I like to start with shorter time in the beginning as we are building the routine, and then we add some time each week. Posts to Read: “50 Classroom Appropriate Songs to Listen to During Writing Time” I like to tell them: “Fridays are for writing and jamming out.” In the wintertime, I like to play a fireplace in the background when they get writing to make things feel cozy. I have days when I need Alicia Keys or Michael Jackson, and they do too. no words debate, but use whatever works for your classroom. I like to play music while kids are writing. I even model how thinking physically looks and what it is going through my mind sometimes, too. While one sentence may be huge for a student to complete, especially if they are a hesitant writer, the goal is to push ourselves to set aside time to think for a certain amount of time. I remind students about the only rule: “try to write or think the entire time.” This is because you will always get the student who writes one sentence and yells “I’m done!” from across the room 2 minutes into the session. (TIP: GOOGLE SLIDES LETS YOU INSERT VIDEO//INSERT TIMER ON THE ACTUAL SLIDE…THIS SAVES YOU FROM HAVING TO DO A SEPARATE COUNTDOWN SCREEN OR KEEPING TRACK OF TIME MANUALLY) ![]() I try to always include a silly image or GIF, or I put a would you rather question on the screen to get students talking. I welcome students, and I go over the prompts just in case they need inspiration. Prompts are given on the prompts on screen in case writer’s block hits (it often does on Fridays). This builds the attitude of “I am a writer. They grab their materials (pen/pencil, notebook/computer, etc). ![]() You can modify the routine based on what you prefer, but let me walk you through my sample routine for free-writing: STEP 1: TRAIN THEM TO SETUP THEIR OWN WRITING AREAS Posts to Read: “The Power of Three-Minute Quick Writes” “How to Rock a Focused Writing Warm-Up” How does it look in your classroom?Īfter students learn the routine, they understand that Friday Free Write time is time given each and every Friday to write. It is a time where the work goes ungraded, and there is always an option to share at the end of the writing time to build rapport and a culture of listening to each other. I set this up as a classroom routine each year where students can write on a chromebook/Google Docs or in a composition book. The only rule of free-writing is you have to try to write or think the entire time. If they want to write reasons they hate school and make a list, go for it. If they want to draw a comic, I am fine with it. ![]() This means that if they want to work on their novel, they can. The goal of any free-writing session is to let students write about anything they want to write about. It can change depending on your purpose or your teaching style. It can be prompted and structured or loose and informal. I would urge non-English teachers to also consider free-writing time as it helps students learn the power of generating their own ideas and showing them their ideas are important enough to put down on the page.įree-writing is a classroom routine where you set aside time for your students to generate ideas on their own. I answer commonly asked questions including what to do when kids won’t write. This post walks you through what is free-writing, what it looks like in a middle-school classroom, and the logistics of setting up a free-writing time-block in your own literacy classroom. While I can infuse love into academic writing, there is nothing like having time to think of your own story and then share with others. I even always offer for the administration to come do walk-throughs and observations during these times because I want them to see the excitement and happiness kids get out of free-writing. ![]() When I survey students at the end of the year, they always say to keep free-writing. Why? Free-writing allows students to explore the topics, genres, and prompts of their choice. Free-writing doesn’t have to be on a Friday, but the English teacher in me loves the alliteration, and I love ending the week with a little bit of joy. When I make a list of non-negotiables each year, Friday Free Write is on the list.
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