intolerable.

I’m from [name of the city]. It’s not a big place, but it somehow exists on the map. I’m really excited to be here. I look forward to having some fun, making friends, and building myself up for college. If you’re organizing any outdoor event in future, you can always count on me for help.

Thanks for giving me this opportunity to introduce myself.

Introduction 2

My name is [your first name]. I’m from [name of the city] where I finished my schooling last year from [name of the school]. Is there anyone here from my city? (Changes tack to engage with the audience.) OK, few.

I like watching movies, at least once a month. I play basketball on weekends and chess whenever I get time. I’m into reading thriller novels as well, Dan Brown being my favorite novelist.

I’m happy to step into college life, which provides more freedom and where, finally, I don’t have to come in a uniform. Post-college, I aspire to work in consulting industry.

I’m particularly strong in Excel worksheets and creating well-designed banners and documents. If anyone requires support in these areas, I’ll be glad to help. I look forward to meeting each one of you in the coming days.

Thanks. Have a great day.

Anil is the person behind content on this website, which is visited by 3,000,000+ learners every year. He writes on most aspects of English Language Skills. More about him here:

15 Comments

This really helped me… Thank you so so much.

Thank u….this is quite helpful to overcome my nervousness and get into action..Cheers?

Man, I was so nervous about my interview for school admission. But after reading this, I felt comfortable. Thanks, this was a great explanation.

It helped me a lot. Thank you so much. It was like I was the center of attraction. Thank you again.

Thanx…. It really helped on my first day of college.

Dude, this is another level. Thanks a lot.

Thanks a lot. It was useful. Now, I should be able to introduce my self without nerves ????

Thank you. Now I get some ideas for self intro and thank you for your brief explanation.

I was a little nervous about my varsity first introduction and my confidence increased after watching it.

Intro 2 was like fire…. It helped me a lot, thanx!!

Thanks, dude!!!! I am a school-level student and the introduction part really helped me.

I have a virtual introduction meeting with my seniors in college. I am so nervous about it. This piece is so helpful. Thanks.

Excellent. I like this a lot. I searched for this type of introduction on many websites, but this post is so interesting and good enough to impress my teacher and classmates.

My name is Yeabkal Solomon. I’m a first year student at Arba minch University. It helped me when I was gave my oral presentation.

I was very scared. I was really scared. Thank you very much for helping with the interview. It was very helpful for me

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The first day of school sets the tone for the entire academic year, and each year’s reentry presents its own particular challenges. Meeting your new class for the first time is about so much more than making a good first impression: As an educator, you play a vital role in making this back-to-school experience as relaxing and welcoming as possible for your students. Whether you’re an English teacher, or teach P.E, Geography or anything, you’ll find that these tips can help start your school year off right. So, without further ado, here are some tips to give students a positive first impression:

Make a punctual and engaging self-introduction: Your introduction sets the tone for the entire academic year, so make it memorable and engaging. Show your enthusiasm for teaching even before stepping in front of the class. Arrive early to welcome your students warmly. Be prepared with a fun icebreaker or an interesting fun fact about yourself that will pique their curiosity and create an instant connection. A quick list of your likes and dislikes is a great way to help your new class in the process of getting to know you.

Introduce yourself creatively: Instead of simply standing at the front of the room and telling students your name and job title, consider an intro that’s a little more unique. Check out our range of “ Meet the Teacher ” templates designed for elementary and middle school (although they’ll work for high school too!) that will help you introduce yourself in a fun and creative way! If you’re interested and want to read more about Kami’s meet the teacher templates, give this blog a quick read.

Numbers game: Introductions don’t have to be all about English language skills. Infuse some fun with math! Let your inner geek shine and share interesting numbers about yourself by creating math questions for students to figure out the key number. You can use this to share any fun facts about yourself or the subject you’re teaching! You can use two wrong answers and a right answer to play a version of “two truths and a lie”, for example. When the truth has been revealed, reverse the game and have your students write two true statements about themselves and two lies. 

Design a “Getting to Know Your Teacher” Interactive Bulletin Board: Discover the magic of a “Getting to Know Your Teacher” Interactive Bulletin Board! As you embark on this exciting classroom journey, create a unique space dedicated to sharing bits about yourself with your students. Let the bulletin board showcase your interests and experiences, fostering connections and making the learning environment even more engaging. Invite your students to explore and learn more about you through this interactive display. Embrace this delightful opportunity to connect and build a strong classroom community.

Send Postcards to Introduce Yourself: Forget the traditional formal letter and take it up a notch with personalized postcards. Capture your new learners’ attention by including a heartwarming picture of yourself engaged in a hobby or bonding with your beloved pet. These little details create eye contact and a sense of connection even before meeting in person. Pen a short, heartfelt note on the back, expressing your excitement to have each of your students join your class. With a thoughtful touch, you’re laying the foundation for a welcoming and inclusive classroom atmosphere.

Plan a Meet-the-Teacher Escape Room: Amp up the excitement on the first day with a thrilling and interactive “Meet-the-Teacher” escape room. This creative idea may require some planning, but the rewards are worth it! As your students work together to solve puzzles and challenges, they’ll not only bond as a team but also uncover fascinating tidbits about you and your interests. It’s a wonderful icebreaker that promotes teamwork and encourages them to communicate from the get-go.

Share Your Talents! Make a remarkable impression on your students by stepping away from the ordinary introduction routine. Instead, showcase one of your unique talents during the first class. Whether you play a musical instrument, demonstrate a special skill, or display a craft you enjoy, your students will be captivated and eager to learn more about their extraordinary teacher. This personal touch sets the stage for a dynamic learning environment where students feel comfortable sharing their own interests and passions.

Remember to let your students know that you’re approachable and open to hearing their thoughts and concerns. Something as simple as stating your preferred pronouns at the start of the school year can demonstrate an environment of inclusivity and understanding. Simple practices such as this helps turn your classroom into a safe space where they can share their ideas and feelings about the learning process. This can be especially helpful if you get new students or students who speak English as a second language throughout the school year, as having an established “who am I” process can really ease those first day nerves! English language leaners can really benefit from a classroom that fosters communication from the start.

Your positive attitude and enthusiasm for teaching will inspire your students and make their learning experience enjoyable and memorable. Embrace the challenges with a smile, and you’ll create a classroom environment that fosters growth and success.

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18 Fun Ways to Introduce Yourself to Your Students

by Sara Ipatenco

The first day of school can cause a lot of nerves – for students and teachers alike. Ease some of the nervousness your students might be feeling by introducing yourself in a fun, unique way. When you bring a bit of humor and fun into the classroom, your students can relax and get the year off to a great start. Here are some creative ideas to help you introduce yourself in a new way!

1. Showcase yourself in a newsletter

Use a newsletter template to share information about yourself. You can include important information, such as your contact details, as well as fun things like your favorite food and favorite color. Mail one to each student or pass them out at your meet the teacher night.

2. Make a magnet

Create magnets with your contact information and details for families to hang on their refrigerators at home.

3. Create a brochure

Brochures are compact ways to convey important information. Capitalize on that by making a brochure all about yourself! Include your contact details and anything else, such as facts about your childhood, that you think your students would want to know about you. Use this template, or try using your free Canva teacher account for easy digital designing.

4. Make a scratch-off card

If your students don’t find out who their teacher is until a back-to-school or meet-the-teacher event, you can reveal it in a fun way with scratch-off cards. Hide photos of each teacher under the scratch-off material and hand the correct one to each student as they come in.

5. Send a postcard

Create a postcard with all the things you want your incoming students to know and send it off shortly before school starts. Bonus points if you include a photo of yourself on the card!

6. Encourage some math practice

Decide what information you want your students to know about you and create some math problems for them to solve in order to find the answers. For example, if you want them to know that you have five pets, you could write, “I have 10 – 5 pets at my house.” It’s fun for students and squeezes in a bit of math practice before the first day of school even arrives!

7. Make a QR code

Compile all the information you want your students to know online and create a QR code that links to all those pertinent details.

8. Create a PowerPoint

Make a variety of slides that share important details about yourself, as well as a few fun facts to get students excited to spend the next year with you. Show it on the first day of school or at your meet-the-teacher event.

9. Fill out your “phone screen”

This is a great activity to do with your students on the first day of school. Each person, including you, gets a blank phone design and fills in the empty squares with “apps” that describe important facts about you.

10. Start some class journals

Grab a notebook and start some class journals. You, as the teacher, can create the first entry in each journal. Your students can learn about you and their classmates as they each get a turn to write.

11. Play ball

Head over to the dollar store and buy a couple of beach balls. Use a Sharpie to write a question on each section. Get to know your students while they get to know you by sharing the answer to each question as you throw and catch the ball.

12. Make posters

Give each student a large piece of construction paper and have them create a poster that shares all the important information about themselves. You can make one too, and then everyone can share their poster and learn more about each other.

13. Design an anchor chart

Grab one of your blank anchor charts and create a large display of facts about you. Even better, wait until the first day of school and fill it out with your students.

14. Make a class scrapbook

Create a blank scrapbook page for each person in your class to fill out that includes important details about themselves. Once you’ve made your teacher page, you can assemble each page into one class book so everyone can get to know each other.

15. Create a photo collage

Gather some of your favorite pictures showing things about you and assemble them into a collage to share with your students. Encourage your students to each make one too!

16. Write “I am” statements

Divide a piece of paper into sections and complete the beginning “I am” inside each section. This is another great activity to introduce yourself and get to know your students.

17. Craft a collage

Write your name in the middle of a piece of poster board and then decorate the rest with hand-drawn pictures, magazine images, or pictures you print, each of which tells your students something about you.

18. Introduce your “selfie”

This one is like creating apps to describe yourself, each page is a blank cell phone that you fill out with information to introduce yourself. Include such things as who is in your family, what your favorites are, and what hobbies you enjoy outside of school.

Try one or more of these for an exciting start to the year!

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Home › General › 35 ways to introduce your lesson topic

35 ways to introduce your lesson topic

By Pete on June 22, 2015 • ( 43 )

Are you fed up with using the same old methods to introduce your lesson topic? Look no further! Here are 35 ways to kick off your lesson. How many have you tried?

• Using an anecdote

You know I play football, right? No? Well I love it. Anyway, I went into town to buy some new boots the other day. I’m in Sports Direct, and I see these Nike boots that I really like, they’re the new model. The assistant comes over and is like

“can I help you?”

And I’m “yeah. Can you tell me how much these are?”

She says “They’re £500”

And I said “£500???? That’s an arm and a leg !”

Here’s some example flashcards I made for teaching idioms. These could also be used for a ‘dingbats’ warmer (see number 22).

• Cuisenaire Rods creation

Example topic: Tourist attractions

Give each pair of students a bunch of Cuisenaire rods.

“Work in pairs. Use the rods to create a model of a well-known tourist attraction in [town/city/country/continent]. You have 2 minutes”

Students then look at each model and guess the attraction.

• Cuisenaire Rods model

Create your own model using rods. Elicit what it represents.

(Here is my example of the UK political parties and their share of the vote, for a recent lesson on politics)

• Musical “Guess the topic”

Example topic: family and relationships

Think of 3 or 4 songs which in some way reference the theme/topic of your lesson

Avril Lavigne – Skater Boi (“he was a boy, she was a girl, can I make it any more obvious?”)

The Hollies – He ain’t heavy (he’s my brother)

Baz Luhman – Everybody’s free to wear sunscreen (“maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t…”)

Ozzy Ozbourne – Mama I’m coming home

Play students a relevant segment of the song (where something about the topic is referenced). Ask them to write notes on what they hear, compare notes, and guess the topic of the lesson.

• Family fortunes (my favourite)

Example topic: British customs and culture / stereotypes

Create a fake family fortunes style question:

“We asked 100 people from England, Scotland and Wales – which things make you a typical Brit?”

Board the following

1 ________________     2 ____________  3_____________  4____________ 5____________

Students work in groups to prepare answers. Make it a little game (they win points for each correct answer).

Five possible answers for the above: queuing, drinking tea, talking about the weather, eating fish and chips, having bad teeth.

• Picture parts

Example topic: animals

Make some extreme close-up pictures of animals. Pass them around and get the students to guess what they are and hence the topic of the lesson

• Picture association “Guess the topic”

Example topic: ‘once in a lifetime’

Gather pictures of things that people MIGHT do only once in a lifetime.

Examples: drive a Ferrari, skydive, run a marathon, win the lottery(?), see a shooting star(?).

Board the pictures or pass them round, students discuss each one and guess the common theme.

• Complete the sentence

Topic: Making apologies

Think of a relevant starter sentence and have students complete in their own words

“The most common time to say sorry is….”

Topic: 2 nd conditionals

“If I looked like David Beckham, I would…”

Get students to create a table with two categories

Read a list of different foods/drinks. Students write each word you dictate into their table in the correct category depending on their tastes. They then compare with their partner/group to see if they are similar or different.

• What are they saying?

Display a picture of someone on the board. Give students a speech bubble in groups, or draw a speech bubble for each group on the board. Students write what the person is saying

You could also do a caption competition

Example topic: hobbies and interests

Make a series of questions or statements related to the topic. Have students answer the questions themselves. Then, they ask their partner the questions and compare answers. They could do this with two different partners to add more speaking. They could even predict their partners answers first, and see if they were right.

• Classic ‘Find someone who…’ mingle

Students walk around asking questions to classmates to find out information. Compare answers with their partner afterwards, and feedback as a class.

• Slow reveal…

Start drawing a picture on the board, but only one line of it. Have students guess what it is

‘A snake’, ‘a line’, etc.

Encourage creativity. Add the next line, encourages guesses, keep doing this until eventually a student guesses the picture/lesson topic

Example topic: Castles in Britain

Bring in 5 items that represent your own hobbies, can students guess pastimes?

Mine – Bit of wool (knitting), keyboard (blogging), crossword, binoculars (birdwatching), rubber chicken (making jokes)

• what happens next?

Show a relevant video, pause it at a key point and have students predict what might happen.

Example topic: using modal verbs to express probability

Pause clip after 7 seconds. Students discuss what might happen. Give some process language (that player might… it might… maybe… the ball/the player/a fan will… etc). Or give them 3 options for what might happen. Play clip to see if prediction was correct (note: last 10 seconds of this video has some swearing).

• Use authentic listening

Play students a relevant short clip of a movie/TV. Only let them hear the sound. Create a listening task relevant to the topic.

Example topic: feelings/emotions

Listen to the following clip. Write down any emotions you feel the speakers express.

Listen to the clip. Circle all the emotions that speakers show

Excitement         anger       patience              shock      humour      etc

Now let them watch the clip and write down any extra emotions they ‘see’

• Make your own audio

Create a short listening text as a topic lead in.

Example topic: giving advice

• Matching quiz

This is a good way to introduce target language straight away. Teaching English Grammar (Scrivener) gives plenty of examples for how to present target language, I recommend taking a look

Example topic: passives

Match the inventions to the inventor…

The light bulb was invented by…               Alexander Graham Bell

 The telephone was invented by…             Tim Berners-Lee                                                               

The internet was invented by…                  Thomas Edison

• Boggle guess the word

Use the letters from the lesson topic to make a little game

• Moving true or false

Check what your students know about a topic with quick fire true or false questions. However, make it more exciting. All students, stand up. If they think the answer is true, they stand on the left of the classroom. False, on the right. If they get it wrong, they are out (they sit back down). Continue until one student remains. They are the winner, reward them with… a round of applause.

• Moving agree/disagree

This just makes warm up discussion questions more fun and mixes up speakers. Make different corners of the room different opinions – e.g.

Stand near the door if you agree

Stand in the corner over there (point) if you strongly agree

Stand near Pedro’s desk if you disagree

Read a statement, students move to the relevant corner, then give them 1 or 2 minutes to discuss the statement with whoever is in the corner. If there is only one person in a particular space then you could bounce a few ideas from each corner as a class discussion, or send a student with a different opinion over to debate it.

These are fun drawings that represent a word.

Example topic: technology.

Draw a few dingbats on the board. Students guess the words then guess what the theme of the lesson might be.

(smart phone)

• Discussion questions

Example topic: crime and punishment

Q1: Do you agree with the death penalty?

Q2: ‘life means life’. What does this refer to, and do you agree?

• Secret realia

Bring in objects in a ‘santa’s sack’. Put the sack on the table. Allows certain students to feel the objects through the sack. They work with a partner/team to guess the objects and the common theme between each object.

• ‘Coffeepotting’

This can be done in many ways, but a good one is by providing a short text where the target word is missing, and has been replaced with the word ‘Coffeepot’. Students guess the correct word

Example topic: television

Coffeepot was invented in the 1920s, but became popular after World War 2. At first, coffeepots were black and white, but then it changed to colour. Coffeepot is a form of entertainment. These days, almost every household has a coffeepot. (etc…)

• Verbal ‘coffeepotting’

Again the target word has been replaced by the word ‘Coffeepot’. Students ask questions to help guess what word ‘Coffeepot’ actually is…

Example topic: MacDonalds

Student: is coffeepot a noun?

Teacher: yes…

Student: can coffeepot be a verb too?

Teacher: no

Student: is coffeepot an object?

Teacher: well, you can have a coffeepot, yes.

Student: is it a place?

Teacher: is what a place?

Student: sorry, is coffeepot a place?

• Complete the dialogue (similar to ‘what are they saying’!)

Put pictures on the board of random interactions between people. Have students create suitable dialogues. Choose pictures that will direct to the topic…

Man: _______________________________

Woman: ____________________________

• Mnemonic race

If introducing a familiar topic, a way to activate prior knowledge might be for students to create a Mnemonic from the topic word, using associated words

Example topic: Feelings

F –antastic

E –xcellent

I – nsecure

N- auseous!

• Whiteboard race

Divide students into two teams, and divide the whiteboard down the middle. Students line up in two teams. The first person in each line has a pen. When you say the topic, they run to the board, write a word related to the topic, pass the pen to the next person then join the back of their line. The next person then writes another word and passes the pen on. Do this for 2 minutes as a race. If one team writes a word that the other team already have they get no points. Again, checks prior knowledge.

• Categorising

Display a set of familiar words related (or less so) to the topic. Ask students to divide the words into at least 3 different categories. Conduct class feedback/discussion and have students share their categories and explain why they chose them.

Example topic: health and fitness

Smoking, running, drugs, red wine, football, movies, reading, clubbing, vitamins, snakes, vegetables, birdwatching

Possible student created categories:

Things that benefit your health       Things that damage your health        unrelated words

(playing) football                                clubbing (too much)                                 snakes

Smoking (relieve stress)                    drugs

Reading (relaxation)                                       etc

With this activity, you’ll be surprised at some of the categories. Also, it leads to instant discussion:

‘Snakes are not unrelated, they could seriously damage your health’

‘Smoking is good for you?! No way!’

• What does that mean?

Board the lesson topic. Have learners write a short definition of it. I did this yesterday and this happened:

Example topic: lookalikes

Definitions…

Group 1: like a look (?)

Group 2: to look like something or someone

Group 3: look and act like something

Group 4: be person not you famous (?)

Think of a statement related to the topic. Get lots of small slips of paper. Write one word of the statement on each slip. Jumble up the words. Hand one set of the words to each group. The group work together to put the statement in the correct order, then discuss their opinions on it.

If the topic is particularly familiar or the learners are high level, get them to think of the statement and create the organisation task (statement minimum 8 words or something).

• odd one out

For general discussion…

Board 4 or 5 common words related to the topic. Have students decide which word is the odd one out and why. Example topic: jobs/ambitions

Fireman               Doctor                  Teacher                                Nurse

Student: the odd one out is the teacher as the others save lives

For guessing the topic…

Same thing, but include one word that is not related at all, and see if students mention the topic when they share their opinion!

Example topic: Endangered animals

T-rex                     dodo                     rhino                     woolly mammoth

Student: rhino is the odd one out as the others are extinct

(leads into a discussion on things like threats rhinos might face and introducing term ‘endangered’.

• A conundrum

Pose a difficult question to the students which may be a topic of debate.

Topic: giving opinions

Recently, a teacher recommended the ‘do or die’ videos by National Geographic. You’ll find plenty of these on youtube. Choose one relevant to your topic.. here’s an example of one.

I really hope you’ve found 1 new idea here. Please comment and add your own ways to introduce a topic, let’s get from 35 to 100!

Update: I’ve added some further ideas in this new post.

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Narrative Writing: A Complete Guide for Teachers and Students

MASTERING THE CRAFT OF NARRATIVE WRITING

Narratives build on and encourage the development of the fundamentals of writing. They also require developing an additional skill set: the ability to tell a good yarn, and storytelling is as old as humanity.

We see and hear stories everywhere and daily, from having good gossip on the doorstep with a neighbor in the morning to the dramas that fill our screens in the evening.

Good narrative writing skills are hard-won by students even though it is an area of writing that most enjoy due to the creativity and freedom it offers.

Here we will explore some of the main elements of a good story: plot, setting, characters, conflict, climax, and resolution . And we will look too at how best we can help our students understand these elements, both in isolation and how they mesh together as a whole.

WHAT IS A NARRATIVE?

A narrative is a story that shares a sequence of events , characters, and themes. It expresses experiences, ideas, and perspectives that should aspire to engage and inspire an audience.

A narrative can spark emotion, encourage reflection, and convey meaning when done well.

Narratives are a popular genre for students and teachers as they allow the writer to share their imagination, creativity, skill, and understanding of nearly all elements of writing.  We occasionally refer to a narrative as ‘creative writing’ or story writing.

The purpose of a narrative is simple, to tell the audience a story.  It can be written to motivate, educate, or entertain and can be fact or fiction.

A COMPLETE UNIT ON TEACHING NARRATIVE WRITING

Teach your students to become skilled story writers with this HUGE   NARRATIVE & CREATIVE STORY WRITING UNIT . Offering a  COMPLETE SOLUTION  to teaching students how to craft  CREATIVE CHARACTERS, SUPERB SETTINGS, and PERFECT PLOTS .

Over 192 PAGES of materials, including:

TYPES OF NARRATIVE WRITING

There are many narrative writing genres and sub-genres such as these.

We have a complete guide to writing a personal narrative that differs from the traditional story-based narrative covered in this guide. It includes personal narrative writing prompts, resources, and examples and can be found here.

As we can see, narratives are an open-ended form of writing that allows you to showcase creativity in many directions. However, all narratives share a common set of features and structure known as “Story Elements”, which are briefly covered in this guide.

Don’t overlook the importance of understanding story elements and the value this adds to you as a writer who can dissect and create grand narratives. We also have an in-depth guide to understanding story elements here .

CHARACTERISTICS OF NARRATIVE WRITING

Narrative structure.

ORIENTATION (BEGINNING) Set the scene by introducing your characters, setting and time of the story. Establish your who, when and where in this part of your narrative

COMPLICATION AND EVENTS (MIDDLE) In this section activities and events involving your main characters are expanded upon. These events are written in a cohesive and fluent sequence.

RESOLUTION (ENDING) Your complication is resolved in this section. It does not have to be a happy outcome, however.

EXTRAS: Whilst orientation, complication and resolution are the agreed norms for a narrative, there are numerous examples of popular texts that did not explicitly follow this path exactly.

NARRATIVE FEATURES

LANGUAGE: Use descriptive and figurative language to paint images inside your audience’s minds as they read.

PERSPECTIVE Narratives can be written from any perspective but are most commonly written in first or third person.

DIALOGUE Narratives frequently switch from narrator to first-person dialogue. Always use speech marks when writing dialogue.

TENSE If you change tense, make it perfectly clear to your audience what is happening. Flashbacks might work well in your mind but make sure they translate to your audience.

THE PLOT MAP

This graphic is known as a plot map, and nearly all narratives fit this structure in one way or another, whether romance novels, science fiction or otherwise.

It is a simple tool that helps you understand and organise a story’s events. Think of it as a roadmap that outlines the journey of your characters and the events that unfold. It outlines the different stops along the way, such as the introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution, that help you to see how the story builds and develops.

Using a plot map, you can see how each event fits into the larger picture and how the different parts of the story work together to create meaning. It’s a great way to visualize and analyze a story.

Be sure to refer to a plot map when planning a story, as it has all the essential elements of a great story.

THE 5 KEY STORY ELEMENTS OF A GREAT NARRATIVE (6-MINUTE TUTORIAL VIDEO)

This video we created provides an excellent overview of these elements and demonstrates them in action in stories we all know and love.

HOW TO WRITE A NARRATIVE

Now that we understand the story elements and how they come together to form stories, it’s time to start planning and writing your narrative.

In many cases, the template and guide below will provide enough details on how to craft a great story. However, if you still need assistance with the fundamentals of writing, such as sentence structure, paragraphs and using correct grammar, we have some excellent guides on those here.

USE YOUR WRITING TIME EFFECTIVELY: Maximize your narrative writing sessions by spending approximately 20 per cent of your time planning and preparing.  This ensures greater productivity during your writing time and keeps you focused and on task.

Use tools such as graphic organizers to logically sequence your narrative if you are not a confident story writer.  If you are working with reluctant writers, try using narrative writing prompts to get their creative juices flowing.

Spend most of your writing hour on the task at hand, don’t get too side-tracked editing during this time and leave some time for editing. When editing a  narrative, examine it for these three elements.

• Spelling and grammar ( Is it readable?)
• Story structure and continuity ( Does it make sense, and does it flow? )
• Character and plot analysis. (Are your characters engaging? Does your problem/resolution work? )

1. SETTING THE SCENE: THE WHERE AND THE WHEN

The story’s setting often answers two of the central questions in the story, namely, the where and the when. The answers to these two crucial questions will often be informed by the type of story the student is writing.

The story’s setting can be chosen to quickly orient the reader to the type of story they are reading. For example, a fictional narrative writing piece such as a horror story will often begin with a description of a haunted house on a hill or an abandoned asylum in the middle of the woods. If we start our story on a rocket ship hurtling through the cosmos on its space voyage to the Alpha Centauri star system, we can be reasonably sure that the story we are embarking on is a work of science fiction.

Such conventions are well-worn clichés true, but they can be helpful starting points for our novice novelists to make a start.

Having students choose an appropriate setting for the type of story they wish to write is an excellent exercise for our younger students. It leads naturally onto the next stage of story writing, which is creating suitable characters to populate this fictional world they have created. However, older or more advanced students may wish to play with the expectations of appropriate settings for their story. They may wish to do this for comic effect or in the interest of creating a more original story. For example, opening a story with a children’s birthday party does not usually set up the expectation of a horror story. Indeed, it may even lure the reader into a happy reverie as they remember their own happy birthday parties. This leaves them more vulnerable to the surprise element of the shocking action that lies ahead.

Once the students have chosen a setting for their story, they need to start writing. Little can be more terrifying to English students than the blank page and its bare whiteness stretching before them on the table like a merciless desert they must cross. Give them the kick-start they need by offering support through word banks or writing prompts. If the class is all writing a story based on the same theme, you may wish to compile a common word bank on the whiteboard as a prewriting activity. Write the central theme or genre in the middle of the board. Have students suggest words or phrases related to the theme and list them on the board.

You may wish to provide students with a copy of various writing prompts to get them started. While this may mean that many students’ stories will have the same beginning, they will most likely arrive at dramatically different endings via dramatically different routes.

A bargain is at the centre of the relationship between the writer and the reader. That bargain is that the reader promises to suspend their disbelief as long as the writer creates a consistent and convincing fictional reality. Creating a believable world for the fictional characters to inhabit requires the student to draw on convincing details. The best way of doing this is through writing that appeals to the senses. Have your student reflect deeply on the world that they are creating. What does it look like? Sound like? What does the food taste like there? How does it feel like to walk those imaginary streets, and what aromas beguile the nose as the main character winds their way through that conjured market?

Also, Consider the when; or the time period. Is it a future world where things are cleaner and more antiseptic? Or is it an overcrowded 16th-century London with human waste stinking up the streets? If students can create a multi-sensory installation in the reader’s mind, then they have done this part of their job well.

Popular Settings from Children’s Literature and Storytelling

• Fairytale Kingdom
• Magical Forest
• Village/town
• Underwater world
• Space/Alien planet

2. CASTING THE CHARACTERS: THE WHO

Now that your student has created a believable world, it is time to populate it with believable characters.

In short stories, these worlds mustn’t be overpopulated beyond what the student’s skill level can manage. Short stories usually only require one main character and a few secondary ones. Think of the short story more as a small-scale dramatic production in an intimate local theater than a Hollywood blockbuster on a grand scale. Too many characters will only confuse and become unwieldy with a canvas this size. Keep it simple!

Creating believable characters is often one of the most challenging aspects of narrative writing for students. Fortunately, we can do a few things to help students here. Sometimes it is helpful for students to model their characters on actual people they know. This can make things a little less daunting and taxing on the imagination. However, whether or not this is the case, writing brief background bios or descriptions of characters’ physical personality characteristics can be a beneficial prewriting activity. Students should give some in-depth consideration to the details of who their character is: How do they walk? What do they look like? Do they have any distinguishing features? A crooked nose? A limp? Bad breath? Small details such as these bring life and, therefore, believability to characters. Students can even cut pictures from magazines to put a face to their character and allow their imaginations to fill in the rest of the details.

Younger students will often dictate to the reader the nature of their characters. To improve their writing craft, students must know when to switch from story-telling mode to story-showing mode. This is particularly true when it comes to character. Encourage students to reveal their character’s personality through what they do rather than merely by lecturing the reader on the faults and virtues of the character’s personality. It might be a small relayed detail in the way they walk that reveals a core characteristic. For example, a character who walks with their head hanging low and shoulders hunched while avoiding eye contact has been revealed to be timid without the word once being mentioned. This is a much more artistic and well-crafted way of doing things and is less irritating for the reader. A character who sits down at the family dinner table immediately snatches up his fork and starts stuffing roast potatoes into his mouth before anyone else has even managed to sit down has revealed a tendency towards greed or gluttony.

Understanding Character Traits

Again, there is room here for some fun and profitable prewriting activities. Give students a list of character traits and have them describe a character doing something that reveals that trait without ever employing the word itself.

It is also essential to avoid adjective stuffing here. When looking at students’ early drafts, adjective stuffing is often apparent. To train the student out of this habit, choose an adjective and have the student rewrite the sentence to express this adjective through action rather than telling.

When writing a story, it is vital to consider the character’s traits and how they will impact the story’s events. For example, a character with a strong trait of determination may be more likely to overcome obstacles and persevere. In contrast, a character with a tendency towards laziness may struggle to achieve their goals. In short, character traits add realism, depth, and meaning to a story, making it more engaging and memorable for the reader.

Popular Character Traits in Children’s Stories

• Determination
• Imagination
• Perseverance
• Responsibility

We have an in-depth guide to creating great characters here , but most students should be fine to move on to planning their conflict and resolution.

3. NO PROBLEM? NO STORY! HOW CONFLICT DRIVES A NARRATIVE

This is often the area apprentice writers have the most difficulty with. Students must understand that without a problem or conflict, there is no story. The problem is the driving force of the action. Usually, in a short story, the problem will center around what the primary character wants to happen or, indeed, wants not to happen. It is the hurdle that must be overcome. It is in the struggle to overcome this hurdle that events happen.

Often when a student understands the need for a problem in a story, their completed work will still not be successful. This is because, often in life, problems remain unsolved. Hurdles are not always successfully overcome. Students pick up on this.

We often discuss problems with friends that will never be satisfactorily resolved one way or the other, and we accept this as a part of life. This is not usually the case with writing a story. Whether a character successfully overcomes his or her problem or is decidedly crushed in the process of trying is not as important as the fact that it will finally be resolved one way or the other.

A good practical exercise for students to get to grips with this is to provide copies of stories and have them identify the central problem or conflict in each through discussion. Familiar fables or fairy tales such as Three Little Pigs, The Boy Who Cried Wolf, Cinderella, etc., are great for this.

While it is true that stories often have more than one problem or that the hero or heroine is unsuccessful in their first attempt to solve a central problem, for beginning students and intermediate students, it is best to focus on a single problem, especially given the scope of story writing at this level. Over time students will develop their abilities to handle more complex plots and write accordingly.

Popular Conflicts found in Children’s Storytelling.

• Good vs evil
• Individual vs society
• Nature vs nurture
• Self vs others
• Man vs self
• Man vs nature
• Man vs technology
• Individual vs fate
• Self vs destiny

Conflict is the heart and soul of any good story. It’s what makes a story compelling and drives the plot forward. Without conflict, there is no story. Every great story has a struggle or a problem that needs to be solved, and that’s where conflict comes in. Conflict is what makes a story exciting and keeps the reader engaged. It creates tension and suspense and makes the reader care about the outcome.

Like in real life, conflict in a story is an opportunity for a character’s growth and transformation. It’s a chance for them to learn and evolve, making a story great. So next time stories are written in the classroom, remember that conflict is an essential ingredient, and without it, your story will lack the energy, excitement, and meaning that makes it truly memorable.

4. THE NARRATIVE CLIMAX: HOW THINGS COME TO A HEAD!

The climax of the story is the dramatic high point of the action. It is also when the struggles kicked off by the problem come to a head. The climax will ultimately decide whether the story will have a happy or tragic ending. In the climax, two opposing forces duke things out until the bitter (or sweet!) end. One force ultimately emerges triumphant. As the action builds throughout the story, suspense increases as the reader wonders which of these forces will win out. The climax is the release of this suspense.

Much of the success of the climax depends on how well the other elements of the story have been achieved. If the student has created a well-drawn and believable character that the reader can identify with and feel for, then the climax will be more powerful.

The nature of the problem is also essential as it determines what’s at stake in the climax. The problem must matter dearly to the main character if it matters at all to the reader.

Have students engage in discussions about their favorite movies and books. Have them think about the storyline and decide the most exciting parts. What was at stake at these moments? What happened in your body as you read or watched? Did you breathe faster? Or grip the cushion hard? Did your heart rate increase, or did you start to sweat? This is what a good climax does and what our students should strive to do in their stories.

The climax puts it all on the line and rolls the dice. Let the chips fall where the writer may…

Popular Climax themes in Children’s Stories

• A battle between good and evil
• The character’s bravery saves the day
• Character faces their fears and overcomes them
• The character solves a mystery or puzzle.
• The character stands up for what is right.
• Character reaches their goal or dream.
• The character learns a valuable lesson.
• The character makes a selfless sacrifice.
• The character makes a difficult decision.
• The character reunites with loved ones or finds true friendship.

5. RESOLUTION: TYING UP LOOSE ENDS

After the climactic action, a few questions will often remain unresolved for the reader, even if all the conflict has been resolved. The resolution is where those lingering questions will be answered. The resolution in a short story may only be a brief paragraph or two. But, in most cases, it will still be necessary to include an ending immediately after the climax can feel too abrupt and leave the reader feeling unfulfilled.

An easy way to explain resolution to students struggling to grasp the concept is to point to the traditional resolution of fairy tales, the “And they all lived happily ever after” ending. This weather forecast for the future allows the reader to take their leave. Have the student consider the emotions they want to leave the reader with when crafting their resolution.

While the action is usually complete by the end of the climax, it is in the resolution that if there is a twist to be found, it will appear – think of movies such as The Usual Suspects. Pulling this off convincingly usually requires considerable skill from a student writer. Still, it may well form a challenging extension exercise for those more gifted storytellers among your students.

Popular Resolutions in Children’s Stories

• Our hero achieves their goal
• The character learns a valuable lesson
• A character finds happiness or inner peace.
• The character reunites with loved ones.
• Character restores balance to the world.
• The character discovers their true identity.
• Character changes for the better.
• The character gains wisdom or understanding.
• Character makes amends with others.
• The character learns to appreciate what they have.

Once students have completed their story, they can edit for grammar, vocabulary choice, spelling, etc., but not before!

As mentioned, there is a craft to storytelling, as well as an art. When accurate grammar, perfect spelling, and immaculate sentence structures are pushed at the outset, they can cause storytelling paralysis. For this reason, it is essential that when we encourage the students to write a story, we give them license to make mechanical mistakes in their use of language that they can work on and fix later.

Good narrative writing is a very complex skill to develop and will take the student years to become competent. It challenges not only the student’s technical abilities with language but also her creative faculties. Writing frames, word banks, mind maps, and visual prompts can all give valuable support as students develop the wide-ranging and challenging skills required to produce a successful narrative writing piece. But, at the end of it all, as with any craft, practice and more practice is at the heart of the matter.

TIPS FOR WRITING A GREAT NARRATIVE

• Start your story with a clear purpose: If you can determine the theme or message you want to convey in your narrative before starting it will make the writing process so much simpler.
• Choose a compelling storyline and sell it through great characters, setting and plot: Consider a unique or interesting story that captures the reader’s attention, then build the world and characters around it.
• Develop vivid characters that are not all the same: Make your characters relatable and memorable by giving them distinct personalities and traits you can draw upon in the plot.
• Use descriptive language to hook your audience into your story: Use sensory language to paint vivid images and sequences in the reader’s mind.
• Show, don’t tell your audience: Use actions, thoughts, and dialogue to reveal character motivations and emotions through storytelling.
• Create a vivid setting that is clear to your audience before getting too far into the plot: Describe the time and place of your story to immerse the reader fully.
• Build tension: Refer to the story map earlier in this article and use conflict, obstacles, and suspense to keep the audience engaged and invested in your narrative.
• Use figurative language such as metaphors, similes, and other literary devices to add depth and meaning to your narrative.
• Edit, revise, and refine: Take the time to refine and polish your writing for clarity and impact.
• Stay true to your voice: Maintain your unique perspective and style in your writing to make it your own.

NARRATIVE WRITING EXAMPLES (Student Writing Samples)

Below are a collection of student writing samples of narratives.  Click on the image to enlarge and explore them in greater detail.  Please take a moment to read these creative stories in detail and the teacher and student guides which highlight some of the critical elements of narratives to consider before writing.

Please understand these student writing samples are not intended to be perfect examples for each age or grade level but a piece of writing for students and teachers to explore together to critically analyze to improve student writing skills and deepen their understanding of story writing.

We recommend reading the example either a year above or below, as well as the grade you are currently working with, to gain a broader appreciation of this text type.

NARRATIVE WRITING PROMPTS (Journal Prompts)

When students have a great journal prompt, it can help them focus on the task at hand, so be sure to view our vast collection of visual writing prompts for various text types here or use some of these.

• On a recent European trip, you find your travel group booked into the stunning and mysterious Castle Frankenfurter for a single night…  As night falls, the massive castle of over one hundred rooms seems to creak and groan as a series of unexplained events begin to make you wonder who or what else is spending the evening with you. Write a narrative that tells the story of your evening.
• You are a famous adventurer who has discovered new lands; keep a travel log over a period of time in which you encounter new and exciting adventures and challenges to overcome.  Ensure your travel journal tells a story and has a definite introduction, conflict and resolution.
• You create an incredible piece of technology that has the capacity to change the world.  As you sit back and marvel at your innovation and the endless possibilities ahead of you, it becomes apparent there are a few problems you didn’t really consider. You might not even be able to control them.  Write a narrative in which you ride the highs and lows of your world-changing creation with a clear introduction, conflict and resolution.
• As the final door shuts on the Megamall, you realise you have done it…  You and your best friend have managed to sneak into the largest shopping centre in town and have the entire place to yourselves until 7 am tomorrow.  There is literally everything and anything a child would dream of entertaining themselves for the next 12 hours.  What amazing adventures await you?  What might go wrong?  And how will you get out of there scot-free?
• A stranger walks into town…  Whilst appearing similar to almost all those around you, you get a sense that this person is from another time, space or dimension… Are they friends or foes?  What makes you sense something very strange is going on?   Suddenly they stand up and walk toward you with purpose extending their hand… It’s almost as if they were reading your mind.

NARRATIVE WRITING VIDEO TUTORIAL

Teaching Resources

Use our resources and tools to improve your student’s writing skills through proven teaching strategies.

When teaching narrative writing, it is essential that you have a range of tools, strategies and resources at your disposal to ensure you get the most out of your writing time.  You can find some examples below, which are free and paid premium resources you can use instantly without any preparation.

FREE Narrative Graphic Organizer

THE STORY TELLERS BUNDLE OF TEACHING RESOURCES

A MASSIVE COLLECTION of resources for narratives and story writing in the classroom covering all elements of crafting amazing stories. MONTHS WORTH OF WRITING LESSONS AND RESOURCES, including:

NARRATIVE WRITING CHECKLIST BUNDLE

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (92 Reviews)

OTHER GREAT ARTICLES ABOUT NARRATIVE WRITING

Narrative Writing for Kids: Essential Skills and Strategies

7 Great Narrative Lesson Plans Students and Teachers Love

Top 7 Narrative Writing Exercises for Students

How to Write a Scary Story

Student Self Introduction: Benefits, Ti…

Student Self Introduction: Benefits, Tips, and What to Avoid [+5 Examples]

Hi everyone,

My name is [my name] and I write informative and well-researched content for Erudera. I have [number] years of experience when it comes to educational content, university studies, and anything related to writing. My experience has allowed me to be well-equipped to help students when it comes to their university-related concerns.

My hobbies include reading, writing, and researching. So, when I am outside of work (where I read, write, and research) I still read, write, and research! Since I have turned my passion into my work, it gives me great pleasure to compile helpful guides for people who have questions to ask.

Thank you for considering Erudera when it comes to questions related to education!

Here’s everything you need to know about student self introduction:

The Importance of a Good Student Self Introduction

A student self introduction is an opportunity for you to talk about yourself, your personality, highlight your strengths, hobbies, skills, and experience, clearly and confidently. Whether you are introducing yourself to the university admissions committee, your classroom, your instructors, or anyone else, really, a self introduction gives you the chance to help people see who you are as well as understand your goals and ambitions.

A few benefits of a good student self introduction include:

• You allow a good first impression. A powerful self introduction gives you a say in people’s first impression on you. If you are able to describe yourself and your personality clearly, people will create a good impression, which can open many doors in the academic, professional, or social scene.
• You highlight your best qualities. A bold student self introduction will allow you to highlight your best qualities. You will tell people about your strengths and your values. You will be able to talk about hobbies and interests, which will create the impression that you know yourself and what you want, and are willing to work for it.
• You convey self-confidence. Self confidence is important in any sphere of life. A good self introduction will help you convey this confidence to others. By highlighting all the important aspects of your personality, including how you overcame any failures or downfalls, you will convey that you are confident enough to tackle any obstacles, in any setting or situation.
• You pique curiosity. This goes without saying. A bold and powerful self introduction will pique curiosity. From your personality to your ambitions, people will want to know more about what you can offer. At the end of the day, confident individuals who can express themselves clearly will often pique people’s interest.

Quite interesting, huh? Keep reading to learn more on how to write a powerful student self introduction that conveys confidence and attracts curiosity.

How to Prepare a Good Student Self Introduction

Talking about oneself can be challenging, mostly because you do not know where to focus, which characteristics to highlight, and what exactly makes a, so called, impressive self introduction. Let’s get on it.

Here are a few tips on how to prepare a good self introduction as a student:

Always Greet and Smile Before Starting

A simple greeting and a warm smile will show good manners, a positive attitude, and respect. Showing respect is the key to a good first impression. Regardless of how good your self-introduction is, you will not leave a good impression if you are rude and inconsiderate.

Begin With Demographic Information

Yes, you should begin with your name, age, origin, education, and/or employment status. You will talk about these aspects of your life briefly but clearly. These will set the stage for what follows and will allow the audience to better understand your background and relate it to your hobbies, interests, and ambitions.

Talk About Skills and Experience

Talking about your skills is important because you want to let the audience know how and what you learned from your previous education and experience. This could include skills you learned during university studies, any internships, volunteer work, or employment experience you might have, it does not matter what or how long — what matters is the skills you gained.

Include Hobbies and Interests

Now, you want to continue with your hobbies and interests. Make sure you do not take too long talking about either, because you do not want the conversation/essay to focus solely on one aspect of your life — it will get boring. Talking about hobbies will give the audience an insight into your way of thinking and reasoning. It will also show a unique aspect of your personality.

For example, if you like reading, talk about reasons you like reading and the books you like to read. Similarly, if you like writing, talk about reasons you like writing and whether you like to write prose or poetry, fiction or nonfiction, and similar details like these ones. If you like sports, include the reasons you like sports and the types of sports you practice.

Discuss Achievements

Your achievements could be anything, from grades, awards, competitive results, honors, contributions to the community, perfect attendance, etc. Your achievements are not simply certificates and titles, they highlight the aspect of yourself that is committed, dedicated, and hard-working.

Remember to include these into the conversation, not in a boastful manner but rather to build up on your skills, values, and determination.

Mention Strengths and Weaknesses

Talking about your strengths and weaknesses lets the audience know how self-aware you are. You should begin talking about your strengths by mentioning something related to the university program you’re applying for. You want to mention something that makes you reliable and trustworthy when it comes to success in the field you have chosen to study.

When it comes to weaknesses, you want to be honest but strategic. However, not too honest in the sense that it will make the audience doubt your position/ability. You want to go with something unrelated to your area of interest. For example, you could mention that you struggle with, let’s say, flexibility — as in you have difficulty adapting to changes in plans.

Whatever you mention in terms of weaknesses, make sure you specify that you are working to improve them. List the steps you think will help you turn your weakness into a strength.

Show Your Unique Qualities

Do not be afraid to talk about what makes you stand out. If you’re a creative person, mention that you are creative. If you have emotional intelligence or empathy, mention this to the audience. Make sure to highlight how these unique qualities have helped you succeed up until now and why you think they are important.

Make Connections

Whatever you decide to mention in your student self-introduction, make sure to make a connection to the university/program. You can research the university’s mission, vision, and values and try to make a connection to how your strengths and values align with those of the university.

Provide Insights Into Your Likes

There are many things you can mention that will allow the audience to better understand you and your likes/dislikes. For example, some other things you could also include are:

• People who inspire you. You can talk about a person who inspires you. Someone who is your role model. Mention why they are important to you and the reasons why their ideals align with yours.
• Favorite books/movies/artists. By doing this, you have the chance to mention something that you like and give the audience an insight into your personality and your way of thinking and reasoning.

After completing your introduction, thank the audience for taking the time to listen to you. Make sure to give them the chance to ask any questions they might have.

Student Self Introduction: What to Avoid

Try to avoid the following during your self-introduction:

• Avoid being too casual/informal. Although feeling comfortable while doing your self-introduction is important, you should avoid using slang or informal language.
• Avoid being disrespectful. Be mindful of any comment that might come off as rude or disrespectful. This could also include body language. You should face the audience with an open body language, mind your tone, and avoid any comment that might be perceived as negative.
• Avoid repeating the contents of your CV. You should mention your experience and accomplishments, of course, but do not make the introduction only a repetition of your CV. Try to include extra details that connect your experience/skills/values to your university/area of interest. Provide context regarding how you gained your skills and why they are important to you.
• Avoid sharing too much personal information. While sharing your hobbies is relevant, you do not want to go on too long about it, especially if what you’re detailing is not relevant to the context of your area of interest.
• Avoid a super lengthy introduction. You do not want your introduction to sound like rambling. Be brief about anything you mention, from the experience to the hobbies. The ideal duration of a self introduction should be less than two minutes. So be mindful of what you include and how much time you allocate to each detail.

Practicing Student Self Introduction

Practice makes perfect, right? It really does. A self-introduction that you scribbled down quickly and did not practice will not be of lesser value than one you spent time preparing and practicing.

A few ways to practice your self-introduction include:

• Write it down in detail. Write your introduction down, either on paper or on your laptop. This will help you keep your introduction tidy and concise.
• Stand in front of a mirror and practice the contents of your introduction. By practicing your introduction out loud, you will see how long it’s taking, and you will have a chance to either shorten it or lengthen it.
• Record yourself. You can always record yourself to analyze your tone and delivery.
• Get a different perspective. You can ask someone you trust to listen to you and give you feedback. Someone else’s point of view can make you see things differently because one can get lost in all the writing and practicing. A fresh perspective can always help, especially in such cases.

Student Self Introduction: Three Examples

Example 1: college interview student self introduction.

My name is [your name], I was born and raised in [your hometown/country], and I am currently a senior at [your high school]. I am interested in pursuing a degree in [preferred major] at [university name]. Initially, thank you for allowing me to introduce myself.

During my high school years, I took an interest in [your academic area of interest]. In fact, I continuously took classes in this subject area because I wanted to challenge myself and learn more. In addition, I have gained skills such as problem-solving, time management, and leadership from extracurricular activities, such as [insert extracurricular activities]. I value these skills because I strongly believe they will help me be successful in my academic pursuits in [your preferred subject area].

I used my time management skills to also work on my hobbies and interests. Some of my hobbies include [your hobbies]. When I am not involved in my academic responsibilities, I am usually [your hobby] or [your other hobby]. What is especially interesting about these hobbies is that they help develop my soft skills, such as critical thinking and creativity.

I want to mention that creativity* and critical thinking* are two of my greatest strengths, which I can use both in real life as well in professional or academic settings. Up until now, they have been a great help to my accomplishments. One weakness I’d like to mention is flexibility*. I need some time to adjust to abrupt changes in plans. However, I am working hard to turn this weakness into a strength, by exposing myself to situations where I need to adapt quickly.

I am thrilled to continue my academic interests at [university name]. I am also certain that my skills, enthusiasm, and work ethic will make me a strong candidate for [preferred major]. Thank you for taking the time to listen to me and for considering my application. Please feel free to ask any questions you might have.

*hypothetical examples. you can easily adapt them to your self-introduction.

Example 2: Classroom Student Self Introduction

My name is [your name], and I come from [your hometown/country]. I am [your age], and I look forward to being a part of this classroom.

I am interested in [your hobbies], so when I am outside of the classroom and not engaged in academic activities, I usually engage in [your hobby] or [your hobby].

My favorite subjects in school are [your favorite subjects] and my favorite extracurricular activities include [insert extracurricular activities].

I am excited to be here with you and can’t wait for us to learn together. Please feel free to approach me with any questions you might have.

Thank you for listening to me!

Example 3: Student Self Introduction Letter to Teacher

Dear [Teacher’s Name],

I am writing this letter to introduce myself since I am one of your students this year.

My name is [your name], I come from [your hometown/country], and I am [your age]. I look forward to being in your class because I am always enthusiastic about learning more and curious about what your class has to offer.

I am a dedicated student who enjoys challenges. Some of my hobbies include [your hobbies]. Outside the classroom and when I am not involved in academic activities, I like to [your hobby] or [your hobby].

I also like being involved in extracurricular activities. Currently I have joined [your extracurricular activity] and [another extracurricular activity]. These activities help me get exposure to different areas of interest.

One of my strengths is curiosity* and hard work*. However, I would say one of my weaknesses is public speaking*. Nevertheless, I am working towards transforming this weakness into a strength, by staying more organized, practicing, and focusing on myself rather than the public. I believe I will overcome this in no time.

Thank you! I am excited for the year to come.

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions? Take a look at these frequently asked questions when it comes to student self introduction.

How Do I Start My Self Introduction?

Always start by introducing yourself. If you have not greeted the audience yet, start with a simple greeting then proceed to tell your name, surname, hometown, and age.

What Is the Best Self Introduction?

The best self introduction is one that is cohesive, radiates confidence, comfort, positivity. There is no one answer when it comes to a good self introduction. Just make sure to keep it brief, informative, and concise because you do not want to “bore” the audience.

However, you should not keep it too short, in that it feels like you’re rushing through it. Find a perfect balance according to the instructions in this article.

How Can I Introduce Myself in 10 Lines in English?

You can easily introduce yourself in 10 lines in English. Here’s how:

• In the first line , talk about your name, hometown, and age.
• In the second line , talk about the purpose of your self introduction.
• In the third line , talk about your experience and skills.
• In the fourth line , elaborate on these skills and show how they relate to the context.
• In the fifth line , talk about your hobbies and interests.
• In the sixth line , elaborate on these hobbies and show why you like your hobbies.
• In the seventh line , talk about your strengths.
• In the eighth line , talk about your weaknesses.
• In the ninth line, talk about what you’re doing to overcome your weaknesses.
• In the tenth line, conclude your introduction.

How Can I Introduce Myself More Confidently?

To sound more confident, you need to believe the things you are saying. This is one thing. Here are some other things to keep in mind when it comes to sounding more confident:

• Speak slowly and clearly.
• Have an open body language.
• Avoid filler words.
• Keep a friendly eye contact.
• Practice your self introduction.

Is 4 Minutes Too Long for ‘Tell Me About Yourself’?

It is recommended to complete your introduction in less than two minutes. However, this depends on several factors, such as how relevant the details you are including are, and whether or not the introduction is engaging.

How Do You Introduce Yourself Before Speech as a Student? [Example 4]

If you want to introduce yourself before a speech, as a student, here’s how you should do it:

• Greet the audience.
• Say your name, surname, and where you are from.
• Mention your skills and interests (to show credibility when it comes to the speech).
• Provide a short summary of what you will be talking about.
• Show you are open to taking questions (during/after the speech).

How Do You Introduce Yourself Online as a Student? [Example 5]

If you’re attending an online course and want to introduce yourself to your class, make sure to keep it brief and clear.

For example:

Hi everyone! My name is [your name]. I live in [city/country] but I am originally from [hometown]. It’s my first time attending an online course but I am sure we’ll have a great time together! I’m looking forward to learning and socializing with you. I wish you all good luck!

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Picture Prompts

142 Picture Prompts to Inspire Student Writing

A school year’s worth of short, accessible image-driven posts that invite a variety of kinds of writing.

By The Learning Network

We’ve been publishing our Picture Prompts series four days a week since 2016. Below, we’ve rounded up all the prompts we published for the 2023-24 school year.

These short, accessible, image-driven prompts invite students to pen short stories, poems and memoirs; share experiences from their lives; analyze illustrations, graphs and charts; and tell us their opinions on hot-button issues.

You can find even more in our roundups for the 2022-23 , 2021-22 and 2020-21 school years, as well as in our collections of 125 picture prompts for creative and narrative writing and 25 spooky images for writing scary stories .

To learn how you can use Picture Prompts to build literacy skills, promote critical thinking, inspire discussion and foster creativity in your classroom, watch our three-minute tutorial video or our on-demand webinar . For dozens more ideas, see our lesson plan “ How to Teach With Our Picture Prompts (and Other Times Images) .”

If you use this feature with your students, or if you have other ideas for how to use photos, illustrations and graphics to encourage writing, let us know in the comments.

Share experiences from your own life.

Boys and Cologne Soapbox Derby Graphs Old and Young 2,000 Bags Spring Holidays Baking Spring ‘Floor Person’ Checking Your Watch ‘Wild’ Ice Skating Lunar New Year Hot Pot Distracted Walking Breakfast Wild Weather Maps Healthy Habits Holiday Classics Compliments Family Drama Thanksgiving Dinner Libraries Scary Movies Carving Pumpkins Fall Friday the 13th Our Own Language Skydiving Lazy Days Back to School

What story does this image inspire for you?

Falling Into a Hole Friends? Up, Up and Away! Pet Alligator Shadowy Figures Help Fishing in a Stream Tiny House Rats on a Dog Walking Away Public Selfies Hidden Doorway Playing Dominoes Point of No Return Sunset by the Water Valentines Biking Climbing a Ladder Reflections Happy Creatures Snowfall Blindfolded The Red Planet Dog TV Walking Through Town People and Penguins Witches on the Water Spying Show Time! A Wave Goodbye Ancient Arrow A Hand Up Darkened Library The Concert

What do you think this image, chart or cartoon is saying?

Pink Head, Green Check City Street Lapel Buttons One Seat Underwear on a Statue Justices An Elevator Filled With Robots Flying Plastic In a Box Watching Snacks and Drinks Tree Stump Behind Columns Lying in Bed Soccer and Dollars Two People Sitting Package and Globe Hot-Air Balloon Civil Conversation Raking A Shadow Parent and Child Atop a Cellphone The Super Wealthy Brick Wall Eagle and Ropes Painting Blank Space Exercise Football and Bag of Money Worm in an Apple Head in the Clouds

What’s your opinion on this issue?

‘Cowboy Carter’ New Stamp Design Prizewinning Miniature Poodle Cicadas for Dinner Met Gala Student Orchestra Tech in the Classroom Salt Movie Memorabilia 100 Years of Furniture March Madness Texting Styles Concerts Leap Day Broadway Shows Ice Cream Celebrity Feuds A.I.-Generated Faces World’s Largest Cruise Ship Your Energy Playlist Taylor Swift and the N.F.L. In-and-Out Lists Contenders Coveted Cup Your 2024 Most-Anticipated List 2023 in Pictures Style in 2023 $700 Million Deal Dream Décor Skipping School Giving Tuesday Pop-Tart Critic Time Change Pink Jersey Floating Home The Mall Breaking Police Robot Celebrity Relationships Fall Music New iPhone Tiny Homes Floods in Libya Football Season Land, Man and Sky Fall Video Games

Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public and may appear in print.

Find more Picture Prompts here.

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6 Picture Books to Inspire Student Writing

Teachers can encourage students to persist through challenges and share their stories by modeling the power of writing using picture books.

Writing can feel intimidating to students because it involves experimenting, taking risks, and receiving feedback from teachers and peers. To mitigate this apprehension, I’ve found it helpful to share stories of characters who write, allowing students to connect with these writers and learn from them. 

Below are picture books that teach the power and purpose of writing, along with ideas for helping elementary and middle school students connect with them.

Using Picture Books to Inspire Students to Write

A Squiggly Story by Andrew Larsen, illustrated by Mike Lowery. When a younger brother wants to write his own story but doesn’t know where to begin, he turns to his big sister, who “loves to write BIG words and little words.” With her advice, the emergent writer learns the tools for crafting a wonderful story, even though he doesn’t know all of his letters or how to craft sentences. 

Lowery’s illustrations complement the story, giving students insight into how beginning authors can share their own stories while building their skills. Use this book to encourage students to write about what they know, using emergent writing skills such as drawing symbols or sketches, using initial sounds to represent words or ideas, using punctuation marks to reflect emotion, and/or using scribbles or mock handwriting. (Grades K–2)

Write! Write! Write! , by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater, illustrated by Ryan O’Rourke. This anthology comprises 22 poems that are all about writing. Poems that describe the purpose of the various stages of the writing process include “How to Begin,” “Revision Is,” and “Final Edit.” 

“Our Alphabet,” “Ideas (Like Peaches),” “Timeline,” “Writing About Reading,” “Writing Is for Everyone,” and “The Pen” describe strategies authors use when crafting poetry. Use the verses in this anthology individually, as a collection of poems, or as reading or writing models demonstrating intentional uses of language. (Grades 1–4)

The Word Collector , written and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds. This is a story about words. While other children collect coins, stamps, or bugs, Jerome is a word collector. He curates his collection into careful categories based on how they sound, what they mean, and how they make him feel.

When Jerome loses his balance and his words spill out into the world, they become a jumbled pile with no rhyme or reason. That is, until Jerome realizes that the way authors string words together makes meaning and gives them their power and purpose. 

This book can help you teach vocabulary, synonyms and antonyms, word families, figurative language, and more. To further experiment and play with language, look with students around your classroom, building, and community for categories of words. You might facilitate a word hunt including some of Jerome’s categories: Words That Catch My Attention, Words That Jump Out at Me, Short and Sweet Words, Multisyllabic Words, Words You Do Not Know, Words That Sound Beautiful When You Say Them, and/or other creative categories you and your students devise. (Grades 2–8)

Milo Imagines the World , by Matt de la Peña; illustrated by Christian Robinson. This text shares the musings and drawings of young Milo as he takes his monthly train ride, observing the people who pass through his subway car. He imagines and draws their worlds in his notebook, making innocent yet pervasive judgments.

When he encounters a boy about his age, he imagines him living a prince-like existence filled with “a butler, two maids, and gourmet chef offering crust-free sandwich squares.” Milo is surprised to see that the boy and his father exit the subway to the same prison where Milo and his sister will be visiting their mother.

Milo Imagines the World asks readers to reflect on the question, “Can we really know someone just by looking at them?” and gives students and teachers an opportunity to think about how writing can help us reflect on our feelings, observe the world around us, and share our ideas about our world. (Grades 3–6)

16 Words: William Carlos Williams and “The Red Wheelbarrow” , by Lisa Rodgers, illustrated by Chuck Groenink. This simple, powerful biography describes the life and times of poet William Carlos Williams—specifically, the evolution of his famous poem “ The Red Wheelbarrow .” The book offers readers a glimpse into his nuanced process and how observation can be a powerful writing tool.  

By juxtaposing Williams’s life as a physician with the challenges he faced as an author, you can help students make connections to their own writing experiences and learn simple strategies for gathering writing inspiration from the beauty of everyday surroundings. Ask students to travel to different places in your school or their neighborhood to collect sensory details about what they observe. (Grades 4–8)

How to Write a Poem , by Kwame Alexander and Deanna Nikaido, illustrated by Melissa Stewart. Award-winning authors bring readers on a journey dripping with sensory details, figurative language, clever font choices, line breaks, and white space in this how-to book about crafting poems. It offers a unique model of how students can write procedural poems. 

While the genre is typically seen in primary classrooms, asking students to craft how-to poems about more sophisticated topics can be a new and exciting way for them to dip their toes into poetry. Suggested topics might include how to be a good citizen, a caring friend, or a successful author. (Grades 4–8)

Sharing books that connect to the writing process, demonstrate the benefits of writing, and highlight how authors craft stories can show students that writing is worth the risk-taking and challenges they may face in your classroom. Additionally, using these books as springboards that scaffold student writing can be an efficient and effective way to build a community of writers in your classroom.

• BookWidgets Teacher Blog

36 Creative Ways to Introduce and Explain Classroom Rules to Students

Many educators agree that the first month, the first week, and the first day of a new school year set the tone for success for the rest of the year. Creating a sense of community and empowering our students begins with those opening lessons. For many of us this means establishing your classroom norms - or classroom rules. I want to share my expertise and experience with establishing rules for your classroom.

In this blog post, I will share some ideas on how you can have a great opening of school and begin establishing a trusting, caring classroom culture which includes easy to follow classroom rules and procedures that work for everyone. I will also provide tips for preparing engaging lessons to introduce these rules.

I have brought together 36 ways to introduce and explain classroom rules to students. There are two sections:

• 12 general tips for introducing classroom rules
• 21 hands-on tips for changing up rules

Both parts will contain free, and ready-to-use lesson materials on classroom rules. Many of the digital exercises highlighted in this blog post are created with BookWidgets . Sign up for a free BookWidgets account (if you don’t already have one) and duplicate these lesson ideas, which will allow editing. Make sure you navigate to your BookWidgets dashboard and join this group . There are so many ready-made lesson activities waiting there for you to use. If you already use BookWidgets, scroll down 👇 to the first part to jump in and start planning. If you are new, keep reading 🤓 to learn more.

What is BookWidgets? With BookWidgets, teachers can create over 40 interactive exercises and auto-graded assignments with over 35 different question types . All teachers from all courses can use BookWidgets. Teachers can easily integrate BookWidgets inside Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams and many other Learning Management Systems. The integration enables teachers to follow student progress in real time when they are working on a BookWidgets assignment. This way, teachers can quickly guide their students in the right direction when they need help. BookWidgets is being used by teachers all over the world for daily activities, asynchronous work and both summative and formative evaluation. The grading dashboard allows teachers to review student work efficiently and easily give comprehensive feedback.

12 General tips for introducing classroom rules

Classroom rules are vitally important and may be the first lesson you teach 💡 on the first day of school. You probably have classroom rules prepared or some ideas for classroom rules. If you need inspiration, you’re in for a treat!

Tip: When I provided professional development to new teachers, I began by asking them to write down their classroom procedures and expectations. ✍🏽 We then collaborated to create rules and guidelines to ensure that these procedures would be successfully implemented throughout the year. - Sheryl Place

1. Clearly state and post your classroom rules

2. Use the power of the Internet

3. Explain consequences for not following rules

• Think about the rule you didn’t follow. Why did you break the rule? Have a conversation with your teacher about this.
• What could happen if you were not respectful to a classmate? Have a conversation with a classmate about respect.
• Think about why it is important to walk, not run in the classroom. How would your teacher and classmates feel if you were hurt? Draw a picture or write a letter about this.
• The consequence for turning in your work late is a call home. What would you say to your parent/guardian? Share your message with your teacher.
• The first time you are tardy to class, you will receive a warning. Speak with your teacher about why you were tardy and how you might be able to avoid this in the future.
• Lab procedures are in place to keep you and others safe. Draw a picture of a lab procedure and its importance. Share with your teacher.

4. Create positive rules

5. Keep rules simple

• Anyone arriving to class will be issued a warning, then after the second time a detention will be given. Keep the rule simple: Please arrive on time.
• Using inappropriate language, interrupting, shouting will not be tolerated. Instead, keep the rule simple: Be courteous to others.

This post , geared for early learners, provides 6 simple rules.

6. Less is more

7. Ensure understanding of rules and norms

8. Collaborate

Take a look at this “digital rules form” I created below. ⬇️ Colleagues can fill it out to help each other think and plan. You can use it yourself as you’re asking your fellow teachers and administrators to provide input on classroom rules.

9. Go digital

Depending on your classroom, access to technology and age of students, you can share digital copies by posting them in a learning management system (Google Classroom and Microsoft Teams are two learning management systems). Use QR codes for students to scan and then receive a digital copy of the rules - bonus depending on school policies, place a QR code at your classroom door for parents to scan; share on a teacher or school webpage.

10. Think big picture

11. Remember the soft skills

12. Engage all stakeholders

For example in my classroom, I make a welcome phone call home to every student‘s contact number during the first week of school. This did take a lot of time, I will be honest, but having the first contact be a positive one really helped if any discipline or classroom problems arose later in the year. In the end I found it time well spent.

This post is from a first year teacher on making the opening of school phone call home. The only change I would make in the suggestions: don’t give up your lunch time to make calls home. Lunch and brain breaks are very important for your teacher health. Other ideas on a positive first contacts with stakeholders are:

• Create a welcome video in Flip
• Slide a welcome note in your students’ agendas
• Create a digital quiz about yourself so stakeholders get to know you not only as a teacher, but also as a person.

24 hands-on tips for creating classroom rules

Now that you have some ideas and direction for your classroom rules, let’s get busy. Check out this list of actionable, concrete tips on classroom rules👇🏼 that you can select from to create your personalized action plan for classroom success.

I have always believed in the power of connection over content, so I encourage you to use these first meetings - whether face-to-face, remote, virtual or hybrid to begin forging connections with all students. Search out the shy introvert, the pop-tarts and the benchwarmers. These connections made in the early days will organically create a culture of caring where rules and expectations are adhered to with ease.

I encourage you to review the CASEL guide to “Establish Discipline Policies that Promote SEL” which includes a rubric to help “align policies and procedures to promote SEL” . If you are new to education check out Henry Wong’s The First Days of School (good to revisit for veteran teachers, too!)

13. Have students help with the rule making process

Here is an interactive mind map and two other ready-to-use lesson ideas that you can use with your students. 👇

• Classroom rules ranking worksheet
• Padlet classroom rules board - Padlet is an awesome free classroom collaboration tool.

14. Create a cue point video

15. Create a digital rule/expectations book

16. Create a digital quiz/game

Here’s also an example of a classroom rules quiz .

17. Create a video

Which brings us to our next tip…

18. Student-created videos

19. Create a digital bundle

It is possible to do so much with BookWidgets. Read on to find more interactive lesson ideas on sharing classroom rules with students. Students (and perhaps even parents) can review the entire bundle, sign and return papers and activities digitally - let’s move from the copy machine to the screen - save paper; save time; stress less during the opening of school. I can already see how much time you will save! Here is a digital rule book example.

20. Get classroom rules signed

Check out this digital rules agreement below 👇

21. Use memes

22. Puzzle it out

Pro tip: Create a jigsaw puzzle for every rule in your classroom. Students will have a blast getting to know your rules.

23. Hangman / Snowman

25. Pair matching

26. Randomness spinner

You can also add two wheels with written rules and start a classroom discussion. Spin the wheel and two rules will pop up. Which one do your students find more important? Why? This way, you listen to your students when attaching value to certain classroom rules.

27. Course syllabus

28. Lab procedures

Check out this randomness widget with the danger symbols. Do you know them all?

29. Use QR codes

QR codes are great for young learners, emerging readers and those learning a new language. QR codes can link to rules, videos, reflections - if you can think of it you can create a QR code for it. Depending on school policies, place a QR code outside the classroom with a link to classroom rules and syllabus for parents to preview and digitally sign. Bonus: This may also reduce classroom interruptions during planning days prior to the opening of school. Also, in class, create QR codes with links to classroom rules. Check out this blog post for more creative ways to use QR codes in class.

30. Try out the target language

31. Integrate literary techniques and figurative language

32. Insert emojis and symbols in your document

33. Create a poster

34. Create an interactive rules poster

Go check out this interactive classroom rules poster! 👇

35. Be inspired

36. Use free classroom management apps

Now that you have ideas for your rules in hand, you are ready to think about the first days of school. 📆 Check out this blog post for 20+ ready to use digital lesson activities for the first day of school and this post for even more general ideas on rules and classroom management.

Welcome to the new school year! 🙋🏽‍♀️ We can’t wait to see your journey. Don’t forget to join our BookWidgets Blog group to see all the awesome activities that we have shared in this post with you. You can duplicate them, adapt them, and share them with your students.

Remember, sharing is caring - 👨🏻‍❤️‍💋‍👨🏾 maybe you have the perfect widget for the opening of school- don’t hesitate to share your creative widgets by posting them in this Facebook Group . If you are not a member, join now. We are looking forward to seeing what you share and create. My hope is that you found some innovation, inspiration, and imagination in this post. Which of these ideas is your favorite? 🤩 Let us know on Twitter: @ibookwidgets .

Continue to be awesome. 🎉 Let’s Learn Together! 👩🏻‍🏫 ~Sheryl

Follow me on Twitter

Join hundreds of thousands of subscribers, and get the best content on technology in education.

BookWidgets enables teachers to create fun and interactive lessons for tablets, smartphones, and computers.

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Channel Imagination into the Art of Language

Creative writing (minor/concentration).

Refine your style and broaden your writing ability across multiple genres.  

interested in pursuing writing on top of your chosen major? A Creative Writing minor will help you connect with your audience to bring ideas to life. This minor will boost your marketability for careers in media, publishing, business, and areas of science.  

Students majoring in English with a Creative Writing concentration cannot add a Creative Writing minor.  

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Creative Writing Curriculum Guides & Degree Options

Curriculum guides.

• Creative Writing Minor  

Students interested in course descriptions and academic policies can check out our  Undergraduate Catalog .

Liberal Arts Foundational Core

A Taylor liberal arts education will prepare you to live and work in a fast-changing world. It also goes a step further: laying a strong spiritual foundation that cultivates wisdom. You’ll become a well-versed individual, equipped with critical thinking skills, a lifelong love of learning, and an appreciation for God’s creation.

View Foundational Core Curriculum.

Build Skills In:

• Writing on a deadline  
• Critical thinking and analysis  
• Characteristics of fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction  
• Generating ideas and workshopping  
• Revision process   
• Exploring different voices and styles  

Career Opportunities:

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The English department hosts a biannual undergraduate conference, Making Literature , which gives students the opportunity to present papers for presentation, moderate paper sessions, and participate in the exciting logistics of hosting a national conference.

Participate  in WORDshop ! , an on-campus writing camp for area youth designed and taught by English education majors, who have the opportunity to learn how to build a writing community and encourage young writers.  

Related Majors

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Creative writing is part of the english & modern languages department.

Contact Carie King Department Chair & Associate Professor of English 765-998-5141 email

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Money blog: Major boost for homeowners as interest rate finally cut - here's what it means for mortgages

Welcome to the Money blog, your place for personal finance and consumer news and tips. This afternoon's focus will largely be on the Bank of England's decision to cut the interest rate from 5.25% to 5%. Leave your thoughts in the comments box below.

Thursday 1 August 2024 22:11, UK

Top money news

• Major boost for mortgage holders as Bank of England finally cuts interest rate - from 5.25% to 5%
• Ed Conway analysis : This is a critical turning point
• Bank expects gradual rate decline
• What does decision mean for mortgage holders?
• Best savings rates you can get right now
• GPs vote to take collective action for first time in 60 years

Essential reads

• Tax rises Labour could introduce in the autumn budget
• What you can do if landlord won't fix mould - but it's risky
• Saturday Kitchen regular shares cheap pasta recipe
• Basically... Do you need a mortgage broker?
• Money Problem : Can I put thousands I've saved in my spouse's ISA?
• Best of the Money blog - an archive of features

Ask a question or make a comment

Here's a round up of some other consumer news that's been happening while our focus has been on interest rates...

US fast food giant Taco Bell is expanding the use of artificial intelligence to take orders at hundreds of its drive-thrus.

The voice AI system - which interprets customers' orders based on voice recognition - has been in development for more than two years.

The Mexican-themed chain is already operating the system at more than 100 sites across 13 US states.

TalkTalk is likely to default on its debts, a ratings agency has warned.

The broadband provider has been moved from a "substantial" credit risk to a "very high level" risk after the ratings agency Fitch cut the company's credit rating.

The company has two repayment deadlines in November and February last year and owes £1bn to lenders.

Earlier, reports emerged that TalkTalk founder Sir Charles Dunstone was trying to finalise a £200m lifeline as the company tries to avoid a collapse.

A mattress company has agreed to change its sales practices after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it misled customers about price reductions and put unfair pressure on them to make quick purchases.

The company has now signed formal commitments known as undertakings. It has committed to action, including:

• Genuine discount claims : Simba Sleep will ensure any "was" price is genuine - in other words, that they actually sell a sufficient volume of the product at that price before using it as a "was" price;
• Countdown clocks:  Simba Sleep will ensure that any countdown clocks used on its websites are clear, specify prominently which products they apply to, and do not give consumers a false impression that they must act quickly (or that when the clock ends the product will revert to the "was" price) if this is not the case.

There's good and bad news for the chancellor in today's interest rate cut, analysts have suggested.

The cut has been possible because inflation has fallen to target 2%. Rates are elevated to discourage spending and encourage saving - when this happens, price rises tend to slow.

Laith Khalaf, head of investment analysis at AJ Bell , says the cut to 5% "marks a significant victory in the fight against inflation", but there's still some way to go.

Most importantly, "we haven't spun off into an inflationary cycle like in the 1970s", he says, meaning Rachel Reeves can breathe somewhat easy on that front. 

"But inflationary pressures are still lurking. The energy price cap is expected to rise this winter, public sector pay agreements might push up prices, and a second Trump presidency in the US could stoke further global inflation through tax cuts, tariffs, and tough immigration controls," he says. 

"The bad news for Rachel Reeves is the Bank of England reckons economic growth will remain limp, with GDP growing by just 0.8% over the next year," Mr Khalaf says. 

He caveats that by noting that the Bank is not well known for optimism in projections. 

"This is evidenced by the fact the Bank has just upgraded its forecast for economic growth over the last 12 months to 1.5%, from 0.5% only three months ago."

Many of you will know that while today's decision is great news for those with a mortgage, it's not so good for savers.

That being said, the cut today may not do as much damage as some may fear. 

We spoke to Mark Hicks, head of active savings at financial services firm Hargreaves Lansdown, to explain why...

"A rate cut is never going to be music to the ears of savers, but this shouldn't do too much damage - the market was split on whether we were going to get a cut, so decisive action from the Bank of England is going to mean some banks bring rates down slightly, especially among easy access accounts, but we're not expecting massive movements," he says. 

He says what really matters is what happens around expectations of rate cuts in the future. 

"If the Bank of England decides to cut rates twice and then pause, we should see minimal disruption to the savings market," he says, but "more consistent rate cutting of four or more would drive greater savings rate change".

What savers should be looking at

As it stands, the market is currently not predicting any significant falls for savers. 

"At the moment, the highest easy access rate and one-year fixed rate accounts still pay over 5%, so savers can still beat inflation by an impressive margin," Mark says.

The highest easy access rate on HL Active Savings is 4.67% and the highest fixed rate is 5.06%, he adds. 

"When you add in the effect of the current cashback deal, this takes it to 5.26%."

Mark says if you don't need the cash for a while, fixed term rates offer the best returns from a risk reward perspective, "so it's worth securing a rate by considering a fixed rate deal while these rates last". 

Money blog regular David Hollingworth, associate director at L&C Mortgages, has taken a look...

Tracker rates

Those on tracker rates will feel the most direct and immediate benefit. The mortgage rate is directly pegged to base rate so will naturally reflect the cut in base rate. You should receive confirmation of when that will come into effect and the new payment in due course. 

Trackers have remained a relatively niche part of the market as base rate has held firm until today. I don't expect to see a sudden shift toward trackers but if the door opens to further cuts we may start to see more interest in base rate trackers as we head into next year.

[Editor's note: Hargreaves Lansdown forecast a saving for those on trackers of £28 per month. There are around half a million such households.]

Variable rates

There's also some potential relief for those on standard variable rate. These are not directly linked to base rate but the hope will be that lenders will pass through the full cut to SVR, even though they are not obliged to do so. We've already seen Santander announce that it will be cutting the SVR.

This has potential benefits for all borrowers as lenders will often stress their affordability based on a rate above their SVR. If SVR eases it should help to temper the stress rates as well, which could give a little more leeway on the amount lenders can offer.

Fixed rates

Fixed rates are where the majority of borrowers have been heading. Rates have already been edging down with small but frequent cuts helping to nudge five-year deals close to and even under 4%. 

Today's decision to cut a little sooner than many had previously anticipated should only help to add further weight to those reductions. We can therefore expect to see further pricing improvements in fixed rates, as lenders continue to fight hard to gain a share in a very competitive market.

Borrowers should secure a rate and can then keep a close eye on rate movements to capitalise on any further movement, while avoiding any risk of drifting onto an expensive variable rate.

The Bank's Monetary Policy Committee is now asked how low we could go in terms of interest rates, and whether the public can expect a drop, eventually, to near 0% - like before COVID.

"I think it's reasonable to say that it's unlikely we're going back to the world we were in in 2009 and the point at which we started raising rates," Andrew Bailey says. 

He says that's because the economic outlook of that time was driven by massive shocks - like the financial crash.

"We will be somewhere around where the neutral rate will be - which will be lower than we are at now," he says, not going into any further specifics. 

Markets expect that neutral rate to be between 3-4%.

Sky's data and economics editor Ed Conway  asks the Bank chief what he means when he says the base rate is still in "restrictive territory" and when we can expect this to change.

"We look at restrictiveness in terms of where we think growth is," Andrew Bailey explains.

He says if you look at the Bank's forecast for GDP, growth is "picking up".

"We're still below potential and we do have a small output gap opening up in the forecast," he says.

"I think that's one way of capturing the fact that there is still a restrictive setting in that sense and we think that is appropriate given we have to ensure the persistence of inflation is taken out of the system," he says.

He says "there is a way to go".

We now move to a Q&A.

The Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey is asked whether this cut will be "one and done", or whether we can expect a further decline down the road. 

"I'm not giving you any view on the path of rates to come," he says.

"I'm saying we will go from meeting to meeting, as we always do."

He tweaks the question and asks himself (and then answers): "What's changed?"

"The answer is nothing's really changed actually much in terms of the economic news. It's that we have become more confident [as time has gone on]," he adds. 

Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey says a consideration for the Bank is whether the decline in inflation is "baked in as the global shocks that drove up inflation unwind".

"Or are we experiencing a more permanent change to wage and price setting which will require monetary policy to remain tighter for longer," he says.

Mr Bailey says these have become "important questions" in the MPC policy considerations.

The Bank is forecasting inflation will increase to about 2.75% later this year.

It will then return to target 2% in 2025, the Bank thinks.

"We need to put the period of high inflation firmly behind us," Mr Bailey says. "We need to be careful not to cut rates too much or too quickly."

Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey is speaking on the Bank's decision to cut the interest rate from 5.25% to 5%.

He's joined by other members of the Bank's Monetary Policy Committee.

Watch live in the stream above.

The Bank of England has cautioned that interest rates will fall more gradually than they rose.

Shortly after cutting the rate, governor Andrew Bailey said policymakers "need to make sure inflation stays low, and be careful not to cut interest rates too quickly or by too much".

He added: "Ensuring low and stable inflation is the best thing we can do to support economic growth and the prosperity of the country."

The base interest rate rose quickly from 0.1% in late 2021 to a peak of 5.25% last summer, before remaining there for 12 months.

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