Creative writing for 8yo to use alongside WWE

[Sally Day]

We are on WWE3 and it's working very well for us. My son is starting to show enthusiasm for doing some creative writing now. He tends to start many, many projects but not get far at all, though, and I think he would do better if he had some structure to this (little assignments to complete). Does anyone know of a simple, exclusively creative writing program that he could follow? It would be a kind of fun extra rather than part of our core curriculum.

Edited January 12, 2016 by Sally Day

[Lori D.]

It's not strictly creative writing, but a great program for that age that is easy to do in small bites and can pick up and put down is Wordsmith Apprentice (see sample here). It's a terrific supplement/break for more formal writing programs such as WWE. There are short fill-in-the-blank exercises to spark thinking, and then longer (one paragraph to several paragraphs) writing assignments towards the end of each unit. The program is written directly to the student, and very little parent involvement is required. The premise of the program is that the student is a "cub reporter" writing for all the various departments of a newspaper.

 

Other creative writing resources:

TSL website: Creative Writing Activities and Worksheets for Young People -- free

NaNoWriMo: Elementary School Workbook -- free resource for encouraging creative writing from National Novel Writing Month website

 

Edited January 12, 2016 by Lori D.

[fourisenough]

Writing Magic, by Gail Carson Levine. It is a tiny little paperback, quite inexpensive and exactly what you described above that you're looking for. Ignore the recommendation of 5th grade & up as the target audience; my girls devoured it much younger. I have another copy to use with my DD11 this summer. Great fun for kids who like to write.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Magic-Creating-Stories-that/dp/006236717X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1452632948&sr=1-1&keywords=writing+magic

[desertflower]

Here's something to think about.  Not necessary as simple as what the previous posters posted about.  http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/502725-bravewriter-vs-no-more-im-done/ 

 

I'm going to implement bravewriter style.  I don't think it's a open and book kind of curriculum.  But I'm not an expert on the subject as I'm just beginning my journey. 

[Guest]

Have you seen The Creative Writer series by PHP? It does say middle school but maybe you can modify it?

 

https://peacehillpress.com/c/language-arts/writing/creative-writing/

 

Also, how about Just Write or Story Starters? 

[dsbrack]

I used "No More, I'm Done" to teach a creative writing co-op class this year for 1st through 3rd.  I chose to use it for the reasons you described above.  We were making good progress with WWE but my son really wanted to add in a creative element.  He writes stories all the time during his free time.  I wanted to add creative writing without dropping WWE.  It has been a good fit and many of the students in my co-op class have enjoyed the lessons.