Narrative Writing

We have begun our journey through writing with an activity designed to help the learners flow their thoughts from their mind onto paper. Too often doubt and editing interrupt the flow of thoughts and early writers struggle to just get their ideas out on paper. "Quick Writes" are timed writing to a prompt. The first Quick Write was in response to crazy pictures that inspired their idea. This pictures and video show the kids digging in to their writing.

The writing process is a multi-step process from brainstorming, to planning, composing, editing, and finally publishing. Not all works will reach the editing stage, however editing grammar and conventions ensures the reader receives the intended, written message. From this first writing I have learned a great deal about our young writers... chiefly we will need to work on writing conventions so that their writing says what they intend.

Learning to plan and create an outline of your story before beginning to write is a new concept for the Mergansers. Analyzing the elements of a narrative... Plot, Character, and Setting...

Kate also taught us about CROW! Characters, Relationships, Outcome or Objective, and Where?

(I wish I caught her lesson on video!)

Every learner will be writing a story... some have chosen it for their first assignment and others for their next one. The key components of learning to write a narrative are: Descriptive writing and word choice, character development and how relationships and changes in and between characters drive plots, and maintaining a clear plot line.
* Parents, please note that writing development typically lags behind reading skill, often including reading interest, so the more your learner reads the better writer they become. While graphic novels and comics have their place in literature, especially recently, young readers and writers must read gradually more complex texts. Thank you for helping!!