Unwrapping Creativity: Encouraging Students to Write During the Holiday Season
Krystal Winn 
Here a five fun ways to encouraging students to write during the holiday season!
Unwrapping Creativity: Encouraging Young Students to Write During the Holiday Season
The holiday season is an amazing time of wonder, togetherness, and memory-making. Teachers have a unique opportunity to harness the holiday spirit and pass it on into the world of writing for their young students. Here are some creative and festive ways to encourage your young writers to put pen to paper!
1. Incorporate holiday-themed writing prompts. Ask students to imagine a world where snowflakes are secret agents or where gingerbread cookies hold the key to a fantasy kingdom. By connecting the writing process to the festive atmosphere, you can make it a joyful exploration rather than a mundane task.
To make it even more engaging, turn these prompts into a seasonal game. Create a "Holiday Writing Bingo" card with different prompts in each square. As students complete a prompt, they can mark it off their bingo card. Offer small prizes or unique accolades for completing a line or filling the entire card.
2. Create a “Winter Wonderland Writing Corner”. Transform your classroom into a winter wonderland of words. Decorate a designated writing corner with snowflakes, twinkling lights, and perhaps a small nativity scene or Christmas tree. Make it a cozy and inviting space that students won’t want to leave.
Use this Writing Corner to ntroduce the concept of a "Holiday Journal". Students can write about their favorite holiday memories, traditions, or even create fictional stories set in winter. Consider incorporating holiday-themed writing prompts on festive paper to add an extra touch of excitement. See these simple and fun Holiday Lined Writing Pages Here!
3. Encourage students to write a collaborative story. Build classroom community and teamwork by crafting a collaborative holiday story. Begin the tale with a festive sentence and have each student add a sentence or paragraph to build the narrative. This not only sparks creativity but also teaches cooperation and the art of storytelling.
To add an element of surprise, shuffle the stories and have students read aloud the collaborative creations. Get ready for lots of laughter and delight as students hear the various twists and turns that unfold with each new part of the story.
4. Incorporate holiday traditions! Whether it's writing letters, creating holiday cards for classmates, or writing a play based on a favorite holiday story, integrating familiar traditions can make writing feel like a festive celebration.
Consider organizing a "Holiday Card Exchange" within the classroom where each student writes a thoughtful note to a classmate. This not only encourages writing but also cultivates a sense of kindness and camaraderie among the students.
5. Turn writing into a festive event by hosting a reading and writing party. Invite students to bring their favorite holiday stories or creations to share with the class. Hang signs and sprinkle holiday-colored confetti as decor. Don’t forget to add holiday snacks and cocoa to make the occasion extra special!
Seize the moment! Let these tips will serve as a springboard of ideas to inspire a love for storytelling and language. Let the writing begin!
Categories: children, Christmas, Creativity, Education, homeschooling, teaching