Ready, Set, Write!: Creative Ideas to Get Kids Writing

Barbara M. Buetter conducts creative-writing workshops for children and
is the author of Simple Puppets from Everyday Materials.

Debra Kuzbik’s first book is a fun collection of innovative and
easy-to-use writing ideas that are suitable for children of different
ages, interest, and skill levels.

The book offers suggestions to teachers for accommodating daily writing
time by coordinating writing activities with other areas of study, such
as math, science, and geography. Kuzbik outlines four steps in the
writing process—pre-writing (research and ideas), drafting, editing
and revising, and publishing. Simple brainstorming games use pictures,
words, classic literature, and familiar objects to help inspire fresh
story ideas.

For younger children, “all about me” stories offer a positive first
writing experience that builds self-esteem. Activities for writing
buddies (pairing younger and older students) are provided. Writing
exercises include “how to” stories (e.g., “how to keep a frog as a
pet without Mom finding out”), descriptive games (e.g., “What am
I?”), and classics retold from a new perspective. Plot-building
activities use combinations of character and setting to spark new story
ideas. Good examples of children’s literature, which are interspersed
throughout the text, are also included in an appendix.

Suggestions are given for sharing students’ work, providing regular
encouragement, and celebrating writing achievements. Examples of
children’s writing are included. The book also includes a skills
checklist for teachers and charts to help them evaluate students’
work.

Aimed at teachers at levels ranging from kindergarten to Grade 5,
Ready, Set, Write! would prove useful for any adult who wants to
encourage young writers.