Resources for Teaching Creative Writing

Johnnie Young has taught English at Colbayns High School for twelve years.

"Young, a high school English teacher, presents 60 ideas for engaging students ages 14-18 in creative writing. Each lesson/activity is a two-page spread, with actual examples of writing by the author paired with teacher notes on key skills taught, starter activities, instructions for the main phase of the lesson, homework ideas, and special focus and development exercises for the KS4 and KS5 syllabus. Each activity also includes reproducible worksheets, which are also available for download online. Activities are grouped in sections on realizing dreams, elements of writing, memories, spooky business, creating tension, feelings, connections, character, and time." -Eithne O'Leyne, BOOK NEWS, Inc.

• 1. Realise a Dream; 2. The Four Elements; 3. Memories; 4. Something Special; 5. Spooky Business; 6. Creating Tension; 7. The World of Feelings; 8. Connections; 9. Yourself and Character; 10. Time. Each chapter will contain eight creative writing activities. Below I've outlined the names of the activities in chapter 1 and how they relate to curriculum.; 1. Realise a Dream; Mini Play Script - KS4 Focus on Audience; Narrative Technique; Diary - KS4 Focus on Writing to Form; The Radio Interview - KS4 Focus on Writing to Explain; KS5 Focus on Register of Language; Write a Poem - KS4 Focus on Features of Poetry; KS5 Focus on Analysing Poetry; Short Story - KS4 Focus on Writing to Explain; KS5 Focus on Consideration of How to Distinguish Between Literary and Non-Literary Texts; The Letter - KS4 Focus on Writing to Describe; KS5 Focus on Original Writing Genre; The Essay - KS4 Focus on Writing to Argue a Case; Each activity will be a double-page spread. On the left hand side will be the teacher's notes, which will contain: a reference to the appropriate key stage; an introduction, a starter activity; top teacher's tip; details of the lesson; the writing outcome and the conclusion of the lesson. The right hand side will be a photocopiable resource that the teacher can copy for use with their class.