So I was trying a new tactic this week.
Kids nation wide did a literature project where they had to identify elements in a specific genre.
What I learned is that kids couldn't/didn't know how they all came together in their head to make a story.
They think there is some kind of algorithm to a story. That a story is just a sum to be solved.
That's only partially true.
The can not willingly create out of nothing. The possibility of them being able to write something like what we've read is beyond their comprehension, but within their capability.
So I showed them how to write a paragraph. 5 sentences about 1 thing. Then we put 5 things on the board. The Who, the What, The Where, then When and Why.
I emphasised how what we want to create does not exist. We will take nothing and turn it into something.
A story is something that happens to someone. Somewhere. Somewhere. For some reason.
Put a theme on the board.
As I got suggestions we had a mind map going of the elements what to combine. I emphasised how the story does not start on the page when we write it. It starts here when we plan. When we create something....out of nothing. What we do on paper is taking what is in our heads, and with what I've taught you so far, put in on paper....
And in two days we created a story. Me and three classes. Each.
Mostly with my help on the board. But the suggestions and the thinking mostly done y them. They had major part in forming the story in their heads. Letting their imagination run controlled to achieve a common goal.
It was the most thrilling 3 days of teaching I've done in a while.
I believe. They will apply this method when they have to write a paragraph/ essay future grades.
