When the students return from a music lesson, I ask them to put on their outside shoes and jackets. They know it is not a break time yet and they look puzzled. Asking them to take the writing journals confuses them even more.
"We have learned how writers get ideas - from their heart, making lists, focusing on the right now, from memory, from imagination and from knowledge. Sometimes writers go for a walk, to observe, to notice, to collect little snippets. This is what we will do today."
Their eyes light up.
We walk out of the school gate, down a street into a small park. The sun softly nudges the kids to unzip or unbutton their jackets. The fall day feels like a summer.
We haven't got very far when some of the kids start writing as they walk. We stop so everyone can write something. They choose what to record - the yellow leaves swirling down form the trees, a skinny man in a shirt and trousers running, a pug tugging his leash. Boys need to make a note of the poop left behind.
We walk some more. We write some more.
Then the kids put down their journals and run back and forth between the trees, through the dry leaves, climb up and hang upside down from exercise bars. They laugh.
When we return to the school yard the students write some more - some sitting on a bench, some under the slide, one up on the monkey bars. Writers can write anywhere.
What a great way to inspire writers. So important for students to see that ideas for writing are all around us. Also a good way to teach observation skills.
ReplyDeleteThis is such an awesome way to get students to write. Inspiration is such an important of writing.
ReplyDeleteThis is such an awesome way to get students to write. Inspiration is such an important of writing.
ReplyDeleteWriters can write anywhere. What a wonderful way to ignite the writing - with outdoor learning. Terje, can your students capture their thoughts for a class poem on writing outdoors in early fall (and accompany it with a photo? That would be great for my fall gallery, Autumn Ablaze.
ReplyDeleteI love hearing about the break to run, then back to the writing. Perhaps we adults should try that too?
ReplyDeleteYour post makes me want to run and then jump back into writing
ReplyDeleteSome of my favorite writing days with students are when we can get outside! One of my favorites is the first snow!
ReplyDeleteSome of my favorite writing days with students are when we can get outside! One of my favorites is the first snow!
ReplyDeleteI always loved taking my writers outside. It happened rarely, but was always a wonderful experience. Love the details from your walk that you shared with us.
ReplyDeleteOh, I so wish I was right there beside your class ... taking time to just be in the moment, notice, smile, and write. Yes, writers can write anywhere. This was the perfect reminder.
ReplyDeleteSo delightful!
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