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29 Back-to-School Writing Prompts for Middle and High School

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The first day of school is approaching, and as a teacher, your schedule is likely already filling up with organizational and instructional prep work. However, despite all of your efforts, you may find that some students may emerge slowly from their summer hazes.

Before your middle school or high school students start their assigned reading, get them engaged with these back-to-school writing prompts. Fill up some class time with a few warm-up writing prompts below, or send students home with a larger assignment to get them back into the swing of things!

First Day of School Writing Prompts: Middle School Students

Classroom Prompt Assignments

  • Stream of consciousness is when a character lets their thoughts continuously flow. Write a stream of consciousness story of your own and see where your thoughts take you.
  • For the new school year, what new skill would you choose to learn if you had the time, money, and ability? Why?
  • Write a critique of a book, movie, or show you recently read or watched. What were its strong points? What were its weak ones?
  • Describe the reigning emotions you felt this summer. Why did you feel that way, and how do you think these emotions might change as the school year progresses?
  • Choose a place you traveled to this summer, either locally or far away, and write a blog post about that location. Should other people visit as well? It could be a restaurant, a town, a shop, or a favorite spot to hang out.
  • If there is a club, sport, class, or event you are excited about this year, write what you already know about it. Follow up with some expectations that you have for the experience and yourself.
  • A flashbulb memory is a very detailed memory that you have from when you were young. Do you have any memories like that, and if so, what are they about? Are there any events that have happened recently that you think you will remember for a long time?
  • Do you have any traditions? If not, which one would you want to start this year?
  • Describe the most memorable school project that you’ve ever done. Would you like to do a similar project this year, and if so, how can it be adapted to what you’re learning now?
  • If you could create a themed book display for your school library, what would it be? Which titles would it include, and why?

Take-Home Writing Assignments

  • Write a letter to your younger self, and then another to your older self.
  • One important rule of creative writing is to “Show Don’t Tell.” Write a 1,500-word short story in your favorite genre, following this rule.
  • Write a local wildlife guide to your backyard, neighborhood, local park, or even the school itself. What flora and fauna exist there?
  • Write a 1,000-word essay about an aspect of your summer that focuses on the five basic senses—Sight, Hearing, Smell, Taste, and Touch.

creative writing about first day of school

First Day of School Writing Prompts: High School Students

  • Set three resolutions for yourself to accomplish this year and describe why those are the ones you chose.
  • Write a list of How-To instructions for something that you know how to do. It could be making a meal, cleaning something, playing a game, babysitting, drawing a picture, etc.
  • Create a dream college for you to attend once you graduate. Which academic programs does it offer? What sports, art classes, and clubs are offered? Where is it located?
  • Write a short story using only dialogue. Work on creating different voices for each character. If it helps, take notes on each character before the dialogue starts. Does one character use slang? Is the other excitable? Is one character older than the other?
  • Write a song on a subject that isn’t usually heard in other songs.
  • Create a new class for your school to offer. Why do you think that class is necessary? What are the learning goals for that class, and what are the assignments?
  • Which app do you spend the most time on? What are the positive aspects of using the app? What are the negatives?
  • Is there a cause that you want to be a part of? What is it, and why is it important to you?
  • Create a new club for your community or school. What is the club about? What are your goals, and who do you hope will join?
  • Describe three things that you are looking forward to this year.
  • What is your ultimate dream job? Research the industry, company, or role you’re interested in and report on what it is and how to get there. Conclude with your expectations before and after your research. Is the job what you thought it was?
  • Choose a position with the local government to run for and outline a platform to run on. Then, write a speech to voters about your platform. Make sure to research your current representatives to learn what their platforms are.
  • What is going on in the town or city that you live in? Research local events, places, volunteer opportunities, parks, clubs, etc. Visit a new place or attend a new event, then write a review of your experiences using descriptive language. Would you go back again? Why or why not?
  • An executive summary is an intro to a business plan that is designed to grab the reader’s attention by summarizing what the new business will accomplish. Write an executive summary between 500 and 1,000 words for a product, venture, or business that you wish existed.
  • Research a historical figure that looks a little like you do (bonus points if you’ve never heard of them before now). What did they accomplish?

No matter how much or how little your students read this summer, get their creativity flowing with these thought-provoking journal prompts to kick off the year. By focusing on descriptive language, persuasive arguments, and ideas for the future, your middle school or high school class will find their writer's stride in no time.

Try Writable to support your ELA curriculum, district benchmarks, and state standards with more than 600 fully customizable writing assignments and rubrics for students in Grades 3–12 .

Try out a free trial of Writable today by following these steps:

  • Go to hmh.writable.com
  • Click "Log in or Create Account"
  • Choose "I'm a teacher"
  • Sign in with Google or Microsoft account
  • Select the grade level you teach
  • Activities & Lessons
  • Grades 9-12

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Creative Writing Prompts

First Day of School Writing Prompts: Start the Year with Words

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My name is Debbie, and I am passionate about developing a love for the written word and planting a seed that will grow into a powerful voice that can inspire many.

First Day of School Writing Prompts: Start the Year with Words

Promote Creativity ⁢and Reflection⁣ with ‍First Day ‍of School‌ Writing Prompts

Encouraging self-expression: captivating writing prompts for the first day ⁣of school, building ⁤connections ⁢and‍ fostering⁢ community through ⁤writing on ⁣the first day of school, empowering ‌students: ‌effective writing prompts‌ to kickstart the school year, inspire ⁣confidence‌ and growth with first day of ⁢school writing ⁢activities, setting goals‌ and creating a positive classroom atmosphere⁣ with ‍first day writing prompts, ignite imaginations: thought-provoking ⁣writing prompts for the start ⁣of‌ the school year, frequently asked questions, future ​outlook.

⁤ Kickstart the new school year with ​a‍ burst of creativity‌ and⁣ encourage your students to reflect‌ on their experiences⁤ with our collection of engaging⁢ writing prompts for the first day of school. Writing prompts provide an​ excellent way‌ to⁣ inspire imagination, boost ​critical thinking skills, and foster self-expression. Whether you’re an educator or‌ a parent,‌ these​ prompts‌ offer a perfect‍ opportunity to encourage your students or children to articulate their ⁣thoughts, fears, and aspirations as they embark on a ‌fresh academic journey.

‍ ⁤ Our carefully crafted prompts ‍tap into a range ​of themes, ‌from personal reflections to imaginative scenarios. Students ‍can⁤ explore‌ and express⁢ their ‍emotions,⁢ goals, and ambitions⁢ for the upcoming year. They can also delve into their unique ​learning ⁣experiences, ponder ⁣new‌ friendships, or ⁤even imagine exciting⁣ adventures they’d like to​ embark upon. With a‌ diverse collection⁢ of‍ thought-provoking prompts at your​ disposal, you’ll empower ‌your students to think⁢ critically,⁣ write confidently,⁢ and develop their own⁣ individual voices.

  • Encourage ‍students to reflect on ⁢their favorite summer memories and share ‌what they’ve‌ learned from them.
  • Prompt‌ students to envision the⁤ perfect classroom atmosphere ‍and describe​ what ⁣they believe ‍will make it an ideal learning environment.
  • Challenge students to compose a letter to their ‌future selves, outlining ‌their academic‌ and personal ⁤goals⁤ for⁢ the‍ year ​ahead.
  • Ask students to create a​ fictional ​story⁢ about a‍ time-traveling adventure that takes them to⁣ a historical ‍event of their choice.

​ By incorporating these fun⁤ and thought-provoking writing prompts ‌on the⁢ first day of‌ school, you’ll​ not only ⁢cultivate creativity and self-reflection, but also set a positive‌ tone for the rest of the academic year. Foster the development of‌ critical writing skills, while simultaneously ‍strengthening‍ students’ ability to articulate their thoughts ​and⁣ feelings. ‍Let your students embark‍ on a writing journey filled with imagination, self-discovery, ‍and endless possibilities.

Encouraging ⁤Self-Expression: Captivating ⁤Writing Prompts for⁢ the First Day ⁣of School

As the new school year begins, it’s crucial to create ⁣a classroom environment ​that ⁤fosters creativity and self-expression. One ​effective way to‍ achieve this is through engaging writing ⁤prompts that⁢ will‍ encourage students ⁢to share their ⁢thoughts and ideas. Here ‌are some ‌captivating writing prompts that are perfect ⁢for the‍ first ‌day‌ of school, allowing ⁢students to introduce ‍themselves while also sparking their imagination:

  • Reflect on ​your summer ⁣adventures: ⁣ Ask students to write about their favorite ‍summer⁣ memory or the most exciting thing they did during the break. This ‍prompt not only helps⁢ them share their experiences​ but also sets‍ a positive and vibrant tone ​for⁤ the class.
  • Design your ideal learning space: ⁢Encourage students to let their creativity flow by asking them to describe or sketch their perfect learning ⁤environment. This prompt allows ‍them⁣ to think outside the box‍ and express ‌their preferences, making them feel a⁢ sense of ownership in the ​classroom.

Writing prompts like these provide an opportunity for students to explore‍ their⁣ individuality, establish ‌a positive classroom community, and ignite ‍their passion‍ for learning.⁤ By creating‍ a safe and inclusive space ⁢for self-expression⁤ from⁢ the⁤ very beginning,‍ teachers can set⁣ the stage for ​meaningful and engaging discussions throughout⁢ the ‍entire school year. So,⁣ let’s ⁣kickstart this academic ‌adventure‍ with ‍captivating writing prompts that will inspire endless creativity in our‍ students!

On ⁤the first day of school,⁤ bringing students together​ and creating a sense of⁤ community is ⁤essential. With a simple⁢ yet powerful activity ​using​ writing,‌ we can‌ foster connections⁣ right ⁤from the start.‍ By encouraging students⁢ to express themselves through writing, ‍we ​provide a ‍platform ⁤for each⁢ individual to be heard and understood, while also establishing a⁢ supportive and inclusive classroom environment.

One effective way to do⁤ this is through an interactive ‌journaling‌ session.‍ Set aside time⁣ for students ⁢to ⁣write freely about their thoughts, feelings, and expectations for the upcoming year. Encourage them‌ to⁤ express their⁢ goals, ​hopes, and ⁢even concerns. By giving them the freedom to write openly and honestly, we‌ can create a safe space ‍where students feel comfortable sharing and connecting with their ‌peers.

  • Provide prompts that⁣ encourage self-reflection, such as asking students to write ⁢about their‍ favorite book or about ‌a⁢ challenge they overcame.
  • Encourage ‌students to respectfully comment and share​ their thoughts on each other’s writing,⁢ fostering dialogue and understanding.
  • Consider using icebreaker activities that involve writing, such as having students write a short poem introducing themselves⁣ to their classmates.

By incorporating writing into the first⁤ day of‍ school,​ we establish a ⁢foundation for building connections and ⁤fostering a supportive community. ‍Writing encourages self-expression,​ empathy, active ⁢listening, and understanding. ​It ⁢enables⁤ students to ‌share their⁢ unique voices and experiences, while also developing their ⁢reading and critical thinking skills. Let’s ⁤embrace ‍the power of writing to create ‌a classroom environment where everyone feels ‍valued and connected.

Empowering Students: Effective Writing⁤ Prompts to Kickstart the‌ School Year

Writing is an essential ⁢skill⁤ that allows ‍students to express ‍their thoughts, ideas, and‍ emotions. ⁤It is crucial to provide ⁢students with engaging and effective writing prompts​ to ignite their ‌creativity and boost​ their confidence as⁢ communicators. Here are some ​unique and ‍inspiring writing prompts⁣ to kickstart the⁤ school year:

  • 1. ‍Reflect on a significant life experience: Encourage students⁤ to explore and ⁤share a personal experience that ⁢had a profound impact on their⁣ lives. This⁤ prompt not⁣ only allows them to tap into ​their‍ emotions ⁣but also helps develop their narrative ​writing skills.
  • 2. ​Invent ‌a⁣ futuristic gadget: ‍Challenge ⁣students to ‍imagine‌ a groundbreaking invention that would revolutionize ‌the future. This prompt promotes critical thinking, creativity,‍ and persuasive writing skills as they‍ describe the gadget’s​ purpose ​and benefits.
  • 3. ⁢Write a letter to‌ your future self: ⁣ Have students envision their lives five years from now and write a letter to ⁤their future ⁣selves. This prompt ​encourages​ reflection, goal-setting, and expository ⁤writing as they convey advice, hopes, and ‌aspirations.

By incorporating these ⁢empowering writing prompts⁤ into ⁢the curriculum, students will be motivated to develop their ‌writing skills ⁢while exploring their unique perspectives​ and⁤ ideas. These prompts not only provide a‍ platform for self-expression but also foster creativity, critical thinking, ⁢and effective ​communication skills – essential for their personal and academic growth. Let the journey of writing begin!

The‍ first⁤ day of school can be⁣ both exciting and nerve-wracking ​for students. To help ease their worries ‍and ⁢foster a positive and growth-oriented mindset, incorporating writing activities⁣ into the⁢ day’s ⁢agenda ⁣can be a ⁣tremendous ⁣tool. These ‍activities not only ⁢inspire ‌confidence ⁢but⁤ also encourage self-expression ‌and creativity.

One engaging writing activity is to ‌have students create a “Letter​ to My Future⁢ Self.” Ask them to imagine ⁣themselves at the end of the school year and encourage​ them to write ⁤a letter to their future self, expressing their⁤ goals, hopes, and dreams. This activity‍ helps students set⁢ intentions⁣ for the school⁤ year ‍ahead, allowing ‌them to visualize their growth ​and progress. To make it even more interactive, you can provide decorative⁤ materials like ‌colorful pens, stickers, and post-it notes for students to personalize ‌their letters.

Setting Goals and‌ Creating a Positive​ Classroom ‌Atmosphere with First Day ⁤Writing Prompts

Starting the school year off‍ on the right foot⁣ is essential ⁤for ⁢building a​ positive classroom atmosphere and ⁣setting achievable goals. One effective​ way to accomplish this is by utilizing⁢ first day writing ​prompts. These ​prompts ⁤provide students with an opportunity ‍to reflect on their strengths, interests, and aspirations, ‍while also⁢ encouraging‍ them to think ‍about how they ‍can contribute‌ to ⁣a supportive and⁣ inclusive learning environment. By incorporating ‌these ⁤prompts into your lesson plans,⁤ you ⁢can foster a sense ​of community, boost self-confidence, and create ⁢a​ positive⁤ classroom dynamic.

First day writing prompts can cover a diverse range ‌of topics, ⁤such as personal experiences, academic goals, or ⁤even fun icebreaker questions. Here are a few‍ ideas to get‌ you started:

  • “Describe a time when you felt proud ‌of an accomplishment. What did you learn from​ that experience?”
  • “What are your‌ goals for this school year, both academically‍ and personally? How⁤ do you plan to achieve them?”
  • “Share an interesting‌ fact about yourself ⁢that ​others might not know.”

Encourage students to express ⁤themselves freely⁣ and authentically. Remind them ‍that there are⁤ no ⁤right or wrong answers, and that their ​responses⁢ will help⁣ shape​ the‌ classroom environment. By allowing⁢ students to⁢ share ⁤their thoughts ‌and insights, you can establish a foundation ⁤of trust⁤ and respect⁤ from day one,⁣ fostering a positive ​and inclusive atmosphere where ⁤everyone⁢ feels valued.

Ignite Imaginations: Thought-Provoking Writing Prompts ⁢for the Start of⁢ the​ School Year

Welcome back, ‌students! ‌As we kick⁢ off ⁢the new⁢ school⁤ year, ⁢it’s time ‍to get ⁣those ‌creative gears ⁣turning with some thought-provoking writing prompts. These prompts will not only ignite your imaginations but also encourage you⁢ to explore new ⁣ideas, ⁣challenge​ your thinking, and develop ​your writing skills. Get‌ ready⁣ to embark on an exciting journey ​of self-expression and discovery!

1. Reflective Prompts:

  • Describe a time when ‍you overcame a difficult challenge and what‍ you learned ‌from it.
  • Imagine you are a‍ character in ⁤your favorite novel. Rewrite‍ the ending, exploring an alternate outcome.
  • Think about a personal‍ accomplishment you ⁣are proud​ of. Explain why it‌ is⁢ important to‍ you and ‍how it ​has shaped ‌you.

2. Imaginative Prompts:

  • Transport ​yourself to ⁣a futuristic world and write a⁣ short story about​ how society⁢ has drastically changed.
  • Create a conversation between‌ two inanimate objects. What ⁣would ⁢they talk about?
  • If you could‌ possess⁢ any superpower,⁤ what⁢ would it ⁣be​ and ⁤how would⁢ you use it to⁣ make the ⁣world⁢ a better place?

Remember, ⁣writing‍ is not just⁢ about grammar ⁣and punctuation; ​it’s‌ about expressing‍ your thoughts, emotions, and unique perspective. Use these prompts as ⁤a⁤ springboard to showcase your⁤ creativity and engage⁢ in meaningful ​self-reflection. Let your imagination⁣ roam free and allow your⁤ words to ​paint vibrant ⁣pictures on the canvas of⁤ paper. Get ready to embark on ⁣a captivating ‍writing journey this school year!

Q: What are some ​first ‌day of school writing prompts? A: Some ⁢first ⁢day ​of school‍ writing prompts include: – Describe ​your summer vacation in 5 words. – Write a letter ‍to your future ‌self. What⁤ do you ⁢hope to achieve this school year? – If you ⁢were a teacher for⁤ a day, what would you do differently? – Imagine ​you could ‍create a⁣ new subject for your school.⁣ What would it be and why? – Reflect on a time ⁢when you ‌overcame a challenge.​ How did ​it make you feel?

Q: ⁢Why ⁣are​ first day of school writing prompts important? A: First ⁢day of ⁤school ⁣writing​ prompts⁢ are important because they ‌encourage students‌ to start⁢ the year off with creative thinking and self-reflection. They help to establish a positive and engaging ⁢classroom atmosphere, allowing students to express their thoughts and‌ ideas freely.

Q: How⁣ can writing prompts benefit students on ​their first day? A:⁣ Writing prompts benefit‌ students on their ⁢first day by ⁤creating a sense of excitement and curiosity about⁣ the upcoming school year. They also allow educators to gain insight into their students’​ interests,⁢ personalities, and writing abilities early​ on, helping to ‍shape their‌ instruction⁢ and ​meet individual student ‌needs.

Q: Will ‌students ‍enjoy writing on their ⁣first day of school? A: Generally, students do enjoy ‌writing on their first‍ day of school, as it gives them an opportunity to express themselves ⁤creatively and ‍share their experiences. ‌It breaks the ice and helps build a positive classroom⁣ environment where ⁣students ​feel comfortable‌ sharing their thoughts and ideas.

Q: How can⁤ teachers ⁤use first⁣ day writing prompts in the classroom? A: Teachers can use first day⁣ writing prompts in various‌ ways. They ‌can start ⁣the day with a ⁤short writing⁣ activity to engage⁤ students as they‍ enter the ⁤classroom. Teachers​ can ‌also⁢ assign⁤ longer writing ​tasks, encouraging students to⁣ share ⁢their work with classmates‍ and ⁢engage⁢ in peer feedback. ‌Additionally, these prompts can be⁤ used ‌as a resource throughout ‍the year,‍ inspiring writing assignments or fueling classroom discussions.

Q: Are ‌there‍ any ‌benefits‌ of using ⁣writing ⁤prompts beyond the ‍first⁢ day of school? A: Absolutely!⁤ Writing prompts are a versatile tool that can be⁢ used‍ throughout the ⁤year. They promote critical thinking, creativity,⁣ and help develop students’ writing skills. Writing‌ prompts can also​ serve ⁤as catalysts for classroom discussions, allowing students to explore ‍various topics‍ in depth and express their ideas confidently.

Q: Can writing prompts be adjusted for different grade levels? A: Yes, ‌writing‌ prompts can be adjusted‌ to suit ​different‌ grade levels. For ⁤younger students, ⁣prompts can ⁤be more visual or involve drawing pictures alongside the​ writing. Older students may be given more complex prompts that require synthesizing information⁣ or analyzing concepts. Teachers⁣ can adapt the level of difficulty based on the specific ⁢needs and abilities of their students.

Q:‍ How can teachers make⁢ writing⁤ prompts ‍more‌ engaging ‍for students? A: To ​ensure writing‍ prompts are engaging‌ for students, teachers ‍can ⁣make them relevant‍ to ‍their lives and experiences. They can incorporate current ⁢events , popular​ culture references, ⁢or allow⁤ students‌ to choose ​their own writing topics. Additionally, providing ⁣clear instructions, creative ⁣examples, and opportunities ⁤for peer collaboration can make⁤ the writing⁤ process more enjoyable‍ for students. ⁣

In conclusion, using‍ writing prompts on⁣ the first day of ‌school is a great ⁣way​ to engage​ students⁣ and kickstart​ their​ creativity for the⁢ year ahead.

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9 First Day of School Writing Activities

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9 First Day of School Writing Activities your students will love

Ahh…the smell of a freshly painted classroom and, perhaps, a sea of freshly-scrubbed new faces staring up at you from their desks.

 It must be the start of a new school year again. It’s time to start as you mean to go on.

 Writing activities are a great way to get your students’ writing muscles warmed up after the long break.

 They aren’t just busy work while you hurriedly stick up the last of your classroom displays but important opportunities to get to know your students.

 They’re also a chance for students to get to know one another, and, perhaps most importantly of all, they’re a chance for you to see where your new students’ writing abilities are at.

 In this article, we’ll look at nine engaging writing activities to grind brains into gear and get the ink flowing.

Back to school writing activity 1: Interview a Classmate

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This activity provides students an opportunity to get to know each other better while also developing their interviewing, note-taking, and writing skills .

 Begin this activity by asking the students to compile a list of questions that they would use to get to know someone they’d met for the first time.

 The first questions the students generally tend to be surface-level small-talk-type questions such as:

  •  Where are you from?
  • How many brothers and sisters do you have?
  • What’s your favorite subject at school?
  • What are your hobbies?
  • What do you want to be when you grow up?
  • What’s the best thing about you?

Write these on the whiteboard, of course. They’ll be useful as warm-up openers at the beginning of the interviews, but we want to encourage a deeper dive.

For the interviewer to reach a more intimate understanding of the interviewee, they’ll need to probe further.

Encourage students to come up with more challenging questions to ask in the interview and write these on the board. These questions should be geared toward gaining insight beyond the superficial.

Explain to the students that when they are the interviewee, if they’d prefer not to answer a specific question, they can just say “next” and the interviewer will move immediately onto the next question.

Some examples of deeper, more probing-type questions might include questions like:

  •  Can you tell me about an event or a story that had a big impact on your life?
  • Who has had the biggest influence on who you are as a person?
  • What is the most difficult thing you’ve ever had to do?
  • What is your best memory? Worst?

At the end of this brainstorming session, there should be a considerable list of questions on the whiteboard.

Students are then partnered up. They will then take turns interviewing each other, with each interviewer taking comprehensive notes as they interview.

Students should not use voice recording equipment during this activity. This activity aims to improve note-taking abilities.

When the interviews are over, students then write them up as best they can using their notes and memories to try to recreate the interviews.

For the more advanced students, this will not just involve recreating the dialogue of the interview but will involve weaving a narrative around the dialogue to convey the interviewee’s character, expressions, and mannerisms.

Back to school writing activity 2: The Book of Summer

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This writing activity is an upgrade from the “My Summer Vacation” type essays.

In this activity, each student will compile their own Book of Summer describing and depicting their holidays using as many different writing genres as possible.

For example, the student might include the following in their Book of Summer:

  • A non-chronological report on a day trip
  • A comic strip based on a family celebration
  • A review of a movie they saw or book they read
  • A fictionalized account of their summer
  • A recipe of a meal they made
  • A playscript for a sleepover they went on
  • A haiku on the end of summer

The scope for creative interpretations here is almost endless.

For younger students , it may be best to be more prescriptive about the various types of genre to include and the titles for each piece.

But for students with the ability, the open-endedness of this task gives room for their creativity to run loose while affording you a valuable opportunity to see just what they are capable of.

Be sure to read our complete collection of back-to school writing activities.

Back to school writing activity 3: Guess the Student from their Bio

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For this activity, students write their autobiographies . This makes for a timely opportunity to review the main features of this text type before the students put pen to paper.

You will most likely need to set an appropriate word count or restrict students to a certain number of pages for this activity.

Students should reveal the main events of their lives to date, but refrain from mentioning their own name in the text.

When they’ve finished, students should sign their work only with a ‘code name’ of their own invention to help them identify it later.

The completed autobiographies should then be collected by the teacher. They are then read out to the class by random students over the day or week and the students have to guess who wrote each autobiography.

Back to school writing activity 4: From a Different Point of View

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Narrative writing requires competency in a broad range of complex skills . We can roughly divide those skills into structural ones (such as text organization), and language-related skills (such as sentence construction and creativity).

Getting your students to write a story is a great way to assess their abilities in these areas.

In this activity, however, you provide most of the structure for the student, giving them the space to exercise their imagination and you a chance to focus on their grammatical control – among other things.

In this exercise, ask your students to select a favorite fairy tale or other traditional stories that they know very well. The students’ task is to rewrite their favorite fairy tale from the point of view of another important character in the story.

For example, they might want to retell the Jack and the Beanstalk story from the point of view of the Giant or Jack’s mother.

Retelling The Ugly Duckling , the student might want to write from Mother Duck’s perspective to explore her feelings about the runt of her litter suddenly transforming into a beautiful (if alien!) swan.

Back to school writing activity 5: A Summer in Headlines

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Headlines are fun to write .

They should be short and pithy and seize the reader’s attention by telling them just enough about the story to pique their interest but still leave them wanting to read more.

There are several things that students can do to ensure their headlines have the desired effect including:

  • Choose powerful words designed to make an impact
  • Use alliteration to create catchy, snappy headlines
  • Employ humor to entertain and intrigue the reader
  • Create suspense by posing the headline as a question

For this activity, students should make a list of the main events of their summer break. They should create a headline for each of these.

In this way, the students will have produced an account of their summer written entirely in headlines.

As an extension to this exercise, when they’ve finished producing their headlines have them present them to the class or in smaller groups.

The best headline is then selected from each list which the student then has to turn into a complete newspaper-style article on that event.

Back to school writing activity 6: The Peer Editing Exercise

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This is a great way to introduce peer assessment into your classroom, especially with a group of students who are not familiar with the concept.

You will need to spend a little time at the start explaining the editing and proofreading process to the students. The specific criteria will, of course, depend on the age and abilities of your students.

To begin, organize the class into pairs of editing partners. Students should then swap their written work to be edited by their partners.

Any of the previous writing activities in this article would serve well for this purpose.

Students can edit their partner’s work by annotating with a different color pen or, for more detailed commentary, they could use a separate sheet of paper.

Students then share their feedback with each other.

This is an opportunity for students to see each other as resources to help them on their learning journey throughout the year.

It also helps students to develop resilience and an ability to absorb constructive criticism.

Students then rewrite their text in light of the feedback given.

Time for a plenary session should be made at the end to discuss as a class their experiences of the process.

Back to school writing activity 7: From Bad to Verse

first day of school writing activities | 1 1 image asset | 9 First Day of School Writing Activities | literacyideas.com

Few genres of writing can be as divisive.

Some are dismayed by the mere mention of the word ‘poetry’ – The “ Why can’t poets just say what they mean? ” camp.

Then, some can barely write a shopping list without a bit of unnecessary versifying.

Love it or loathe it, poetry is on the curriculum and our students need to get to grips with it.

For this activity, students write a series of poems inspired by the events of their summer holidays. Essentially, they are writing a poetic account of their vacation.

To challenge the students further, they must use a different type of poetry for each event they wish to retell.

For example, they might write a series of haikus on the weather during the summer break.

Perhaps they’ll produce a calligram or shape poem describing the treehouse they made.

Maybe they’ll write an elegy to a pet that died or a limerick on that disastrous camping trip.

They might like to use the headlines from the previous activity A Summer in Headlines as starting points for their poems.

By the end of this activity, your students will have a collection of self-authored poetry they can share with the class in the form of a poetry slam.

You may wish to provide your students with checklists of the various features of the different types of poetry to help students during this activity.

First day of school writing activity 8: The Persuasive Wish List

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The start of a new school year. A time of hope and possibility captured in the form of a wish list.

But this isn’t any old wish list, this is a persuasive wish list.

Here, the students will write a wish list of things they hope for from the new school year.

The twist is that they have to make their case for why they should receive the concessions they seek.

Examples of items that might make the wish list could be the desire to see more time for their favorite activities, less homework, or the creation of a class council. It doesn’t matter so much what is on the list but that the student makes as strong a case as possible for them.

Students should be encouraged to use the full range of persuasive writing techniques at their disposal, from the use of emotional language to social proof, from repetition to the use of evidence and statistics.

Back to school writing activity 9: The Summer Yearbook

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This writing project is based on the idea of school yearbooks.

School yearbooks are compilations of memories, photographs, and quotes. In this version, students compile a compilation of these based on their collective experiences during the school break.

Many writing activities can be inspired by the format.

Students can gather together quotes on the various events of vacation time. These can be sourced from family, friends, classmates, etc.

They can also collect photographs and write suitable captions for inclusion in the yearbook. The book could include a page for the autographs of all the students, as well as a page for summer memories, and a page for hopes for the coming year.

Technology can be easily incorporated into this lesson by producing a digital version. Collaborative applications such as Google Drive are perfect for this type of work.

In Summer-y [ Groan ]

There’s plenty in our list above to get your students writing from the get-go , leaving you with some time to put the final touches on those classroom displays.

And, if you’re still stuck for something to put up, you’ll have many writing examples to choose from when the exhausted pens drop and those little voices rise to say, “Teacher, I’m finished!”

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12 Fun First-Day-of-School Worksheets (Free Printables)

Fun activities for the first days and weeks of school.

First Day of School Printables - Classmate Bingo, Back to School Scavenger Hunt, All About Me Printable

Looking for an awesome activity to do on your first day of school? We’ve got you covered! Check out these 12 fun and easy free printable first-day-of-school worksheets. From Classmate Bingo to a First Day of School Flip-Book, there’s something for everyone in this free bundle. Just submit your email here to save and print your collection now.

Here’s what’s included in the free printable first-day-of-school worksheets bundle:

First Day of School Writing Prompts, First Day of School Flip Book, First Day of School Poem

Classmate Bingo

Invite students to mix and mingle as they learn fun facts about one another.

All About Me Worksheet

Have students share their favorite things as well as their goals for this school year.

Back-to-School Scavenger Hunt

Have students search around your classroom to find supplies and learning areas.

First-Day-of-School Writing Prompts & Back-to-School Writing Paper

Choose from a fun list of writing prompts to get those creative juices flowing.

First-Day-of-School Flip-Book

Make a fun flip-book that shares students’ hopes and goals for the year.

First-Day-of-School Poem Template

Invite students to compose a poem about the first day of school with our free template.

First Day of School Printables - We're Different, We're the Same free first day of school worksheets

“What We Do When …” Activity for Writing About Expected Behaviors

Have students write about and draw what it looks like when they are doing small-group work or lining up for class.

“We’re Different, We’re the Same” Classmate Venn Diagram Activity

Invite students to compare their similarities and differences.

I Wish My Teacher Knew

“I Wish My Teacher Knew …” Printable

Invite students to share the things they want you to know about their lives.

3, 2, 1, Back to School free first day of school worksheets

3, 2, 1 Back-to-School Writing Activity

Encourage students to share their “3, 2, 1” countdowns with the class.

Interview a Classmate Printable

Help students sharpen their speaking and listening skills with this free printable.

“What Our Classroom Looks Like During …” Activity

Use this printable to talk about expected behaviors during independent work, partner work, and more.

Ready to save and print your free printable first-day-of-school worksheets? Just click the orange button to fill out the form at the top of this page.

Yes, I Want My Printable Bundle!

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Plus, check out these perfect read-alouds for the first day of school ., you might also like.

First Day of School Signs for preschool through 5th grade

Free Printable First-Day-of-School Signs for Every Grade

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Elementary Assessments

Elementary Assessments

17 Great First-Day-of-School Writing Activities for Students

The first day of school is a pivotal moment, a blank page ready to be filled with new experiences.

To set the tone for a wonderful school year and to break the ice among students, incorporate some of these engaging first-day-of-school writing activities.

These activities encourage creativity, nurture a growth mindset, and fill the classroom with an air of excitement and possibility.

What’s more, students will discover more about you and have an opportunity to engage with their peers thus starting the process of building a classroom community.

Pencil into your back-to-school lesson plans a few of these fun first-day-of-school writing activities.

First-Day-of-School Writing Activities

1. complete a sequencing activity about the first day..

Towards the end of the first day of school, ask students to sequence their day.

Provide a sequencing graphic organizer, or have students respond in their writing workshop notebooks.

They’ll sequence the day into 6 to 8 parts, describing each section. Afterward, students discuss their sequencing timelines with the class or a partner.

2. Make Affirmation Posters.

Cultivate a growth mindset and an environment of positivity on the first day of school by having students create positive affirmation posters. 

Put students in pairs, and provide each pair with a piece of chart paper.

Show students a list of positive affirmations . They will write one that they like on their chart paper and then neatly decorate the poster.

Once each pair is finished, place posters around the classroom or on a bulletin board.

3. List Essential Classroom Rules.

Ask students to individually make of list of classroom rules that they feel will cultivate a positive classroom community plus why they think these rules are important.

4. Complete a Classroom Job Application.

Motivate students to improve their persuasive writing skills by having them apply for a classroom helper job , providing good reasons as to why they should be chosen for a particular job.

5. Write Scavenger Hunt Riddles.

After participating in a first-day of-school scavenger hunt , ask pairs of students to create new riddles.

It’s exciting to observe students using creativity, rhyme, and rhythm to create additional riddles that you may want to use with next year’s class!

6. Draft a Series of SMART Goals.

A great first-day-of-school writing activity is to have students begin drafting their SMART goals.

They may need a bit of guidance to do this, so use these SMART goal examples for students as inspiration.

7. Compose an Acrostic Poem.

Provide students with a sheet of white paper. They write their name vertically, listing an adjective for each letter.

For example, SARA could have S – Silly, A – Artistic, R – Reliable, and A – Awesome.

8. Create An All About Me Flip Book.

This activity is on the list of classic first-day-of-school writing activities, and students rarely bore of it because it changes each year as they change!

Have students create an All About Me FlipBook that showcases their personality, likes, family, etc.

9. Respond to an Emoji Writing Prompt.

For this activity, students choose an emoji cutout template that best represents how they are feeling on the first day of school.

They then write a paragraph detailing why they feel this way.

Grab the entire First Day of School Emoji Writing bundle .

10. Write the Best Things About Summer Break.

This collection of first-day-of-school writing activities wouldn’t be complete without having an activity that gives students the opportunity to talk about their summer vacations.

Simply ask students to describe the best things that happened during their summer break.

first day of school writing activities

11. Generate Interview Questions for the Teacher.

This activity is great for students to get to know their teachers better.

Provide each student with a notecard. She/he will write 1 to 3 appropriate questions for the teacher.

The teacher answers each card in a whole group format.

12. Share All the Things You Love.

Learn what things students love.

Provide each child with an All the Things I Love worksheet . (The heart with no lines allows students to create their own sections.)

Ask students to write in each section things that they love in general OR provide specific topics such as…

  • All the things I love about my family
  • All the things I love about school
  • All the things I love about myself

Afterward, they decorate their hearts.

13. Draft a Letter to the Teacher.

Students draft a letter to the teacher introducing themselves.

In this letter, they may share their interests, hobbies, and goals for the new school year.

14. Write a Letter to Your Future Self.

Students share their hopes and dreams for the new school year.

15. Journal. 

One of the simplest first-day-of-school writing activities is journaling.

Journaling allows students the opportunity to reflect, express themselves, and release frustrations all while developing their writing skills.

Use monthly writing calendars to kickstart journaling on the first day of school.

16. Create a “Word Cloud”.

Ask students to create a “word cloud” of words that describe their feelings about the new school year.

This activity is a fun way for students to express their emotions and for you to discover how they’re feeling about the start of school.

17. Make a Bucket List.

Students write a list of goals they want to accomplish in the new school year.

Referring to the list quarterly will keep them motivated.

Final Thoughts

These activities set the stage for a year of inspiration, learning, and success.

No matter the subject or grade you teach, you’ll find a writing activity here to meet your needs on the first day of school.

Now you’re all set to start the year off well using these engaging first-day-of-school writing activities.

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Thinking About the First Day of School

TeacherVision Staff

The first day of class is the one day in the entire year when students will come home and actually share their impressions of classes and teachers with their families. Your heartfelt hope, no matter how many years you've been teaching, is that more kids leave your class saying, “This is okay. I can handle this,” than muttering, “This really stinks. This is going to be bad!”

Setting First Day Goals

There's a lot you can predict and prepare for during that first class period, a period that is always over sooner than you'd like. This is not the time for lively pro-social bonding, intense conversation, or a high powered learning activity. Students will spend what little time there is fully occupied in four activities:

  • Checking out who's in the room
  • Checking you out
  • Hoping, that armored with a lot of vigilance and a little cool, they will get through this class and six others without self-destructing or being embarrassed in front of their peers.

Having said this, the goals for your first day with students are pretty much the same ones that guide your preparation before the school year begins:

  • Do something that makes each student feel welcomed and invited , but not exposed.
  • Do something that makes students feel respected as young people , but not at the expense of your own authority and presence as the adult in the room. Kids want to want to feel respected and they want to know you're in charge.
  • Do something that sets the tone for what matters in your classroom, but don't overwhelm them with a huge laundry list of rules and expectations.
  • Do something that lets students know they've entered a learning environment , not their living rooms, not a basketball court, not the local mall, and surely not a police station.
  • Engage students in some practices and procedures that will become daily or weekly routines.
  • Do something that communicates organization, purpose, and focus , without being fussy or complicated.
  • Do something that encourages high student participation , but with a minimum of noise and physical movement.
  • Do something that encourages student voice , but does not sanction silliness or cynicism.
  • Do something that's unexpected; the element of surprise goes a long way toward grabbing kids' attention .
  • And finally, do at least one thing that shows your humor and your heart .

Your first day of class is your first chance to invite in the state of mind you'd like learners to inhabit everyday. Call it anxious anticipation, relaxed alertness, or hopeful expectation; whatever you name it, you want to do things on the first day that will bring that feeling into the room.

Finding Your Most Effective Teaching Stance for The First Day of Class

Your teaching stance is the combination of attitudes, outlook, and demeanor that you wear most often and most visibly. Your stance communicates "first principles" – the things that matter to you the most. It's about how you present yourself to your students, about what you prize and what you want to protect. Some aspects of your teaching stance are like a second skin. Others are harder to come by, requiring time and practice before you can express that aspect of your teaching persona with authenticity and confidence. If you asked your students at the end of the year to write down five words or phrases that they think describe what you stand for, their responses would give you a pretty good sense of whether they took in what you tried to convey in the last nine months.

There isn't a right teaching stance , but there are some wrong ones, especially on the first day of class. The question you need to ask is this: What's the most effective teaching stance that will help you put your best foot forward with a group of young people whom you may have never met?

The dilemma is choosing what to play up and what to tone down on the first day. You do want to respond to students' first day anxieties about what to expect. But you don't want your teaching persona to overwhelm students before they've had a chance to watch, listen, and settle in. Some qualities that you prize most about yourself as a teacher and a learner may need to take a backseat that first week.

Most adolescents are justifiably cautious and a little subdued when they encounter new adults in their lives. They don't want to be caught in a position of giving away too much or appearing too vulnerable, and they're rightly suspicious of adults who want to be up close and personal during a first encounter. What you'll need to be ready for is the one kid who walks in as if he's known everyone, including you, for his entire lifetime. A handy rule of thumb for meeting a group of adolescents for the first time is to avoid extremes. This is the one time when going all out for the middle ground is a good thing. Your first day is about creating the foundation for building the learning community you and your students will become in the next month or so, and your teaching stance should reflect the attitudes, outlook, and demeanor that will help get you there.

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First Day Of School Journal Prompts

first day of school journal prompts

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Jumpstart the school year with our "first day of school journal prompts". Unleash your child's creativity and enhance their writing skills with these engaging and insightful prompts, designed to make school beginnings exciting.

Attending the first day of school every year is a whirlwind of emotions and experiences. Turning these moments into words can be a cathartic and enriching process. Journaling about it not only helps to capture these memories but also fosters creativity and improves writing skills.

In this article, we’ll be sharing a trove of first day of school journal prompts that will guide your writing journey. Whether you’re a student looking to record your experiences, a teacher intending to encourage classroom activity, or a parent wishing to engage your child in meaningful dialogue, our expertly-curated list of prompts is here to inspire you.

So, sharpen your pencils, open your journal, and let’s embark together on this exciting journey of capturing those first-day-of-school moments. 💼📚

Reflecting On Summer Vacation

Reflecting on Summer Vacation allows students to look back on their experiences, unwind their thoughts, and record memorable moments before jumping back into the academic year. Here are 20 journal prompts to inspire reflection on Summer Vacation:

  • Describe the most exciting experience you had this summer.
  • Recount a day when you felt incredibly relaxed.
  • Write about an unexpected adventure or event that happened.
  • Describe the tastiest food or meal you tried over the summer.
  • Write about a moment where you felt proud of yourself.
  • List three new places you visited and what you loved about each one.
  • Write about a book you read this summer that inspired you.
  • Reflect on something new you learned about yourself.
  • Describe a memorable interaction with a person you met or spent time with.
  • Write about a challenge you faced and how you overcame it.
  • Recount a fun tradition or recurring event over the summer.
  • Reflect on a happened event that influenced your view on some things.
  • Describe a beautiful scene you witnessed in nature.
  • Write about a moment this summer when you missed school and why.
  • List three things you wish you had the opportunity to do but didn't.
  • Reflect on the goals you set at the start of the summer and whether you achieved them.
  • Write about a project or activity you undertook that made you happy.
  • Describe a habit you developed this summer that you would like to keep during school.
  • Write about something unexpected that surprised you.
  • Reflect on the most important lesson you learned this summer and how it will help you in the upcoming school year.

Sharing Goals For The New School Year

Sharing Goals for the New School Year through journal prompts encourages students to set ambitions and express aspirations, helping them start the academic term with clarity and purpose. Here are 20 writing prompts that center around sharing goals for the coming academic year:

  • Write down your main goal for this school year and explain why it is important to you.
  • Recall a goal you achieved last year and describe how you felt when you achieved it.
  • List three steps you can take to achieve your main goal.
  • Write about a skill you want to improve this school year.
  • Picture yourself on the last day of this school year. What would you like to have accomplished?
  • Describe an academic obstacle that you would like to overcome this school year.
  • Write down a goal related to your favorite subject. Why is this goal significant to you?
  • If you could learn anything this year, what would it be?
  • Write about a personal growth goal for the school year.
  • Write a letter to your future self about the goals you wish to achieve.
  • Describe what success looks like to you by the end of this school year.
  • What hobby or extra-curricular activity would you like to pursue or excel at this year?
  • List down three habits you want to cultivate this school year to help you achieve your goals.
  • Write about a book or topic you'd like to explore further this year.
  • Describe a goal that involves your friends or classmates.
  • Write down a goal related to a subject or topic you find challenging.
  • What change would you like to see in your school life this year?
  • Describe a new experience or activity you want to try this school year.
  • Write down a goal that scares you a little. Why does it scare you, and why do you want to achieve it?
  • How can achieving your school year goals make you a better person?

Introducing Yourself

The concept of "Introducing Yourself" gives you a chance to share about your hobbies, interests, family, and goals with a new set of glassmates on the first day of school through creative journal writing. Below are 20 journal prompts that will inspire you to break the ice and show your personality openly and honestly:

  • Start by penning down your full name, and describe what it means to you.
  • Write about where you were born and raised.
  • Share your favorite hobbies and why you enjoy them.
  • Create a list of your favorite books and movies. State why you connect with them.
  • Detail your summer vacations, specifically what you loved about the experience.
  • Describe your favorite school subject and why it fascinates you.
  • Write about your closest friend and how you met.
  • Share a story about a memorable family tradition.
  • Detail your dream job and why you aspire to it.
  • Write about your most cherished memory and what makes it special.
  • Express what stresses you out, and how you cope with stress.
  • Create a list of things you want to accomplish this school year.
  • Share a personal goal and what steps you plan to take to achieve it.
  • Write about your favorite meal and describe why it’s your favorite.
  • Share an interesting fact or story about your hometown.
  • Write about an accomplishment you're proud of and why.
  • Share your favorite song or band, and why their music speaks to you.
  • Pen down your favorite quote or saying, and explain why it inspires you.
  • Write about a challenge you’ve faced and how you overcame it.
  • Finish by sharing your hopes for this school year and what you're looking forward to.

Hopes And Anxieties

Hopes and anxieties are common feelings surrounding the first day of school, and journaling can provide a healthy and productive outlet to explore these emotions. To guide your writing, consider the following 20 prompts about hopes and anxieties:

  • Write about one hope and one fear related to meeting new people.
  • Describe how you want to present yourself on your first day.
  • Create a list of activities you are looking forward to this school year.
  • Discuss a time when a fear you had about school turned out to be unfounded.
  • What are your three biggest concerns about the upcoming school year?
  • Imagine it's the end of the school year. What achievements do you hope to have accomplished?
  • How would you handle a situation in which you felt left out or isolated?
  • Write a letter to your future self about your hopes for this school year.
  • Visualize an ideal school day. What happens?
  • Document your feelings about maintaining your grades this year.
  • Discuss your feelings towards meeting your new teacher or teachers.
  • What are some strategies you could employ if you start to feel overwhelmed?
  • Illustrate how you hope to balance school, extracurriculars, and personal life.
  • Describe a potential situation that makes you anxious, and how you would deal with it.
  • Write a list of personal goals for this academic year.
  • Imagine a conversation with a new friend you hope to make.
  • Discuss any anxiety you feel about leaving behind an old school or class.
  • What are some steps you can take if school becomes too stressful?
  • Describe a character strength you hope to further develop this school year.
  • Write about any worries you have regarding academic or social pressures.

Expectations For The First Day

Settling into the dynamics of a new routine on the first day of school can be both scary and exciting. Here are 20 journal prompts about your expectations for the first day:

  • Write about three things that you are most excited about for the first day.
  • List five of your worries about your first day of school.
  • Pen down your plan of action if your day starts going off-track.
  • Imagine the best case scenario for your first day. What does it look like?
  • Consider the worst case scenario for your first day. How would you respond to it?
  • Describe your ideal first impression on your new teacher and class mates.
  • Write about one personal goal you want to achieve on your first day.
  • Think about what kind of student you want to be known as. Why?
  • Contemplate on the biggest challenge you may face on your first day, and how you'd overcome it.
  • Write about the type of classroom environment you hope to encounter.
  • Reflect on a lesson your previous school term taught you that you'll use on your first day.
  • Write about the qualities you are looking for in a new friend.
  • Describe your thoughts about riding the school bus for the first time/again.
  • Reflect on your feelings about having lunch in a new cafeteria/with new people.
  • Jot down your thoughts on adapting to a new learning style.
  • List three things that you're nervous about and how you plan to handle these feelings.
  • Write down what you expect the most challenging subject will be, and why.
  • Describe any personal strengths or talents you'd like to bring into the classroom.
  • Share your expectations about after-school activities.
  • Reflect on your hopes for achieving a good work-life balance during the new term.

Teacher Impressions

Recording our first impressions of our new teachers helps to remember our initial reactions and feelings about our new academic year. Here are 20 writing prompts centered around Teacher Impressions:

  • Write about your new teacher's appearance.
  • Note down the first words your teacher said to the class.
  • How did the teacher make you feel when you first saw them?
  • Describe the teacher's demeanor during the first class.
  • Share any unique teaching method you noticed on the first day.
  • Highlight one thing the teacher said that sparked your interest.
  • Did the teacher begin the class with a story or an anecdote? Write it down.
  • How did your teacher react to the students' questions or responses?
  • What are three expectations your teacher set for the class?
  • What subject does the teacher seem most enthusiastic about teaching?
  • Write a note about any special materials or tools the teacher uses.
  • If you had to describe your teacher in one word, what would it be and why?
  • Did your teacher give any advice or life lessons on the first day? What were they?
  • What is one thing you think you are going to enjoy in this teacher's class?
  • Are there any classroom rules that your teacher insisted upon?
  • How does this teacher's style compare to last year's teacher?
  • Is there anything about the teacher's approach that you think you might find challenging?
  • Share your thoughts on the teacher's classroom layout or organization.
  • Did your teacher mention a favorite book or author? Who was it?
  • Write about your hopes of what you want to learn from this teacher this year.

New Classroom Environment

Exploring the new classroom environment through journaling can help students adjust, observe, and appreciate their surroundings, and it also plays a crucial role in cultivating their sense of belonging and comfort in their new learning space. Here are 20 prompts that focus on the new classroom environment:

  • Write about your first impressions of your new classroom. What caught your eye immediately?
  • Illustrate a map of your new classroom. Label the different areas and what they're used for.
  • Pen down three things that you like about your new classroom.
  • Write about any fears or concerns you have about the new classroom.
  • Compare your new classroom to the last one, citing at least three differences.
  • Write a short note to your teacher suggesting an improvement to the classroom environment.
  • Describe a part of your classroom that makes you feel comfortable and why.
  • Write about any unique or interesting features of your new classroom.
  • In your view, what could make the environment in this classroom more conducive for learning?
  • What is something you would like to change about your new classroom, and why?
  • How would you describe the "vibe" or atmosphere of the new classroom?
  • Write about one place in the classroom you look forward to exploring or using.
  • What does your new classroom tell you about your teacher or the school in general?
  • Imagine you could add one thing to your classroom, what would it be and why?
  • Describe how you organize your own workstation in the classroom.
  • Write a thank you note to someone who helped you get comfortable in the new classroom.
  • Pen your thoughts about the role of a classroom in your learning.
  • Write about a classroom rule you do not understand and why.
  • Describe how you found your seat on the first day and who sits next to you.
  • Write about ways you would personalize your corner of the new classroom if given a chance.

First Day Friendships

First Day Friendships are the initial connections or interactions made during the first day of school that often help shape a student's early school experience. Here are 20 journal prompts about First Day Friendships:

  • Write about the first classmate you met on the first day. What was your initial impression of them?
  • Create a dialogue of how you introduced yourself to a new classmate.
  • Describe the moment you found a friend on the first day.
  • Jot down three qualities you would like in a new school friend.
  • Imagine a day spent with your new first-day friend, what would you do together?
  • Reflect on any initial challenges you faced while trying to make new friends.
  • Write about someone who helped you feel welcome on the first day.
  • Explore a funny or embarrassing moment you shared with your new friends.
  • Detail a random act of kindness you witnessed between two classmates on the first day.
  • Write a short letter to your future self about the friendships you hope to keep throughout the year.
  • Describe someone who made your first day of school more enjoyable.
  • List three things you learnt about your new friend on the first day.
  • Write about a group activity that helped you interact with others.
  • Share your first impressions of your classmates and what drew you to your new friends.
  • Consider a highlight of your first school day shared with a friend.
  • Detail the common interests you and your new friend discovered on the first day.
  • Record any apprehensions you had about making new friends on the first day and how you overcame them.
  • Write a thank you note to a classmate who made your day less stressful.
  • Discuss how friendships formed on the first day could change your school experience.
  • Reflect on your hopes for these new friendships as the school year progresses.

Favorite Summer Moments

Reflecting on Favorite Summer Moments through first day of school journal prompts enables the re-living of joyful experiences and the expression of gratitude, enriching our writing and fostering positivity. Below are 20 prompts to guide you in recalling your Favorite Summer Moments:

  • Describe your most memorable day during the summer. What made it special?
  • Which person did you spend the most time with and why did you enjoy their company?
  • Write about a new place you visited this summer.
  • Share a funny incident that happened during the summer.
  • Reflect on something you learned about yourself during the summer break.
  • Write about a favorite meal or treat you enjoyed during the summer.
  • Describe a moment of luck or surprise you experienced.
  • If you could relive one day from the summer, which day would you choose and why?
  • Jot down a list of three things you are grateful for from this past summer.
  • Describe the connection between a song or book you enjoyed and an event from the summer.
  • Write about an outdoor activity or adventure you embarked upon.
  • Share about a stranger you remember and the impact they had on you.
  • Write about an achievement, accomplishment or milestone reached this summer.
  • Describe the most beautiful sunset you watched this summer.
  • Write about your best beach or pool experience.
  • Share about a summer project or hobby you started or finished.
  • Recall a day you spent totally unplanned – what did you enjoy about it?
  • Describe a challenge you faced and how you handled it.
  • Reflect on a conversation from the summer that's stayed with you.
  • Write about how your pets or animals you encountered added joy to your summer.

Early School Year Predictions

"Early School Year Predictions" is a captivating segment of first day of school journal prompts, fostering anticipation for the coming year and setting personal performance goals. Here are 20 interesting writing prompts to explore this topic:

  • Illustrate what you think might be the most challenging subject this year and how you plan to tackle it.
  • Write about a new skill you wish to acquire by the end of this school year.
  • What is one thing you hope to achieve socially in your class this year?
  • Jot down how you envision your ideal study space to boost productivity.
  • Predict a challenge you might face with your classmates and how you could address it.
  • Contemplate on an extracurricular activity you're excited to pursue this school year.
  • Describe your vision of a perfect school day.
  • Propose a technique you plan to implement to improve time management this year.
  • List five objectives you want to reach by the end of the school year.
  • Document some academic milestones you hope to reach this term.
  • Write about which subjects you think you will excel at this year.
  • Visualize what your report card might look like at the end of the school year.
  • Envisage the new friendships you hope to form this school year.
  • Design a plan to balance school work and personal life effectively.
  • Pen your thoughts on what change you would like to see in your school this year.
  • Describe the steps you plan to take to achieve your highest grade.
  • Define what success means to you for this upcoming school year.
  • Envision the impact your favorite subject will have on your future career.
  • Identify a weakness you want to overcome this school year.
  • Picture a school trip or event you're curious and excited to experience this year.

Setting Academic Goals

Delving into setting academic goals through journaling can encourage a sense of purpose and direction, fostering a proactive approach towards education. Here are 20 writing prompts that can guide you in articulating and refining your academic goals:

  • Write down a major academic goal you want to achieve this school year.
  • Detail the actions you will take to accomplish this goal.
  • Reflect on an academic goal you achieved last year. How did you feel?
  • Describe an academic hurdle and how you intend to overcome it.
  • List three strategies you plan to use to maintain focus on your goals.
  • Envision where you see yourself acadically at the end of the school year.
  • Write down a goal that seems difficult to achieve. Break it down into smaller goals.
  • Describe a subject or topic you want to improve in and a goal to achieve that.
  • Reflect on a goal that seems easy to achieve. How would achieving it make you feel?
  • Write a letter to your future self about your hopes for the school year.
  • Describe a person who inspires you academically. What qualities do they have that you aspire to develop?
  • List steps you will take when you feel overwhelmed by your academic responsibilities.
  • Write about how achieving your academic goals will contribute to your overall life goals.
  • Reflect on a time when you didn’t meet your academic goals. What did you learn?
  • Describe a study habit you want to develop to help you achieve your goals.
  • Create a timeline for important tasks related to achieving your academic goals.
  • Reflect on what motivates you to maintain perseverance when striving to achieve your academic goals.
  • Write about the potential obstacles to your academic goals and ways to address them.
  • Describe how you plan to celebrate when you achieve your academic goals.
  • Write a gratitude note to yourself for the progress you will make in achieving your academic goals.

Meeting New People

Meeting new people is an integral part of the first day of school experience, offering opportunities for students to forge connections, learn about diverse backgrounds, and foster empathy and understanding. Here are 20 writing prompts that delve into the realm of meeting new people:

  • Write about your first impression of your new seatmate.
  • Describe in detail the new friend you made.
  • Write a letter to a new classmate telling them what you'd like them to know about you.
  • Reflect on a conversation with someone who has a very different background from you.
  • What was something intriguing you learnt about a new acquaintance?
  • Discuss your thoughts on the newly introduced teacher's methods or demeanor.
  • What was the most interesting introduction given by a new classmate?
  • Write about what stood out about a new person you met today.
  • Imagine a conversation you could have with a new friend next week.
  • List the unique qualities you observed in three new people you met.
  • Describe a surprise interaction you had with a new person.
  • Tell a short story of a meaningful interaction you had with a new classmate.
  • Write from the perspective of a new classmate meeting you for the first time.
  • What made you feel connected with a new person you met today?
  • Think about a question you wish you had asked a new friend or teacher.
  • Pen down your thoughts on the diversity in your new class or school.
  • Describe a funny encounter you had with someone new.
  • Write about the moment you realized you made a new friend today.
  • Reflect on a scenario where you felt misunderstood by a new acquaintance.
  • Describe what you might have in common with a new classmate, based on your first impressions.

Finding Extracurricular Interests

Exploring extracurricular interests through journaling can provide an avenue to discover new passions and hobbies, broadening personal enrichment and joy. Launch your discovery with these 20 writing prompts centered around finding extracurricular interests:

  • List five extracurricular activities you have tried before and note what you liked or disliked about each.
  • Discuss an extracurricular activity you have always wanted to try and how you feel about eventually pursuing it.
  • Write about your dream hobby or interest, however unattainable it may seem.
  • Consider a hobby or interest that may challenge you. Write about what you find compelling about it.
  • Write a letter to your future self about an extracurricular interest you hope to be proficient in.
  • Describe an experience where you tried a new hobby and it didn't work out. What lessons did you learn from this?
  • Detail a day in the life of a professional in the field of an extracurricular interest you admire.
  • Imagine you could instantly obtain any skill necessary for an extracurricular activity. What skill would you choose and why?
  • Write about an extracurricular activity you believe can help you in your daily life or future career.
  • List three people who inspire you with their extracurricular pursuits and discuss why.
  • Create a plan of action for getting involved in a new hobby or interest you've always wanted to try.
  • Consider a hobby or interest you've abandoned in the past. Why did you give it up and would you ever consider picking it up again?
  • Write a dialogue between yourself and a friend, discussing your favorite hobbies and why you enjoy them.
  • Describe a time when you felt proud about an achievement in an extracurricular activity.
  • Detail any barriers or challenges that might be preventing you from pursuing a specific extracurricular interest and brainstorm solutions.
  • Imagine if financial and time constraints were non-existent. What hobby or interest would you pursue?
  • Write about an extracurricular interest you would like to share with your friends or family.
  • Think of a person you know who is deeply passionate about their hobby. Write about what draws you to their enthusiasm.
  • Describe an extracurricular activity that made a significant impact on your life.
  • Reflect on an extracurricular achievement you hope to reach by the end of the school year.

Planning School Lunches

Planning school lunches within the scope of first day of school journal prompts encourages kids to express their thoughts and preferences about their meals while simultaneously enhancing their decision-making and planning skills. Here are 20 journal prompts related to planning school lunches:

  • Write down what your ideal school lunch would look like. Include a main dish, two sides, and a drink.
  • How would you make your current school lunch healthier?
  • Describe your favorite school lunch from last year. What made it your favorite?
  • If you were in charge of the school cafeteria for a day, what meals would you serve?
  • Write about a school lunch you've had that you never want to eat again. Why was it so unappealing to you?
  • If you had to pack a lunch for a classmate, what would you prepare and why?
  • Think about a time when you shared your lunch with a friend. How did that experience make you feel?
  • Reflect on a day where you forgot your lunch or didn't have one. How did you manage?
  • Design a perfect 'theme' lunch – everything from the food to the packaging matches a particular theme.
  • Write about your favorite lunchtime memory at school.
  • List three snacks you would love to see in your lunchbox every day.
  • Describe a foreign meal you've never tried but would like to include in your school lunch.
  • Record a week's worth of school lunch menus you would enjoy.
  • Write about why it’s important to have a balanced and nutritious school lunch.
  • If you could choose to eat lunch with anyone in the world, who would it be and what would you serve?
  • Describe what the atmosphere is like during lunchtime at school.
  • Imagine you're a chef for a day, what kind of innovative lunch meal would you create for students?
  • Write about your thoughts when opening a lunchbox packed by someone else.
  • If you could update the school's lunch policy, what changes would you suggest?
  • Document your feelings before and after having a good lunch at school.

Personal School Memories

Reflecting on Personal School Memories in the context of first day of school journal prompts allows us to explore and relive the unique experiences and feelings associated with these important milestones. Below are 20 journal prompts that aim at stimulating your memories of personal school experiences:

  • Write about your most memorable first day of school. What made it stand out?
  • Describe how you felt on your first day of high school.
  • Recall your first school bus ride. What can you remember about that journey?
  • What was the first lunch you brought or bought at school? Why do you remember it?
  • Describe your favourite first day of school outfit and why you chose it.
  • Write about a friend you made on your first day of school. Are you still friends with them?
  • Detail your earliest memory of a school playground or recess time.
  • Who was your first teacher, and what impact did they have on your school journey?
  • Describe your reaction when you first saw your school building. What impressions did it leave?
  • What is the most embarrassing memory you have from the first day at school?
  • Reflect on some of your school traditions. Which one do you remember from your first day?
  • Describe the feeling when you had to say goodbye to your parents on the first day of school.
  • Write about the first time you felt really proud of an achievement at school.
  • How did you feel at the end of your first day at school? Were your feelings different from the start of the day?
  • Detail one instance from your first day of school that you would change if you could go back. Why?
  • Write about a funny incident that happened on your first day at school.
  • Describe the first classroom you sat in. What was it like?
  • Reflect on a first day of school tradition you wish your school had implemented.
  • Describe your emotions before and after your first day at the new grade.
  • Reflect on how your first day of school experiences shaped your perception of education.

Back To School Shopping

Back to school shopping is an essential part of preparing for the first day of school, providing an opportunity to write about anticipations, worries, and excitement. Here are 20 journal prompts regarding this topic:

  • Detail the list of items you need to buy for the new academic year.
  • Write about the excitement of shopping for new school supplies.
  • Describe how you feel when you choose your first day of school outfit.
  • What is your favorite item you purchased during back to school shopping and why?
  • Compare your preferences for school supplies this year to those of last year.
  • Write about the frustrations you encounter during back to school shopping.
  • Describe the planning process for back to school shopping. How do you prioritize what to buy?
  • Write about the experience of shopping with your friends or family for school supplies.
  • Imagine an ideal shopping trip for school supplies. What does it look like?
  • Discuss whether you prefer online or in-store shopping for school supplies and why.
  • Narrate a funny or surprising incident that happened during previous back to school shopping.
  • Record your thoughts on seeing new backpacks, lunchboxes, or school uniforms in the store.
  • What do the new items you purchased for school say about you as a student?
  • Document the financial aspect of back to school shopping. How do you or your family budget for it?
  • Write about your thoughts on reusing last year's supplies or clothes.
  • Draft a dialogue that might occur during your shopping expedition for school supplies.
  • Describe the feeling of tagging and labeling your new school items.
  • Record your thoughts when you see the back to school section in the stores for the first time.
  • Explain how back to school shopping contributes to your readiness for the new academic year.
  • Write about your thoughts on the transition from summer to school facilitated by back to school shopping.

Understanding New Lessons

Delving into new lessons on the first day of school through journaling encourages adaptability and comprehension skills, aiding academic and personal growth. Below are 20 prompts related to understanding new lessons:

  • Write about one lesson you are excited to learn this year. Why does it interest you?
  • Journal about any anxieties you have concerning a subject you'll be studying.
  • Record your initial thoughts on your first math lesson of the year.
  • Describe your feelings about your first language or literature lesson.
  • What did you find challenging about your science lesson today, and how do you intend to cope with it?
  • Write about the most surprising thing you learned in your history lesson today.
  • Detail what you found enjoyable about your first art lesson of the year.
  • Discuss your expectations for a new subject you're taking up this year.
  • Note down any questions you have after your first geography lesson of the school year.
  • What strategies can you adopt to understand your lessons thoroughly?
  • Write about one lesson you think will be difficult and why.
  • Describe a moment from your first PE lesson that you found exciting or challenging.
  • Share your thoughts on a new topic introduced in your social studies class today.
  • Detail your first impressions about your teacher’s style of introducing new lessons.
  • Write about a lesson today that you feel you grasped quickly. Why do you think this was the case?
  • Journal about a new idea you encountered in your first philosophy or ethics lesson.
  • Write down three things you aim to improve in order to understand your lessons better.
  • Share your first thoughts about a new concept introduced in your computer class.
  • Describe your experience of group work or discussions during your first lessons.
  • Based on the first day, how confident do you feel about understanding your school lessons this year and why?

Organizing School Supplies

Organizing school supplies is a practical yet creative task that can serve as a cornerstone for several exciting first day of school journal prompts. Here are 20 prompts related to the world of pencils, notebooks, crayons, and book bags:

  • Describe the school supplies you can’t wait to use and why they excite you.
  • Pen down your thoughts about the smell of new notebooks and its effect on you.
  • How do you plan to decorate and personalize your school supplies?
  • Write about the feelings that the act of organizing school supplies evokes in you.
  • Imagine a scenario where your school supplies come to life. What would they say?
  • Think about the messiest desk you've ever seen. How would you organize it?
  • Describe your ideal workspace for homework and studying.
  • Write a story based on the perspective of a lonely eraser left in your school bag.
  • What are some creative ways you can reuse or recycle old school supplies?
  • If you could invent a new school supply, what would it be and why?
  • Describe the sensation of writing with a brand-new pen for the first time.
  • Think about your favorite color of crayon or marker. Write about why you love it.
  • How do you feel when a pencil breaks or a pen runs out of ink?
  • Envision a world without any school supplies. How would school work change?
  • Detail a day in the life of a backpack during the school year.
  • Write about a time you lent a school supply to a friend. How did you feel?
  • Discuss different ways of organizing supplies and your preferred method.
  • Imagine your school supplies were magic. What special powers would they have?
  • How do you feel about sharing your school supplies with others?
  • If your schoolbag could talk about its contents, what would it say?

Describing Your First Day Outfit

Understanding and reflecting on your First Day Outfit describes an essential aspect of your first day of school, articulating more than just outward appearance, but also attitudes, feelings, and self-perception. Here are 20 journal prompts on Describing Your First Day Outfit:

  • Draw or describe in detail what you wore on your first day of school.
  • Explain why you chose this outfit for the first day of school?
  • Did your outfit reflect your mood or attitude towards the first day? Elaborate.
  • What part of your outfit did you like the most and why?
  • Was your outfit comfortable or was it chosen purely for style? Discuss.
  • Were there any accessories you wore? Why did you pick these?
  • Did your outfit instill confidence in you?
  • Did you receive any compliments or comments about your outfit? Describe how they made you feel.
  • Was your outfit inspired by a certain fashion trend or style? For instance, casual, sporty, or formal?
  • Did the weather have any effect on the outfit you chose?
  • Were you worried about what others might think of your outfit?
  • If you could change one thing about your outfit, what would it be and why?
  • Was there a color theme in your outfit? What is the significance of this color to you?
  • What's your favorite memory associated with this outfit from the first day of school?
  • Did anyone wear a similar outfit? How did you feel about that?
  • Write about how you felt while getting dressed.
  • Describe your thought process while picking this outfit.
  • Did you plan your outfit or was it a last-minute decision? Why?
  • If this outfit could talk, what would it say about you?
  • Looking back, how has your style evolved since this first day of school outfit?

Navigating Through The School Building

Navigating the school building on the first day can be a daunting experience packed with emotions, observations and discoveries, making it a rich topic for journaling. Here are 20 prompts that revolve around this theme:

  • Describe the first time you saw your new school building.
  • Detail your first impressions upon stepping into the school building.
  • Write about your journey from the entrance to your classroom. What did you see along the way?
  • Draw a map of your school and describe how you would explain the layout to a new student.
  • Recall how you felt when you first got lost in the school.
  • Reflect on a time when you asked for directions in school. How did it go?
  • Write about your favorite spot in the school building and explain why it stands out to you.
  • Chronicle your experience of visiting the restroom for the first time. What was different or unexpected?
  • Detail an interesting interaction you had in the hallways.
  • Reflect on your journey to the cafeteria. How did it smell, what did you hear?
  • Write about an unfamiliar corner of the building you've yet to explore.
  • Describe a funny or surprising event you witnessed in the common areas.
  • Relive your first assembly in the school auditorium. What was the atmosphere like?
  • Recall your first visit to the school library. Describe the books, the people, the quietness.
  • Write about a time you found solace in a secluded part of the school.
  • Describe something unique or quirky about your school building.
  • Recall a time when you realized that you know your way around the school definitely.
  • Write about your journey from your classroom to your school bus or home after the classes.
  • Describe the classrooms. How are they different from or similar to your last school's classrooms?
  • Reflect on a time when you felt at home in your school building.

Learning New Subjects

Exploring new topics through journaling can stimulate intellectual curiosity and foster a positive attitude towards learning novel subjects on the first day of school. Here are 20 insightful prompts to get you started:

  • Write down three things you are excited to learn about in your new classes.
  • Describe your feelings about undertaking a new subject you know nothing about.
  • Pen down a new learning goal you have for this school year.
  • Identify a fear or worry you have about studying a new subject, and outline how you aim to overcome it.
  • Write a letter to your future self about what you hope to achieve in your new subjects.
  • Imagine explaining a new subject you're studying to someone who knows nothing about it.
  • What are some strategies you want to try for effective learning in a new field?
  • Identify a habit you want to form that would aid in mastering a new subject.
  • Express three questions you might have about a new subject you are going to learn.
  • Reflect on a time when you initially struggled with a new topic, but ended up being good at it.
  • Put down what the word 'learning' means to you in the context of new subjects.
  • Write about a teacher you hope to have this year and why.
  • Imagine it’s the end of the school year. What do you hope to say about your learning experience?
  • Identify the resources that you need for being successful in learning new subjects.
  • What subject do you think will be your favourite this year and why?
  • Write a motivational note to yourself to get through the first hard chapter of a new subject.
  • Reflect on previous mistakes made while learning a new subject and how you could avoid them this year.
  • Write about how you plan to organize your notes for effective learning.
  • How do you plan to ask for help when you encounter difficulties in a new subject?
  • Put down the name of a person who inspires you to learn and become better. How can you implement their techniques?

Expectations For Homework

Understanding Expectations for Homework through journal writing is a helpful tool in setting clear goals and strategies for managing school assignments. Here are 20 topics to prompt reflection on homework expectations:

  • Describe the ideal homework environment for you.
  • What are your current strategies for managing homework effectively?
  • List three challenges you might encounter while doing homework and how you plan to overcome them.
  • Recall a past experience where you successfully completed a challenging assignment. How did you feel?
  • Write down the importance of setting homework priorities.
  • Discuss your personal views about the purpose of homework.
  • What do you expect your biggest homework challenge to be this year?
  • Describe what you imagine an ideal homework assignment looks like.
  • How do you incorporate break time within your homework schedule?
  • Imagine being a teacher. What type of homework would you assign and why?
  • Reflect on a time when you did not meet your homework expectations. How would you make it different?
  • List five resources that could help you complete your homework efficiently.
  • How would you explain the concept of homework responsibility to a younger sibling?
  • Explore how your perspective on the importance of homework has changed over the years.
  • How do you manage homework stress? Discuss your coping strategies.
  • Write a letter to your future self describing your current homework habits.
  • How do you balance homework assignments with extracurricular activities?
  • Reflect on a homework assignment that you are most proud of. Why?
  • Discuss three things you do to ensure that your homework is submitted on time.
  • What is your plan if you ever need help with a homework task?

Exciting Classroom Activities

Using first day of school journal prompts for Exciting Classroom Activities encourages students to reflect on their expectations, feelings, and goals for the new school year in a unique and enjoyable way. Below are 20 writing prompts that focus on engaging classroom activities:

  • Write about one activity you are excited to try in school this year. Why does it interest you?
  • Describe a project or activity that you want to accomplish by the end of the first semester.
  • Imagine you are asked to create a new school event. What would it be and why?
  • Write a short script for a classroom role-play about making new friends.
  • Debate in your journal the pros and cons of group assignments versus individual work.
  • Create a list of fun class discussion topics you want to explore with your peers.
  • Reflect on your favorite classroom game from the last school year. Why did you enjoy it?
  • Think about a new club you'd like to start at school. Detail the club's purpose and possible activities.
  • Describe a "Dream Class Field Trip". Where would it be and what would you do?
  • If you were to organize a classroom talent show, which talent would you showcase and why?
  • Propose a new strategy for classroom cleanup duties. Why do you think your proposal would work well?
  • Write about a scientific experiment you'd like to conduct in class. What do you hope to discover?
  • Describe the perfect class party. What would be there and who would attend?
  • Write about an activity you think would help everyone in class to get to know each other better.
  • Plan a 'Mystery Box' challenge for your class. What’s inside the box and what are the clues?
  • Discuss a charity project you would like your class to participate in.
  • Detail an artefact you would bring in for a 'show and tell' session and its significance.
  • Describe a medieval feast you're planning for a history lesson. What foods and entertainment will there be?
  • If you were to start a week-long class project, what would it be and why?
  • Create a plan for a DIY project you would like to introduce to your art class.

Classroom Rules And Regulations

Classroom Rules and Regulations play a pivotal role in guiding student's behavior and shaping a conducive learning environment, and reflecting upon them through journaling can foster a better understanding and observation of these decorums. Here are 20 writing prompts about Classroom Rules and Regulations:

  • Describe your feelings about the classroom rules on your first day of school.
  • Write about a time when you broke a classroom rule. What was the consequence?
  • Imagine being a teacher. What rules and regulations would you enforce in your classroom?
  • Recall an incident when you saw a classroom rule being violated. How did you react?
  • How does following classroom rules and regulations make you feel? Do they enhance your learning experience?
  • Describe a classroom rule that you find challenging to adhere to and why.
  • Write about an instance where following a classroom rule benefited you.
  • State three ways you can help enforce the classroom rules and regulations.
  • Reflect on a classroom rule that you think is essential for every classroom.
  • How do you feel when others don't abide by the classroom rules?
  • Write a thank you letter to your teacher for maintaining the discipline with classroom rules and regulations.
  • Explain whether you think all classroom rules are fair or if there are any you would change.
  • Describe how the classroom rules and regulations help maintain harmony among the students.
  • Write your own interpretation version of the golden rule of your classroom.
  • What is the most important rule in the classroom and why?
  • Think about a scenario where there were no classroom rules, what would it look like?
  • Reflect on a rule that you initially disliked but then came to appreciate.
  • How do you feel about the consequences given for breaking rules? Are they fair?
  • Write a persuasive argument about changing a classroom rule you disagree with.
  • Describe an instance where a classroom rule positively impacted the relationship between students.

Adapting To New School Timings.

Adapting to New School Timings can be a challenging but necessary part of beginning a new school year, and use of journal prompts can facilitate a smoother transition. Here are some prompts to assist you in adjusting to and reflecting on your new schedule:

  • How did you feel when you woke up for the first day of school?
  • Are the new school timings earlier or later than your previous school year? How do you feel about it?
  • Write about your morning routine before school. What did you do first, and why?
  • How long did it take for you to get ready for school? Was it a rush or did you have plenty of time?
  • Write about how you spent your free time before the school started.
  • Was it easy or difficult to adjust to these new timings on the first day? Explain your experience.
  • Did you feel alert or drowsy during the day? Why do you think you felt this way?
  • Describe your journey to school. Did the new timings affect this at all?
  • Did you have trouble concentrating on your lessons? Do you think the new timings had something to do with it?
  • Document your feelings when you arrived home. Were you tired, energetic, or something else?
  • How did you balance homework with your relaxation time after school with the new timings?
  • What adjustments might you make in your daily routine to accommodate with the new school timings?
  • How did your lunch or snack times fit in with the new school timings? Was it at a suitable time, or did you feel hungry before?
  • Did you have enough time for physical activities? How can you ensure to make time for it moving forward?

15.Ask yourself if you had time for your hobbies or extra-curricular activities on the first day? If not, how can you manage it? 16. Was it a struggle to adjust your sleep schedule for the new school timings? Write about your experience. 17. Were there any positive aspects to the new school timings? 18. Were you able to manage doing all your activities of the day with the new timing schedule? 19. How did you feel by the end of the day? Were you relieved, tired, or maybe even excited? 20. Did you have an opportunity to discuss with your family about your first day and new timings? If so, what was their response?

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Mr Greg's English Cloud

Diary Entry Writing: First Day Of School

The first day of school is a significant event that marks the beginning of a new chapter in your academic life. It can be filled with a mix of excitement, anticipation, and nerves. Documenting this experience in a diary can help you process your emotions and serves as a valuable memory to look back on. Here’s a guide to writing a diary entry about your first day of school.

Table of Contents

Step 1: Start with the Date and Setting

Begin your diary entry by noting the date and details about the school you’re attending. This can include the name of the school, the grade or level you’re entering, and any other relevant information.

September 1, 2024. Today was my first day of junior year at Lincoln High School.

Step 2: Describe Your Preparation

Reflect on the lead-up to the first day. What were your preparations like the night before? How did you feel when you woke up? Describe choosing your outfit, packing your bag, and saying goodbye to your summer routine.

I spent last night laying out my clothes and double-checking my school supplies. Waking up this morning, I felt a knot in my stomach, a mix of excitement and the usual first-day jitters.

Step 3: Capture the Arrival Experience

Talk about your arrival at school. What was your first impression upon stepping onto campus? Were there any notable sights, sounds, or smells?

The school courtyard was buzzing with activity. Freshly cut grass, the sound of locker doors slamming shut, and the sight of friends reuniting set the scene for a typical school atmosphere.

Step 4: Express Your Emotions

Be candid about how you felt throughout the day. Were you nervous about meeting new teachers, making friends, or finding your way around? Did you feel confident and prepared?

Walking through the halls, I felt a wave of nervousness, wondering if I’d find my classes on time and how I’d fit in with my new classmates.

Step 5: Introduce New Encounters

Did you meet new teachers or classmates? Describe your first impressions of them and any interactions that stood out.

My history teacher, Mrs. Clark, has a warm smile and a commanding presence that immediately caught my attention. I also met a fellow junior, Alex, who shares my love for soccer.

Step 6: Outline Your Schedule

Write down your class schedule and any initial thoughts about the subjects you’ll be studying. Are there any classes you’re particularly looking forward to or apprehensive about?

My schedule is packed with a mix of excitement and dread. Advanced Biology will be a challenge, but I’m looking forward to Computer Science.

Step 7: Reflect on Key Moments

Highlight any significant moments from the day. This could be a funny incident, a thought-provoking comment from a teacher, or a personal achievement, like answering a question correctly in class.

During lunch, I managed to find a spot with a group of friendly sophomores. We shared a laugh over our mutual confusion about the new cafeteria layout.

Step 8: Discuss Social Aspects

School isn’t just about academics; it’s also a social environment. Write about your interactions with friends, both old and new, and any plans you’ve made for the school year.

It felt great reconnecting with my best friend, Jamie. We’ve promised to join the drama club together this year.

Step 9: Mention After-School Feelings

How did you feel at the end of the day? Were you relieved, tired, enthusiastic, or overwhelmed? Document your post-school emotions and activities.

By the time the final bell rang, I was a mix of tired and energized. I’m excited to see what the rest of the year brings.

Step 10: Look Forward

End your entry with thoughts about the future. What are your hopes and goals for the school year? Is there anything you’re determined to accomplish or improve?

This year, I’m determined to be more organized and proactive with my studies. I’m hopeful that I’ll make new friends and create lasting memories.

Additional Tips:

  • Use Sensory Details : Incorporate what you saw, heard, tasted, smelled, and touched to bring your entry to life.
  • Include Direct Speech : If you had an interesting conversation, write it down. It can help you remember the exact emotions you felt.
  • Be Honest : Don’t hold back on your feelings. Your diary is a safe space for genuine self-expression.
  • Add Visuals : If you’re artistically inclined, doodle in the margins or stick in a photo that captures part of your day.
  • Reflect : Use your diary entry as an opportunity to reflect on your personal growth and how you’ve changed since the previous first day of school.

Diary Entry First Day Of School Example #1

Dear Diary,

Today was the first day of school, and it was a day filled with excitement, nervousness, and anticipation. As I walked through the halls and met my classmates and teachers, I couldn’t help but feel a mixture of emotions.

The day began with a welcome assembly, where we met our new principal and teachers, and learned about the goals and expectations for the year. It was a great opportunity to connect with the school community and get a sense of what was to come.

Afterwards, we went to our homeroom classes and met our classmates. It was a great chance to reconnect with old friends and make new ones, and to get to know the people who we would be spending the year with.

In the afternoon, we had our first classes, where we learned about the subjects we would be studying and the expectations for the year. It was a great opportunity to get a sense of what was to come and to start thinking about our goals and aspirations for the year.

As I reflected on the day, I felt grateful for the opportunities that school provides, and for the chance to learn and grow. I thought about the importance of setting goals and working towards them, and of taking advantage of the opportunities that come our way. I felt inspired to make the most of the year ahead, and to appreciate the friendships and connections that we form along the way.

Until next time, Diary.

Diary Entry First Day Of School Example #2

Today was the first day of school, and it was a day filled with excitement, anticipation, and a little bit of nervousness. As I walked through the halls and met my classmates and teachers, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of wonder about the year ahead.

The day began with a welcome assembly, where we met our new principal and teachers, and learned about the theme of the year. It was a great opportunity to connect with the school community and get a sense of what was to come.

Afterwards, we went to our homeroom classes and met our classmates. It was a great chance to catch up with old friends and make new ones, and to get a sense of the energy and enthusiasm of the group.

In the afternoon, we had our first classes, where we learned about the subjects we would be studying and the expectations for the year. It was a great opportunity to get a sense of the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead, and to start thinking about how we could make the most of the year.

As I reflected on the day, I felt grateful for the opportunities that school provides, and for the chance to learn and grow. I thought about the importance of staying curious and open-minded, and of embracing new challenges and opportunities. I felt inspired to make the most of the year ahead, and to appreciate the friendships and connections that we form along the way.

Diary Entry First Day Of School Example #3

Today was the first day of school, and it was a day filled with excitement, curiosity, and a little bit of anxiety. As I walked through the halls and met my classmates and teachers, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of wonder about the year ahead.

The day began with an orientation session, where we learned about the school’s policies and procedures, and got a sense of the culture and values of the community. It was a great opportunity to start building a sense of belonging and connection.

Afterwards, we went to our homeroom classes and got to know our classmates. It was a great chance to connect with people who shared similar interests and values, and to start building the relationships that would carry us through the year.

In the afternoon, we had our first classes, where we learned about the subjects we would be studying and the expectations for the year. It was a great opportunity to start thinking about our passions and interests, and to start exploring the topics that we would be studying throughout the year.

As I reflected on the day, I felt grateful for the opportunities that school provides, and for the chance to learn and grow. I thought about the importance of staying curious and engaged, and of embracing new experiences and challenges. I felt inspired to make the most of the year ahead, and to appreciate the friendships and connections that we form along the way.

About Mr. Greg

Mr. Greg is an English teacher from Edinburgh, Scotland, currently based in Hong Kong. He has over 5 years teaching experience and recently completed his PGCE at the University of Essex Online. In 2013, he graduated from Edinburgh Napier University with a BEng(Hons) in Computing, with a focus on social media.

Mr. Greg’s English Cloud was created in 2020 during the pandemic, aiming to provide students and parents with resources to help facilitate their learning at home.

Whatsapp: +85259609792

[email protected]

creative writing about first day of school

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Jeffery deaver, main navigation, search site, the first day of school.

A short story written by Jeffery Deaver for teachers and educators.

Indian summer in a small Midwestern suburb, a hot, hot day in early September.

His heavy book bag slung over his shoulder, Jim Martin—slim, sandy-haired, freckled—trudged along the pitted sidewalk at 7:30 this morning, on his way to Thomas Jefferson Middle School.

He walked slowly, enjoying the heat, enjoying the spongy feel of his new running shoes, enjoying the familiar sights along the route.

Filled with excitement, filled with anticipation, filled with curiosity.

Nervous, too.

This was, after all, the first day of school.

At the bottom of the hill, exactly a mile from his house, he turned the corner and saw the school in front of him.

It wasn’t really a very nice building. Single story, squat, yellowish stone. Nothing stood out except the tall flagpole that would ring like a clock chime when the rope slapped it on windy days. Today, in the still air, the pole was silent.

Taking a shortcut through a hedge, Jim walked over the football field, dew leaping from the toes of his shoes, grasshoppers jumping out of his path.

He glanced to his right and noticed a shaded spot on the field near the home team bleachers and a memory suddenly came back to him—a spring day on that very spot. He and Sam Gordon facing each other, fists balled up, ready to slug it out. Sam was an 8th grader, a big kid—he’d been held back a year. He dressed in dark clothes that smelled of cigarettes  and motor oil and he wore his anger the way some women wear too much costume jewelry. For no particular reason he’d taken an instant disliking to quiet Jim, who was a year younger and fifty pounds lighter. Sam had mercilessly tormented him all year until finally Jim had had enough and agreed to Sam’s taunt to fight it out after school.

The boys circled, Jim terrified but defiant. Sam threw the first punch. Jim blocked it but then the bully’s left fist appeared from nowhere and clocked Jim in the cheek. He went down on his knees and Sam leapt on him, flailing away, Jim’s thin arms helpless to protect him from the stunning blows. The big boy then stood and was about to deliver a vicious kick to Jim’s ribs when a man’s voice cut through the April air.

“Boys! That’s enough.”

Coach LaBell stepped forward, pulled Sam away and ordered him to the principal’s office. Sneering, the boy stalked away.

The coach then helped Jim up and surveyed the damage to his face. The man said, “First the nurse, but I’m afraid you’re going to the principal too, Jim.”

“Yessir.”

The grizzled, crewcut man handed Jim a Kleenex for the blood, and the tears, waited a moment and then he said, “I want to tell you something, young man.”

“Yessir?” Jim asked.

“You want to know what I think the biggest difference is between being a child and being an adult?”

“What’s that?”

“Knowing the difference between the times you have to fight and the times you should walk away. You know what I’m saying?”

Jim nodded.

“Good. Now go see the nurse. Get that cut cleaned up.”

As Jim walked sullenly toward the door, Coach LaBell called, “Oh, Jim?”

The boy turned. “Yessir?”

“About those times you do have to fight?” The man pointed a stubby finger at Jim. “You better learn to watch out for left hooks. Or you’re gonna lose some teeth.”

“I’ll do that, coach.”

Now, this hot, hot first day of school, trudging through the dewy grass, Jim shifted his heavy book bag to the other shoulder, and he thought about how the coach’s words had really made a difference in the way he looked at life.

Closer to the school now, walking past the buses, yellow as pollen, watching the students and teachers, the impatient parents in the car pool lane. Jim waved hello to a few of the kids but he was still lost in his thoughts. He was glancing at a nearby classroom, Mr. Carter’s math class.

Oh, Jim hated math. He did all the homework; he’d spend hours studying for tests, but he could never do better than a C plus, at best. He now thought of one of Mr. Carter’s classes, early in the semester. The teacher had passed out a graded test—Jim’d gotten a C minus. After all that work, he was so frustrated, so discouraged. The teacher must’ve seen the look in his eyes and called him up after class.

“Having some trouble, I see, Jim.”

“I just don’t get it,” the boy said. “I mean, I try. I do the work. But it’s like it’s overwhelming. I freeze up and, you know, I panic.”

Soft-spoken Mr. Carter pulled a slip of paper out of his desk and wrote down several names. He said, “These’re math tutors, Jim. I want you and your parents to call one of them. I think they’ll be a big help.”

“Okay,” Jim said uncertainly. Then he took a deep breath and confessed, “The thing is, Mr. Carter, I just, I mean, I just don’t like math. I’m never going to like it. I know that.”

The teacher smiled at this. “Don’t like math? . . . .” He nodded. “Well, Jim, you have to understand something. Your goal here isn’t to learn to like math. I don’t want to teach you that. I don’t even care about that.”

“You don’t?”

“No, no, no . . . . I want to teach you to love learning about math, that’s all.” He repeated it. “I want you to love learning whatever it is you study.”

And Jim nodded, digesting this. He took the note home and he and his parents got a tutor and his grades improved a bit, not much. But he started to get some B minuses. The important thing for Jim, though, wasn’t the grade but what his teacher had told him. And he thought now, as he walked through the doorway to Thomas Jefferson Middle on this first day of school, about how the math teacher’s words, like Coach LaBell’s, had made a real difference in the way he thought about things.

Walking through the cool halls now, Jim smelled fresh paint and girls’ perfume and those weird biology lab smells. He got a drink at the fountain and headed for home room.

As he did he passed another classroom and another memory hit him. Ah, Mrs. Peabody’s English class. She was a stern, older woman the kids called psychic because she magically knew which students had read the real assignment and which had read the Cliff notes.

Jim thought about the time Mrs. Peabody had given the class a writing assignment. “Write about summer vacation,” she said. “Be as creative as you can. But,” the stern woman added, as she always did, “make sure you use proper spelling and grammar.”

Well, that night Jim sat at his desk at home and stared unhappily at a blank sheet of paper. He didn’t want to write a stupid essay about his summer vacation. For one thing it’d  been a dog. A water park, two weeks of camp, his paper route. Boring . . .  He’d actually been happy to get back to school.

So he gave up on the assignment and wrote what he wanted to. Not an essay at all but a short story. Science fiction. It was about a distant planet that didn’t have summer—it was spring all the time. And it didn’t have vacations either. The aliens on the planet  worked 24 four hours a day.

The next morning he handed in the story but that night he lay awake until three a.m., thinking, Why did I do that? I totally ignored the assignment. What the heck was I thinking of? And here English was his favorite class. Maybe it’d take Mrs. Peabody a few days to grade the essays. He’d beg her for a chance to write another one, the sort she wanted.

But when he got to class the next morning it turned out that Mrs. Peabody had read and graded the essays.

And when he saw the way she glanced at him with a strange look in her stern, psychic eyes, he wished he’d stayed home sick.

The teacher said, “I’m going to pass back your summer vacation essays in a minute, but I want to say something first. When you write, when you put your words out for other people to read, you have to learn to take criticism. You have to remember that a critic’s words aren’t attacking you as human beings; they’re only an opinion about something you’ve created, no matter how harsh the opinion seems. . . . . And in this case I’m afraid I’ve got some rather harsh words to say.”

I’m in trouble, Jim thought, blushing already, betrayed by his freckles. Staring at the floor.

Mrs. Peabody continued, “Almost everyone in class wrote an essay about his or her summer vacation . . . . Almost everyone.”

This’s bad, Jim thought. I’m getting an F, I know it.

“But,” the teacher said, “one student decided he didn’t feel like doing that.”

Jim glanced up long enough to see her eyes focused on him.

This’s worse than an F. . . . I’m in note-to-the-parents territory now.

Then Mrs. Peabody looked away from Jim and studied the rest of the class. “All of your essays read as if they were written in your sleep. It’s clear to me that you didn’t take the assignment seriously and none of you spent more than ten minutes on it. Just one of you had the courage to be as imaginative as I asked you to be. Jim Martin is only one who got an A on the assignment. Now I’m going to ask him to come up here and read his story to you as an example of thinking independently and being creative.” Then, being Mrs. Peabody, she added sternly, “though he should’ve a little more attention to proper spelling and grammar.”

Hands trembling, Jim walked to the front of the classroom in triumph, as if he were climbing to the summit of Mount Everest or were the first person to step onto the surface of Mars.

What a small thing really, he now reflected as he dodged through the crowded hallway, just a single assignment. But what a difference that moment had made to him.

Strolling into his home room now, Jim unslung his book bag and sat down as the last of the students filed in. He could see that some of them too were filled with excitement, some with anticipation.

Some with curiosity.

And some were nervous. Just like him, on this hot, hot Indian Summer morning in September.

Then the bell rang, a jarring noise, and eventually silence filled the room, silence broken only by the shuffle of papers, the click of pens, the snapping clasps of purses. The students looked toward the teacher’s desk.

Silence . . .

Jim took a deep breath, paused and he stood. He turned around and picked up a marker. He wrote on the white board, “Mr. Jim Martin, Home Room and Eighth-grade English.” And he added his office hours beneath his name.

He turned back and said, “Good morning, class.” And with a smile he looked over his students on this, the first day of school . . . and his very first day as a teacher. How strange it was, he thought, to be starting his career here at Thomas Jefferson, the same school where he himself had been a student so many years ago and where he’d learned so much.

Like knowing when to fight and when to walk away—but always looking out for left hooks.

And loving learning for itself, whatever the subject you’re studying, even if you only get a C plus.

And always having the courage to think for yourself and to be creative—but making sure you use proper spelling and grammar.

Then he pulled his lesson plan and class roster out of his book bag and as he called the name of each of his students he thought again briefly about Coach LaBell and Mr. Carter and Mrs. Peabody and the teachers here and in the other schools Jim had attended throughout his life and he knew that, like them, he too was going to  make a difference.

(C) 2002 Jeffery W. Deaver Use and reproduction permitted for personal and nonprofit purposes only.

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Write A Story Called 'The First Day At School' (9-14 years)

Write A Story Called 'The First Day At School' (9-14 years)

Subject: English

Age range: 11-14

Resource type: Lesson (complete)

Guinea Pig  Education

Last updated

13 September 2022

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25 pages in length

Creative Story Writing work packs cut down preparation time when planning creative writing tasks. Easy to follow, each pack includes an example of how you can build on a title, to first plan a story for 9-12 year olds and then write it.

How To Use Your Work Pack:

Make sure the child/children know that stories must be planned

Read the model story in the pack

Ask the child/children to write down the names of the characters in the story

Ask the child/children to write down where the setting takes place

Ask the child/children to write down what the plot is

Identify the most exciting part of the story (the climax of the story or suspense)

Ask the child/children to plan a similar story - with a beginning, a middle and an end

Ask the child/children to rewrite their own version of the story

Ask the child/children to read their version of the story aloud

Creative Story Writing work packs are essential for all students wanting to develop their literacy skills and improve their grades in English assignments and examinations. The work packs will guide students through the story writing process, as if they had a tutor by their side. Each pack is designed to help the child with thinking up ideas, providing starting points for writing, structuring and organizing their writing into paragraphs. It features writing a good introduction with characters, setting and plot, building up suspense and winding up the plot with a suitable resolution.

Attention is given to making writing more interesting by varying sentence types, using punctuation and good grammar. The student will investigate different narrative structures for writing stories, exploring various viewpoints so they can decide if they write in first or third person. They will learn to evoke mood and atmosphere by using good vocabulary. Each pack includes an exciting range of model answers and sample texts written by children and provides practice questions to test them. Common errors made by students are highlighted and corrected. Each pack contains vital hints and tips on gaining those top grades.

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Teaching Students About Stingray Barbs: Uncovering the Mysteries of a Unique Marine Adaptation

12 colleges with the most nba players, what you can buy with the 529 plan, teaching students about shaun alexander: a lesson in perseverance and success, how to set up and start using a cash app account, teaching students about sean avery: embracing unconventional lessons in sportsmanship, how to become a tafe teacher, teaching students about gloria ramirez, teaching students about brothels: contextualizing the topic in education, 22 spectacular manga for kids, 9 fun first day at school writing activities.

creative writing about first day of school

The first day of school can be both exciting and nerve-wracking for students. One way to ease them into this new experience and get their creative juices flowing is through engaging writing activities. Here are nine enjoyable first-day writing activities that will help your students feel comfortable in their new environment while sparking their creativity.

1. All About Me

Ask students to write a short paragraph about themselves, including their likes, dislikes, hobbies, and anything else they’d like to share. This activity helps students get to know each other and allows the teacher to learn more about each child.

2. Classroom Scavenger Hunt

Give students a list of items to find around the classroom and instruct them to write down where they found each item. This activity helps familiarize students with the classroom layout and encourages exploration.

3. Time Capsule Letter

Have students write a letter to their future selves detailing their goals, dreams, and fears for the upcoming school year. Seal these letters in envelopes and store them until the last day of school to compare expectations with reality.

4. Personal Narratives

Encourage storytelling by asking students to write a personal narrative about a memorable summer experience or event from any time in their lives. This activity gives children an opportunity to practice storytelling skills while sharing memories with peers.

5. Classroom Rules Agreement

Ask your class to brainstorm a list of classroom rules together. Once compiled, have them write the rules in their own words as an agreement that everyone will do their best to follow throughout the school year.

6. Friendship Acrostic Poem

Assign students the task of writing an acrostic poem using the word “friendship”. This activity prompts students to think about qualities that make a good friend while exercising their creative language skills.

7. Picture Prompt Story

Provide students with an interesting image and ask them to create a short story based on what they see. This activity encourages students to use their imagination and develop their narrative-writing abilities.

8. School Year Bucket List

Have students create a list of goals or activities they’d like to achieve or participate in during the school year. This serves as a motivator for them to strive for personal growth and make new memories.

9. Gratitudes

Invite your students to write about three things they are grateful for in their lives, no matter how big or small. This activity helps foster a positive mindset and promotes gratitude in their daily lives.

Incorporate these fun writing activities into your first-day lesson plan, and you’ll be off to a great start. These activities will stimulate creativity, foster a sense of community, and set your students up for success as they embark on their educational journey.

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How to Teach Creative Writing to High School Students

How to Teach Creative Writing to High School Students

Creative Writing was forced onto my schedule; I didn’t ask for it. But it ended up becoming my favorite class period of the day. While academic English courses can feel high-stakes and always short on time, Creative Writing can be a refreshingly relaxed elective class. In many districts with loose curriculums, Creative Writing is what you make of it. In this post, I outline six steps to show you how to teach creative writing to high school students.

Why Teach Creative Writing

Before we get into the how , let’s first address the why . Why bother teaching Creative Writing in the first place? Students’ basic skills are lower than ever; is now really the time to encourage them to break the rules?

If you want to get really deep into why you should teach Creative Writing, I have a whole post about it here.

But think about why you love reading. Is it because you were made to annotate or close read a bunch of classic novels? Probably not. You probably fell in love with reading while you were reading something that was fun. And because it was fun, you read more, and your skills as a reader grew.

The same principle applies to writing. If we can make it fun for our students, perhaps we can foster a love for it. And passion is what leads, eventually, to mastery.

Giving our students the opportunity to fall in love with writing is a gift that might help them grow in their academic writing later.

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Teach Creative Writing to High School Students Step #1: Decide on Your Standards or Goals

Your school or district may have a mandated syllabus or curriculum. Mine did not. 

Whether you’re given student goals or have to create them, you must have an overall vision for what your Creative Writing class will accomplish. 

Is this a laid-back, engaging course designed to help students discover the fun in writing? Or is it a supplement to rigorous academics for college-bound high school students? 

If you know your school’s student population well, I encourage you to think about their needs. Some students just need to write more–more of anything, but lots more. Some students are high achieving and ready to write their first novels! If possible, design your course around the needs and interests of the general student population in your school or district. 

Regardless of how rigorous your Creative Writing course will be, deciding on these goals first will help you in backwards planning. 

Teach Creative Writing to High School Students Step #2: Choose Your Final Assessments and Big Projects

Before we can start planning our lessons, we have to decide what skills or knowledge our students will need. And to know what they need, we have to decide on their summative assessments.

Cover for It's Lit Teaching Resource: Fairy Tale Retelling Creative Writing Project

Will your final assessment be a short story? A collection of poetry? Are you required to offer a final exam?

Once you know what students will need to do, you can make a list of the skill they’ll need. This list will become a list of lessons you’ll need to teach.

Fairy Tale Retelling Project

My Fairy Tale Retelling Project is a great Creative Writing assessment. For this project, students had to first choose a fairy tale. Then, they rewrote the story from the perspective of the villain.

This project works really well because students have structure. They can pick any fairy tale they want, but they can’t write about just anything.

Cover for Teachers Pay Teachers product by It's Lit Teaching: Creative Writing Author Study Project

Secondly, students already know the story, so they don’t have to worry about a beginning, middle, and end. The open-endedness of writing a story completely from scratch has paralyzed my students before. Structure allows students lots of creative freedom without the excuse of “I don’t know what to write.”

Author Study Project

If you’d like your Creative Writing class to help beginner writers have fun and just get some practice with fiction writing, a Fairy Tale Retelling Project would probably be perfect for your class.

Another project I’ve done with my students is an Author Study . In this project, students choose one author to study in-depth. Then, they attempt to replicate that author’s style in an original work.

creative writing about first day of school

If you’d like your class to also include lots of exposure to other writers or classic literature, then this might be a great assessment for your class.

Learn more about doing an author study in this step-by-step post.

Test or Final Exam

I also gave my students a final exam focused on literary terms.

This Literary Terms Test allowed me to test students on the academic knowledge they gained throughout class instead of their writing ability. This test also helped me fulfill my district’s requirement of having a final exam at the end of each course.

Once you’ve decided on your class’s major projects and assessments, you can begin designing the rest of your class.

Teach Creative Writing to High School Students Step #3: Backwards Plan

Now that you know what your students will need to do at the end of this class, you can list out everything you need to teach them in order for them to be successful.

For example, if you opt for an author study as a final project, you know what you will need to cover. You will need to teach students some literary terms so that they can describe an author’s style. You’ll need to show them how to analyze a poem.

During the course of your class, you’ll also want to expose students to a variety of authors and mentor texts. Students will need to practice basic writing techniques in order to replicate those of their chosen authors.

If you need some inspiration for what kinds of lessons to teach, check out this post on essential Creative Writing lessons.

Teach Creative Writing to High School Students Step #4: Decide on Your Class Structure

Once you’ve decided on the end goals for your Creative Writing class, you can use them to help create day-to-day plans. 

What will your class look like? Will it be full of lots of quiet and independent work time? Will it be full of frenetic energy with students working in collaborative groups? Are students writing in notebooks or on laptops?

Cover of It's Lit Teaching Resource: Creative Writing Journal Prompts for High School

Of course, a successful class will most likely include a mixture of all of the above. But it’s up to you to decide on your ratio. 

Again, I encourage you to think about your school’s population. If you’re on ninety-minute blocks, is it realistic for students to be quietly writing that whole time? If you have high-achieving students, might they benefit from working independently at home and then getting and giving peer feedback during class time?

Use your goals to help decide on a general class structure. 

Warm-ups for Creative Writing

You’ll need a consistent way to begin each class.

When I initially began teaching Creative Writing, I just wanted to provide my students with more time to write. We began every class period with free writing. I gave students a couple of prompts to choose from each day, and then we’d write for about ten minutes. 

( Those journal prompts are right here . Every day includes two prompts plus a third option of freewriting.)

Students were given the option to share part of their writing if they wanted to. Every couple of weeks I’d flip through their notebooks to make sure they were keeping up, but I only read the entries they starred for me in advance. 

Cover of It's Lit Teaching Product: Poem of the Week Bundle

Later, I wanted to add some rigor to my Creative Writing class and leverage more mentor texts. I created a Poem of the Week activity for each week of the course. 

This gave students the opportunity to study professional writing before using it as a mentor text for a new, original piece. 

(You can read more about using these Poem of the Week activities here.) 

As my goals for the class and my students change, so did the way we began class. 

How can you begin your class in a way that supports the end goals or teaches the desired standards? How often will peers work together?

Teach Creative Writing to High School Students Step #5: Focus on Engagement Strategies

Now you can actually start planning lessons and projects!

But as you do so, focus on creating engaging ones–especially if your class is meant to be a fun elective.

Need more tips? Check out this post full of Creative Writing teaching tips!

Use Mentor Texts and Lots of Examples

Have you ever tried putting a puzzle together without knowing what the image was going to look like? It would be pretty difficult! Similarly, students need lots of examples of strong writing to aspire to. 

Without clear models or mentor texts , students will happily turn in unread drafts. They’ll choose the first word that comes to their mind instead of searching for a better one. 

But if you surround students with great writing, highlight strong technique when discussing the writing of others, and challenge them to notice the details in their own writing, they’ll naturally become better at self-editing.

I don’t believe that you can provide students with too many mentor texts or examples of strong writing. As you teach Creative Writing, keep or take pictures of strong writing samples from students to use as examples later. 

Nearly all of my lessons and projects include an example along with instruction.

Model and Create with Your Students

You can even use your own writing as an example. When I had students free write to creative writing prompts, I always wrote with them. Sometimes I would then put my notebook under the document camera and model reading my own work.  

I would cross out words and replace them or underline phrases I thought were strong enough to keep. Model for students not just great writing, but the process of strengthening writing.

And then give them plenty of time to edit theirs. This is when having students engage in peer feedback is a game-changer. 

Without great writing to aspire to, however, students easily become lazy and turn in work that is “good enough” in their eyes. Don’t let them get lazy in their writing. Keep throwing greater and greater work in front of them and challenge them to push themselves. 

(This is another reason I love using Poem of the Week warm-ups –they expose students to a new writer every week!)

Set Clear Expectations

Creative writing causes a lot of students anxiety. There’s no “right” answer, so how will they know if they creatively wrote “correctly?”

Help them out by setting clear expectations. Offering a rubric for every project is great for this. If you can, give them specifics to include. “At least 500 words” or “three or more similes” are nice, concrete guidelines that students can follow.

Give Students Choice

Offering students choice always boosts engagement. It lets students take charge of their learning and pursue something that interests them.

For example, when I teach odes , students are given the opportunity to write about something they love.

With an author study , students can study a writer whose style and work they admire.

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Teach Creative Writing to High School Students Step #6: Use Clear and Structured Expectations

While showing students excellent prose or perfect poetry should help inspire students, your writers will still need some hard parameters to follow. 

Academic writing is often easier for students than creative writing. Usually, academic writing follows a structure or certain formula. The rubric dictates exactly how many quotes need to be included or how long an essay needs to be. MLA or APA formats tell students how to punctuate quotes and citations. 

These rules don’t apply to creative writing. And while that’s exactly what makes creative writing awesome, it’s often overwhelming. 

So do your students a favor and give them some clear expectations (without, of course, entirely dictating what they need to write about).  

The project also includes a rubric, so young writers know what should be included in their stories.

Don’t give your students so much creative freedom that it paralyzes them! Your writers are still students; give them the same level of structure and organization that you would in any other class. 

creative writing about first day of school

Engage your students in more creative writing!

Sign up and get five FREE Creative Writing journal prompts to use with your students! 

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Keep an eye on your inbox for your FREE journal prompts!

Teach Creative Writing to High School Students Step #7: Give Students Choices

So how do you give students frameworks, requirements, and uphold high expectations without stifling their creativity?

Give students choices. You can write about A, B, or C, as long as you meet requirements 1, 2, and 3. 

Offering choices works with small one-day assignments or lessons as well as bigger, longer-term projects. 

Cover for It's Lit Teaching Resource: Show. Don't Tell Creative Writing Mini Lesson Workshop

The previously mentioned Fairy Tale Retelling Project is a great example of offering a narrow selection of choices that uphold expectations without dictating what students write. 

Another one of my favorite examples of offering students choices is my “Show. Don’t Tell” Mini-lesson . This lesson touches on everything students need to successfully learn creative writing. 

First I teach them the concept of showing vs. telling in writing through direct instruction. I show them lots of examples of expanding a “telling sentence” into a “showing paragraph.”

Then I model for students how I would write a paragraph that shows crucial information, rather than telling it. 

Lastly, I have students pick a strip of paper from a hat or a bag. Each strip of paper contains a “telling sentence” that they must then write as a “showing paragraph.” Students are limited by the sentences I provide, but they still have complete freedom over how they achieve that detailed paragraph. 

If you wanted to give students even more freedom, you could let them pick their sentences or trade with a peer rather than blindly choosing. 

Any time you can give students a choice, you give them permission to use their creativity and allow them to take some of the initiative in their own learning.

Teach Creative Writing to High School Students Step #8: Encourage Peer Collaboration and Feedback

We can tell students something a hundred times, but they won’t listen until a peer says the same thing. Us educators know the value of positive peer interaction, so don’t limit it in a creative writing class!

There are a ton of ways to implement peer interaction in a creative writing class. I often do this on the first day of class with a writing game. You’ve probably heard of it: everyone writes a sentence on a piece of paper, then everyone passes the paper and adds a sentence, and so on. 

I highly encourage you to use peer feedback throughout the class. I usually start having students share their work from day one with my free “I Am” Poem Lesson so that they can start getting used to having their work read by others immediately.

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Make getting feedback so routine in your room that students don’t even question it.

It’s really tempting to let students get away without sharing their work. We don’t want to make shy or anxious students uncomfortable. I mean, what better way to completely ruin creative writing for a student than to make them feel embarrassed all the time, right?

But keep trying to encourage shy students to share. Even if that means you share it anonymously or read it aloud for them. 

I recommend including some kind of peer feedback with every writing assignment . Yes, even short practice assignments. This will work as a kind of “immersion therapy” for receiving feedback on more involved work.

After some time, you might find that your students even begin to share their work without your prompting! 

I like to organize the desks in my Creative Writing class so that students are in little groups. I’ve found that at least half of my classes will begin talking and sharing with one another in their little groups while working on projects. 

They’ll ask each other questions or to remind them of a word. They’ll read sentences aloud and ask if they sound right. Personally, I would much rather hear this kind of chatter in my class than have a dead silent room of boring writers!

However you decide to allow students to work together, be sure to provide the opportunity. Reading and getting feedback from peers could possibly teach students more about writing than any of your instruction (sorry!).

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One of the truly great things about teaching creative writing to high school students is that there often isn’t a rigid curriculum. Of course, this is also sometimes one of the worst things about teaching creative writing to high school students!

You have total freedom over the assignments you give, the standards you teach, and how you organize and structure your classroom. After a few years of teaching Creative Writing, however, I’ve found that sticking to these six steps is a great way to have a successful semester.

If you’re excited about teaching your Creative Writing class, but are running low on prep time, check out my complete 9-week Creative Writing course ! Included are two different types of warm-ups, poetry analysis activities from well-known authors, mini-lesson, projects, and more!

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creative writing about first day of school

7 Writing Ideas for the First Week of School

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The first week of school is usually a blur. We are all settling into a new routine and the summer haze is lifting-slowly. This is the time we are getting to know our students, but also the time there is much to be done. We are settling into a new routine, adjusting students to a new routine, filling out enrollment reports, and putting the finishing touches on our classrooms. For this reason, coming up with first week activities can be a bit stressful. For the past few years, I’ve used these seven writing activities the first week of school at various times throughout the day and they all serve their own purpose.

Goal Setting

My fifth grade team is departmentalized and I teach writing. For this reason, I make this activity specifically writing focused, and put these as the first page of their binders on the first day of school. However, I’ve given an example in the picture below of how this can be done for any subject or grade level. Goal setting is extremely important because it reminds students that there is a purpose and a focus to their learning. I refer back to this page often throughout the year so they see whether or not they are meeting their goals. The picture I listed here is general, but I encourage you to have students list several goals and make them specific and attainable. You can download this FREE goal setting template here .

creative writing about first day of school

My Three Best Summer Memories

This activity is great for the very first day. Students can reflect on their summer and then share. It’s a great icebreaker because students love to read aloud their memories and share their pictures. Many times, individual personalities also come through and you can get a sense of what student hobbies are!

creative writing about first day of school

What I Want My Teacher to Know About Me

This is my favorite writing activity for the first week of school. I learn so many things about my students, and I constantly look back at these pages throughout the year. I’ve had students share simple things with me such as their favorite ice cream flavor, or very personal things such as family situations at home. This assignment is special to me because students feel they can share and they know I will read them. I often make sure I mention them throughout the next few weeks. For example, “Christopher, when do you start soccer practice?” Or, “Kayla, I’ll make sure I give you a signal before I ask you to read out loud because I know it makes you anxious.” This helps reduce the anxiety for students and create a friendly class atmosphere!

creative writing about first day of school

This Year I Want to Learn

I love reading what types of things students are interested in learning for the year. Some of which we won’t be able to cover, but I try my hardest to make sure students learn many at least one of the things they share on this sheet. Even if it means they have to do some of their own research! It’s a great way for students again to have a goal and a focus. Download this template for FREE here.

creative writing about first day of school

Grade Level KWL

This is something I created as kind of a unique spin on a KWL. In the morning, you can have students write what they k now and w onder about the grade they are starting. At the end of the day, have students write what they l earned about their classroom/grade. It’s a also a great way to reinforce rules and expectations!

creative writing about first day of school

The First Day of School

This writing activity is straight forward and simply allows students to share how they felt when they woke up in the morning. It’s also a perfect follow up activity to the book First Day Jitters   by Julie Danneberg .  The story has an awesome message about how teachers are nervous on the first day also! I’ve read it every year and it’s perfect for any grade level. I’ve read this story in both first and fifth grade!

creative writing about first day of school

All About Me

Although this has been done so many different ways, the All About Me activity is a classic! Letting your students be creative and share some special things about themselves is always a great icebreaker. This activity will never get old!

creative writing about first day of school

In addition to the free downloads above, you can purchase my full Back to School Activity set here .  Have a wonderful start to your school year!

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My First Day At School Essay

500 words my first day at school essay.

Our lives are full of new events which we experience on different days. Similarly, going to school for the first time is also memorable. How can one forget their first day, it is only natural to remember the day, no matter good or bad. Thus, my first day at school essay will take you through my experience.

my first day at school essay

A New Experience

My first day at school was a completely new experience for me. It is because the atmosphere completely changes for any child. You always stay in the comfort and safety of your own home.

However, your first day at school opens door to unknown experiences and opportunities. Much like any other child, I was also scared on my first day. I remember clearly not letting go of my mother’s hand, hesitant to go in the classroom.

On my first day, I got up excited and put on my uniform for the first time. The feeling it gave me was so memorable, I can never forget it. As it was my first day, both my parents went to drop me off.

I remember seeing the classroom full of little children. Some crying while the others playing with others. I looked at my mother and gave her the look that I didn’t want them to leave. They had to go so I kept crying but eventually, my teacher consoled me.

Once I settled in the class, I talked with the other kids and started playing with them. The colourful walls of the classroom fascinated me a lot. We got many toys to play with so it all the other kids also got distracted and stopped crying.

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My Sister My Saviour

My advantage was that my sister was also studying in the same school. She is 3 years older than me so she was my senior. During recess, I was starting to miss my parents so I got teary-eyed.

But, then my sister came to meet me and I feel she was no less than a saviour for me that day. She took permission from the teacher to take me out and I went with her to the playground.

We were swinging throughout recess. All my worries went away because I had a known face with me. After eating and swinging together, the bell rang to mark the end of the recess . So, she dropped me back to my class.

Before leaving, she gave me a kiss and patted my head. It was enough for me to go through the rest of the day without crying. Thus, it made me feel extremely blessed that I had my sister there for me.

Conclusion of My First Day At School Essay

Thus, my first day at school was really pleasant. It fills me with pride when I look back at it and share my experience with others. I feel my first day helped me become confident in school which ultimately shaped the rest of my years there. Thus, it was indeed a memorable experience for me.

FAQ on My First Day At School Essay

Question 1: Why is the first day of school memorable?

Answer 1: We usually remember the first day of school because it is a new experience for us completely. It is the first time we step out from the comfort of our home as kids, so it will be memorable.

Question 2: Does everyone have a good first day at school?

Answer 2: Not necessarily. Everyone’s experience differs, some kids enjoy a lot on their first day. While some which are maybe shy or feel homesick don’t enjoy it that much. Nonetheless, it grows on you and eventually kids start to love going to school.

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Creative Writing Lesson Plans: Week One

Week on of creative writing lesson plans: free lesson plan for creative writing. Creative writing lessons can be scaffolded.

Looking for creative writing lesson plans? I am developing creative writing lesson ideas! 

I’ve written and revamped my creative writing lesson plans and learned that the first week is vital in establishing a community of writers, in outlining expectations, and in working with a new class.

What are some good creative writing exercises?

Some good creative writing exercises include writing prompts, free writing, character development exercises, and fun writing games.

The first week, though, we establish trust—and then we begin powerful creative writing exercises to engage young writers and our community.

How can add encouragement in creative writing lesson plans?

I’ve found students are shy about writing creatively, about sharing pieces of themselves. A large part of the first week of class is setting the atmosphere, of showing everyone they are free to create. And! These concepts will apply to most writing lesson plans for secondary students.

Feel free to give me feedback and borrow all that you need! Below, find my detailed my day-by-day progression for creative writing lesson plans  for week one.

Build the community in a creative writing class. A creative writing lesson can build young writers' confidence.

Creative Writing Lesson Day One: Sharing my vision

Comfort matters for young writers. I’m not a huge “ice breaker” type of teacher—I build relationships slowly. Still, to get student writing, we must establish that everyone is safe to explore, to write, to error.

Here are some ideas.

Tone and attitude

For day one with any lesson plan for creative writing, I think it is important to set the tone, to immediately establish what I want from my creative writing students. And that is…

them not to write for me, but for them. I don’t want them writing what they think I want them to write.

Does that make sense? Limitations hurt young writers. My overall tone and attitude toward young writers is that we will work together, create and write together, provide feedback, and invest in ourselves. Older kiddos think that they must provide teachers with the “correct” writing. In such a course, restrictions and boundaries largely go out the window.

Plus, I specifically outline what I believe they can produce in a presentation to set people at ease.

The presentation covers expectations for the class. As the teacher, I am a sort of writing coach with ideas that will not work for everyone. Writers should explore different methods and realize what works for them. First, not everyone will appreciate every type of writing—which is fine. But as a writing community, we must accept that we may not be the target audience for every piece of work.

Therefore, respect is a large component of the class. Be sure to outline what interactions you find acceptable within your classroom community.

Next, as their writing coach, I plan to provide ideas and tools for use. Their job is to decide what tools work for their creative endeavors. My overall message is uplifting and encouraging.

Finally, when we finish, I share the presentation with students so they can consult it throughout the semester. The presentation works nicely for meet-the-teacher night, too!

After covering classroom procedures and rules, I show students a TED Talk. We watch The Danger of a Single Story by Chimamanda Adichie. My goal is to show students that I don’t have a predetermined idea concerning what they should write. This discussion takes the rest of the class period.

Establishing comfort and excitement precedents my other creative writing activities. Personalize your “vision” activities for your lessons in creative writing. Honestly, doing this pre-work builds relationships with students and creates a positive classroom atmosphere.

Activate prior knowledge when building a creative writing course. When building creative writing lesson plans, build off what students know.

Creative Writing Lesson Day Two: Activating prior knowledge

Students possess prior knowledge concerning creative writing, but they might not consider that. Students should realize that they know what constitutes a great story. They might not realize that yet. An easy lesson plan for creative writing that will pay off later is to activate prior knowledge. Brainstorm creative, memorable, unforgettable stories with students. Share your thoughts too! You will start to build relationships with students who share the same tastes as you (and those that are completely different!).

Activation activity

During this activity, I want to see how students work together, and I want to build a rapport with students. Additionally, activating prior knowledge provides a smooth transition into other creative writing activities.

This creative writing activity is simple:

I ask students to tell me memorable stories—books, play, tv shows, movies—and I write them on the board. I add and veto as appropriate. Normally doing these classroom discussions, we dive deeper into comedies and creative nonfiction. Sometimes as we work, I ask students to research certain stories and definitions. I normally take a picture of our work so that I can build creative writing lessons from students’ interests.

This takes longer than you might think, but I like that aspect. This information can help me shape my future lessons.

Creative writing lesson plans: free download for creative writing activities for your secondary writing classes. Creative writing lessons should provide a variety of writing activities.

With about twenty minutes left in class, I ask students to form small groups. I want them to derive what makes these stories memorable. Since students complete group and partner activities in this class, I also watch and see how they interact.

Students often draw conclusions about what makes a story memorable:

  • Realistic or true-to-life characters.
  • Meaningful themes.
  • Funny or sad events.

All of this information will be used later as students work on their own writing. Many times, my creative writing lessons overlap, especially concerning the feedback from young writers.

Use pictures to enhance creative writing lesson plans. With older students, they can participate in the lesson plan for creative writing.

Creative Writing Lesson Day Three: Brainstorming and a graphic organizer

From building creative writing activities and implementing them, I now realize that students think they will sit and write. Ta-da!  After all, this isn’t academic writing. Coaching creative writing students is part of the process.

Young writers must accept that a first draft is simply that, a first draft. Building a project requires thought and mistakes. (Any writing endeavor does, really.) Students hear ‘creative writing’ and they think… easy. Therefore, a first week lesson plan for creative writing should touch on what creativity is.

Really, creativity is everywhere. We complete a graphic organizer titled, “Where is Creativity?” Students brainstorm familiar areas that they may not realize have such pieces.

The ideas they compile stir all sorts of conversations:

  • Restaurants
  • Movie theaters
  • Amusement parks

By completing this graphic organizer, we discuss how creativity surrounds us, how we can incorporate different pieces in our writing, and how different areas influence our processes.

Build a community of creative writers. An impactful creative writing lesson should empower young writers.

Creative Writing Lesson, Days Four and Five: Creative Nonfiction

Students need practice writing, and they need to understand that they will not use every word they write. Cutting out lines is painful for them! Often, a lesson plan for creative writing involves providing time for meaningful writing.

For two days, we study and discuss creative nonfiction. Students start by reading an overview of creative nonfiction . (If you need mentor texts, that website has some as well.) When I have books available, I show the class examples of creative nonfiction.

We then continue through elements of a narrative . Classes are sometimes surprised that a narrative can be nonfiction.

The narrative writing is our first large project. As we continue, students are responsible for smaller projects as well. This keeps them writing most days.

Overall, my students and I work together during the first week of any creative writing class. I encourage them to write, and I cheer on their progress. My message to classes is that their writing has value, and an audience exists for their creations.

And that is my week one! The quick recap:

Week One Creative Writing Lesson Plans

Monday: Rules, procedures, TED Talk, discussion.

Tuesday: Prior knowledge—brainstorm the modeling of memorable stories. Draw conclusions about storytelling with anchor charts. Build community through common knowledge.

Wednesday: Graphic organizer.

Thursday and Friday: Creative nonfiction. Start narrative writing.

Students do well with this small assignment for the second week, and then we move to longer creative writing assignments . When classesexperience success with their first assignment, you can start constructive editing and revising with them as the class continues.

Lesson plan for creative writing: free creative writing lesson plans for week one of ELA class. Add creative writing activities to your high school language arts classes.

These creative writing activities should be easy implement and personalize for your students.

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Are you interested in more creative writing lesson ideas? My Facebook page has interactive educators who love to discuss creative writing for middle school and high school creative writing lesson plans. Join us!

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Southern Miss School of Leadership Professor Presents Research at Rutgers Business Conference

Fri, 03/08/2024 - 11:04am | By: Dena Temple

School of Leadership

Dr. Bhagyashree Barhate, Assistant Professor of Human Capital Development at The University of Southern Mississippi’s (USM) School of Leadership, recently presented a research paper at the Conference on Women in Hybrid and Remote Work. The conference was hosted by Rutgers Business School in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

The Conference on Women in Hybrid & Remote Work brought together academic scholars, industry leaders, and other innovative thinkers to discuss experiences, barriers, and next steps for those working in hybrid and remote environments and for organizations dealing with the challenges of these new work environments.

Dr. Barhate participated in a panel discussion, “Are We Caring Enough About the Impact on Caregivers?” The panel discussed the unique challenges – economical and emotional – of acting as a caregiver for a child or loved one. The session discussed the latest research on how companies and organizations can incorporate flexibility to retain these workers and reduce the stigma of caregiving.

“During the pandemic,” said Dr. Barhate, “people in the workforce – particularly women – discovered that a hybrid work schedule allowed them to make a valuable contribution to the success of their company, while at the same time perform their caregiving functions at home.”

She continued, “The pandemic forced all workplace activities and procedures to hard reset. This panel discussed how companies are making changes to be more accommodating of female employees and how much more they still need to do to ensure women’s career advancement.”

Dr. Barhate has been teaching Human Capital Development (HCD) at Southern Miss since 2022. The Human Capital Development program prepares graduates to improve performance in organizations through the talents of people. The program is respected internationally as leading innovators in HCD, as evidenced by the quality of graduates and faculty research.

“Women – particularly women in leadership positions – are often expected to sacrifice some or all of their home lives in the pursuit of career success,” said Dr. Heather Annulis, Director of the School of Leadership. “This is not only unnecessary, it is unhealthy. Dr. Barhate’s research on workplace satisfaction and burnout bears this out.

Dr. Annulis continued, “We are proud that Rutgers Center for Women in Business called upon her to serve as an expert panelist for this important discussion, on a topic that affects the success of organizations and women in organizations.”

The School of Leadership is housed within the College of Business and Economic Development at The University of Southern Mississippi and operates on the Coastal USM campus in Long Beach, Mississippi. Its undergraduate degree programs include Accounting, Applied Technology, Business Administration, Industrial Engineering Technology, Industrial Engineering Technology (Logistics), Management, and Marketing. Graduate programs include Human Capital Development, Human Capital Development (Instructional Technology and Design), Instructional Technology and Design, and Logistics, Trade and Transportation. Learn more about these degree programs or email .

Categories: Business and Economic Development

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Author kristen radtke to address issues surrounding loneliness at usm university forum march 19, usm school of accountancy prepares students for broad career paths.

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How a ct school became the setting for a children’s book and a creative mother and son connection.

Six-year-old Anthony Minutillo, of Farmington, dreamed of writing a chapter book, which became a reality last month when he published his first book “Crabby Goes To First Grade.”

Kids often imagine they’re racing cars in the next NASCAR cup series or that they’re going to their secret treehouse layer to hide from villains, but 6-year-old Anthony Minutillo dreamed of writing a chapter book.

This recently became a reality when Anthony published his first book “ Crabby Goes To First Grade .”

This book, intended to be the first of an upcoming series, follows the experiences of young and energetic Crabby who attends Shiny Shell School. The school and teachers are all inspired by a typical day at East Farms Elementary School in Farmington , which Anthony attends in real life. Many of the characters and events in the book, illustrated by Anthony ’s mother Allison Minutillo, are reflective of his actual classmates and first grade adventures.

“They’re sweet, heartwarming stories, but they always connect back to the bigger picture emotions of a 6-year-old,” said Allison Minutillo.

When Allison Minutillo took a step back to reset her career in the agency world last March, she then began to pick up on activities that she always thought about doing but never seemed to have the time for. One of those being her desire to write a children’s book but thought it never possible to be an author, despite having a knack for creativity.

“Two days after talking this idea through with my leadership coach, my 6-year-old son came up to me out of nowhere and said ‘Mommy, I think we should write a chapter book,’ ” Allison Minutillo said.

“And that was this serendipitous sign from the universe that life was trying to tell me to slow down,” she said.

It was this moment that enabled her to prioritize her health while focusing her energy on the things that truly fuel her. Crabby became far more than a children’s book, but rather, a major life lesson of prioritizing the things that matter most, she said.

From there, the mother and son duo began to plot out their characters, storylines and number of books in the series. With more than 10 book ideas, from Crabby going to the North Pole, to visiting a college, and Crabby having a little brother, the process was never a chore, said Minutillo. It was a way to spend time together and simply be present, she said.

“I love to write at school. But me and mommy write at our kitchen table on the weekends. She calls it Sunday Funday,” said Anthony Minutillo. “Those are my favorite days.”

Besides spending time together and teaching her son new skills such as learning to use Adobe illustrator, Allison Minutillo came to discover minute details about her son’s school and life by the information he wanted to include in the book.

“I was able to uncover so much more about his life than I would have before,” she said. “So, that was the very best part.”

When Anthony was 3 years old during the pandemic, his mother said, a way to channel his energy and emotions was teaching him to draw, by first watching her and then attempting to replicate what she does. Her husband, Chad Minutillo, would make up creative stories every night before bedtime. Since then, Anthony has been practicing his drawing skills, learning to tell stories more deeply and to be more elaborate, and his mom said it has been “incredible to see him grow.”

“I feel proud because I finished a real book,” said Anthony. “When I opened the box from Amazon and saw my books printed for the first time, I was amazed. I really, really wanted to finish it. I was sooooo proud of myself.”

After going chapter by chapter and page by page, Anthony said he would get more and more excited as they were getting closer to finishing the book. The Minutillo team hopes they can continue the series throughout Anthony ’s childhood as he goes through different experiences in life from going on vacation and traveling to being nervous when making new friends. But to Anthony, this book wasn’t just for him, but is rather for a wider audience.

“When I asked my son who he wanted to dedicate this book to he said ‘I want to dedicate it to all kids who want to be authors some day,’” Allison Minutillo said. “All this was just pure from a 6-year old, who is connecting the dots with the big picture that took me 37 years to figure out.”

While Anthony Minutillo and his mom continue to brainstorm new chapter books that mirror Anthony’s life journey through the lens of Crabby the crab, he may have other future plans for when he’s older.

“I want to be a soccer player. I’m only gonna be an author when I’m a kid,” Anthony said.

Wherever Crabby’s adventures take him next, it’s likely to delight and inspire young readers. Anthony ‘s book “Crabby Goes To First Grade” is available now on Amazon.

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Hartford's St. Patrick's Day Parade made its return Saturday, March 9.

Things to Do | PHOTOS: Greater Hartford St. Patrick’s Day Parade

When it comes to state insects, most states honor fuzzy or beloved bugs like honey bees or butterflies. Not so Connecticut, whose bug-to-be-most-proud-of is a voracious non-native predator, Mantis religiosa. Two groups of schoolkids want lawmakers to replace the praying mantis. One suggests the Spring Azure Butterfly. Another wants the Autumn Meadowhawk Dragonfly. Lawmakers didn’t want to disappoint, so the kids suggested a compromise during a hearing at the Capitol on Friday -- could Connecticut maybe have a State Butterfly as well as a State Insect? The committee chairman told one teen who made the suggestion that she just might have a future in politics.

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Students lobby to dethrone connecticut’s state insect, the voraciously predatory praying mantis.

Can you guess which town in CT is the most Irish? Find out here.

Can you guess which town in CT is the most Irish? Find out here.

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Daniel Gwynn sat on death row for 30 years. Meet the Northeastern law grad who helped set him free

Gretchen Engel, executive director of the Center for Death Penalty Litigation, is a lawyer and advocate for those facing capital punishment.

Headshot of Cyrus Moulton

While on co-op as a student at Northeastern University School of Law in spring 1991, Gretchen Engel drove from Montgomery, Alabama, to meet with a client on the state’s death row — a 90-minute journey that took her through the hometown of “To Kill a Mockingbird” author Harper Lee.

She cried the whole trip back.

“I think I realized the reality of what the death penalty really means — that this human being I met, there are very large forces and institutions that want to put him in the electric chair,” Engel says. 

More than 30 years later, a painting from that client hangs on the wall behind Engel’s desk at The Center for Death Penalty Litigation in Durham, North Carolina, inspiring her to fight on behalf of those who face the law’s toughest punishments, including death. 

Engel recently won a major battle in that fight.

Gretchen with shoulder-length brown hair and a black shirt, smiling outside

On Feb. 27, a judge approved a motion from the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office to dismiss first-degree murder, arson and aggravated assault charges against Daniel Gwynn, 54, who had been on death row for nearly 30 years.

“The exoneration of Daniel Gwynn today frees a man who is likely innocent. Sadly, it also exemplifies an era of inexact and, at times, corrupt policing and prosecution that has broken trust with our communities to this day,” District Attorney Larry Krasner said in a press release. “The public expects the right consequences for those who commit violent crimes, and wants the innocent to be free. When law enforcement wrongly arrests, prosecutes, and imprisons the innocent, the guilty go free and are emboldened to do more harm.”

Engel was Gwynn’s co-counsel. 

She recalled the moment when she, her co-counsel and fellow supporters of Gwynn greeted the freed man as he walked out of prison.

“You know, some people are good at hugs and other people are sort of OK at it: he’s really good at it,” Engel says of Gwynn.

The Gwynn Case

Gwynn was convicted in 1994 for the death of Marsha Smith in a fatal fire, and he was sentenced to death. But Engel and the DA’s office say Gwynn’s conviction was based on a false and coerced confession that contradicted physical evidence, including how and where the fire started and — Gwynn said — took advantage of his altered mental state while withdrawing from drugs. 

The conviction was also based on mistaken eyewitness testimony and prosecutorial misconduct, including the failure to disclose additional evidence suggesting a different suspect, according to the DA’s office. That other suspect was convicted of murder in a separate case and is serving a life sentence, Assistant District Attorney David Napiorski told CBS News Philadelphia .

The exoneration marked the end of nearly a decade of work for Engel, who had signed on to the case in 2015. 

She calls the outcome — her first death row exoneration — a “big highlight” of her career. 

But it’s a career that Engel didn’t necessarily see coming until Northeastern.

Interest in issues involving race and poverty

Engel says she was always interested in issues of race and poverty and remembered researching the death penalty and reading Albert Camus’ essay, “Reflections on the Guillotine,” as a debate participant in high school in the Midwest.

“Race and poverty were always issues that I thought were the most compelling, and the death penalty brings those issues together in very sharp relief,” Engel says. 

But after graduating from Oberlin College, Engel addressed these issues not through the law, but through service work.

Race and poverty were always issues that I thought were the most compelling, and the death penalty brings those issues together in very sharp relief. Gretchen Engel , a 1992 graduate of the Northeastern School of Law

She worked in Wisconsin with Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA), an anti-poverty program designed to provide resources to nonprofit organizations and public agencies to increase their capacity. VISTA is now a part of AmeriCorps. She then traveled to work for two years in Indonesia. 

“I went with very high ideals of what I might be able to do in Indonesia, but I wasn’t an engineer and I wasn’t a doctor, so I wasn’t very useful,” Engel says. 

Engel says she nevertheless gained a lot from the experience, including the realization of how important it was to work in one’s own community.

“Really, people in Indonesia need to be empowered and they need to be the ones in charge of making the decisions about how to make their society better,” Engel says. “The place where I need to work is in my own community.”

So, she considered law school. 

Northeastern School of Law and co-ops

Engel recalled that Michael Meltsner, Matthews Distinguished University Professor of Law Emeritus at Northeastern, and a prominent civil rights attorney who successfully argued a capital case before the Supreme Court in 1963 at age 26, had visited Oberlin as a graduate and a parent while she was an undergrad. 

Engel thought of Northeastern and would later take a seminar with Meltsner.

“She was an excellent student and was interested in the subject even then,” Meltsner recalls. “She has continued to play a critical role in challenging the way North Carolina deals with death penalty issues. She has found ways to direct and support an organization over the long haul that fights against some of the worst aspects of the criminal justice system.”

Engel also “adored” the late Dan Givelber, who was working on a capital case when she was a student. 

Her co-op experiences in Georgia and Alabama were also formative in her decision to practice capital cases.

For instance, Engel described her co-op in Montgomery, Alabama, with lawyer and advocate Bryan Stevenson , who later became founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative, as “pivotal” to her career choice.

“Bryan himself and the other staff attorneys there were very committed and smart and kind human beings who are wonderful lawyers that really were mentors and examples of what a lawyer should be,” Engel says. 

She followed this with a similar co-op experience at the Southern Center for Human Rights in Georgia. 

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creative writing about first day of school

Center for Death Penalty Litigation

Following law school graduation, Engel joined the North Carolina Resource Center — one of several federally funded centers throughout what Engel called the “Death Belt” in the South and Midwest — representing indigent clients facing the death penalty. 

The center was the predecessor to the CDPL, which now is a nonprofit litigation firm, clearinghouse of information and resources on capital cases, and which advocates for criminal justice reform, including the end of the death penalty.

“Abolish it,” Engel says of her hopes for the future of the death penalty. “I’ve always felt that.”

Engel primarily focuses on post-conviction cases, meaning that the client has been sentenced to death, appealed the ruling to the state’s highest court and lost the appeal. 

But while it may seem like the case is over, that’s where Engel’s work really begins.

The appeal basically focuses on the transcript in the original case, Engel explains. This involves examining such questions as, for example, whether the judge ruled correctly on what evidence was or was not allowed; or whether the jury instructions or the prosecutors’ final closing arguments were appropriate. 

“But it’s all based on the transcript and the record that’s developed on trial,” Engel says. “The place where I come in — and in-post conviction — is your chance to reinvestigate the case and figure out ‘What did the jury not know?’”

It’s a big task.

It’s also a long one. 

“I think most of these people, I’ve represented for 15 to 20 years,” Engel says, referring to a list of her clients. 

But Engel is quick to credit her team at CDPL — which can include outside mental health experts, forensic experts, and always includes co-counsel, specialized investigators and more.

“My colleagues are so important to me and the idea that you have people who are all committed to the same thing and a lot of the kind of attendant moral principles that would attach yourself to being willing to do death penalty representation, I think creates a real bond with people,” Engel says. 

This team is crucial. 

“Her greatest skill I think is bringing people who are capable into the process and also making sure in a very difficult environment, that she is able to obtain the resources needed to do these cases,” Meltsner says of Engel. 

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Sometimes the team finds evidence that wasn’t presented at trial — either because of prosecutorial misconduct or inadequate representation. 

Other times there is jury misconduct — “going to see a pastor is surprisingly common in these cases during evening recess and the sentencing hearing or deliberations,” Engel notes.

And Engel says sometimes the judge can make an error.

But these factors do not necessarily mean an exoneration. 

Engel recalled two clients who were executed; another client was resentenced to life in prison after being sent to death row; another was granted clemency.

“Even if you lose, the case has value,” Engel says. “We’re lifting up the humanity of our clients — we’re making a difference to individual clients. And that’s so important.”

Engel also credited Krasner, who has made no secret about his opposition to the death penalty and his ideals of prison reform.  

“There were several times when we — both in the context of (Gwynn’s) case and in other cases saying these cases wouldn’t have won if they were in another jurisdiction or if Krasner had not been in office,” Engel says. “We would have lost them in federal court, and that would have been the end of it.”

“He embraced this,” Engel continues, noting that Krasner even put out a press release of the Gwynn exoneration. “That’s so unlike anywhere else, where he’s saying I’m proud that we really scrutinize these convictions, I’m proud that I’m willing to take responsibility for making up for something that I think my predecessors did wrong in the past.”

It’s a stance that Engel says is “certainly a long time coming, and I wish it were much more common.”

She notes that Gwynn is the 197th person exonerated from death row since 1973, according to the Death Penalty Information Center’s Innocence Database, a fact that Engel called “sobering” and “appalling.”

And while the death penalty is “dying a slow death,” according to Engel, it still remains on the books. For instance, North Carolina has capital punishment, but has not executed a prisoner for nearly 20 years. 

“People who’ve been at this work for a long time will say there’s such a veneer of legitimacy about our system,” Engel says. “But it’s really such a Wild West kind of way that we do things.”

“Death row cases are supposed to be the ones we treat differently,” Engel continues. “We give defendants two lawyers instead of one, the state’s highest court reviews the case, etc. But the error rate is appalling. If this were any other government program, we would not continue it.”

And while it was certainly a huge accomplishment and an incredible moment to see Gwynn freed from prison, Engel says the day was also, in a way, “bittersweet.”

“When I think about the day he got out, I was thinking this was a very somber day — the idea that somebody would spend 30 years in prison for a crime they didn’t commit was no cause for celebration,” Engel says. “But, of course, it was a very joyous day as well.”

“He’s 54 and I think there’s really a chance for him to have some good things happen in his life,” Engel says of Gwynn. “I feel hopeful for him.”

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Cyrus Moulton is a Northeastern Global News reporter. Email him at [email protected] . Follow him on X/Twitter @MoultonCyrus .

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