What inspires you to write??? Maybe seeing a gorgeous sunset or hearing your favorite song on the radio...

What might inspire a classroom full of children to write?

Interesting music?

Amusing pictures?

Creative story prompts?

Colorful lighting?

Teachers often get very creative inventing ways to get children in the mood to write. Depending on the writing assignment, children may not need much encouragement, but there are times when writers need to be inspired.

Creating a writing atmosphere in the classroom can be as simple as assembling a Writing Time Basket full of writing motivators such as mechanical pencils, colorful erasers, journals, a timer, etc. Students will know that writing is a special time when the teacher pulls out the Write Time Basket and hands out unusual materials to use for writing.

Other simple items in a classroom can help to "set the mood" for writing:

1.Writing Time Item

Have something special that students wear during writing time to get them focused - maybe a hat, a badge, a bandana, or a vest. As students put on their writing time item, they will begin to concentrate on their writing subject and to form ideas and plots. Keep the writing time item in a special place in the classroom so that as you pull it out to give to children, they know it is writing time.

2.Writing Time Pencils

Find unique pencils (unusual designs, different sizes, mechanical) that are only used during writing time. Store them in a special place and give them out at the start of writing time to motivate and excite children about writing.

3.Brainstorming Board

Once the class has chosen a writing topic, take the time to brainstorm ideas about the subject. List all ideas on a brainstorming board and leave them up as students begin their organizing and writing. The list of words helps students with spelling and offers them ideas for their writing. This board might be a specially decorated white board that the class only uses for writing time. Try hanging a creative border around the board or taping lists of vivid verbs around the border of the board. Anything you can do to make the board unusual and fun will excite the kids to want to use it.

4.Published Writers Poster/Bulletin Board

Once a student has written a story, edited and revised it, ask him to "publish" it and hang it up in the classroom for all to read. On the Published Writers Board keep a record of how many published writings each child has completed. Challenge each student to publish 2-3 writings per month. Make it an honor to display your writing on this special board.

5.Publishing Center

Designate an area of your classroom as the Publishing Center. In this center include items such as colored lined paper, paper cut into different shapes, fancy pens, a typewriter, a hole puncher and yarn, a stapler, etc. Think of any items that can be used to assemble books or decorate covers and include them in the center.

Writing can be such an enjoyable, creative time for children and teachers. Design your classroom to reflect and encourage this happy mood for writing and your students will not only look forward to writing time, they will discover the writer in themselves!

Alma Ammons Hoffmann is a former schoolteacher for grades K, 1,2,4 and 5, she holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of North Carolina, with concentration on Early and Intermediate Education. She also has earned a Masters of Education degree from Meredith College, focusing on Elementary Education and Reading K-12 . Ms. Hoffman is an expert on developing writing lessons and teaching paragraph writing. http://www.writemorestuff.com/