Tired of the same old boring journal prompts? Here are some fresh ideas to get those little (and not-so-little) minds turning in an imaginative direction!
Meaningful journaling is an important skill. Writing a little bit everyday is also a fantastic way to develop both creative and analytical writing skills that can be used for a lifetime. But how can you keep your kids engaged and excited about writing? The answer is…
LET. THEM. WRITE.
Yep! Sounds easy, right? Well, yes and no. When it comes to journaling, many parents (and teachers!) get a lot of push-back. Here is one of the ways I combat that. Help the students to relax. No, I’m not talking about a spa experience with a zen-like atmosphere (although…that would be nice for us mamas, right?!). I’m talking about the nervousness that so often accompanies writing. In order to help them relax about it, simply remove the stressor of being graded or corrected.
Yes, I said that. Do not grade journal assignments for spelling, grammar, sentence structure, etc. Of course, make sure the students are completing the assignments, but beyond that, no grading. Assessments have their place, but that place isn’t inside a journal. I know, I know…this is a bit mind boggling to some, BUT I have used this technique in my classroom teaching for years with extreme success.
A journal is a place of freedom and expression. If that means that spelling and grammar rules temporarily go out the window, and that’s ok. Some parents choose to simply oversee journaling time (to ensure there are no distractions, wandering off, etc), without ever reading them. Others choose to skim through journals to ensure the student is understanding the subject, prompt, or reading material. Still others may use journals as a means of communication with their child by responding on the back side of the page.
Whatever method works best for your family, however journaling looks to you, these prompts (which are grouped by grade level) will help you get started in a great direction.
TEACHER TIP: Have students write for a set amount of time without stopping…even if they have to resort to writing the ABC’s until they think of something else to say! Please see the guide below for the generally appropriate amounts of time to journal by grade level. Of course, please adjust these times as you see fit for your unique child and situation.
4th-8th Grade prompts
*Describe your ideal day from the time you would wake up to bedtime.
*Imagine you are the newest ruler of an imaginary land. What is its name? Name 3 new laws will you make. Why did you chose each law? Add details about the land itself.
*Tell about what you imagine would be your worst day EVER (imaginary story, not real).
*Recount a vivid memory (a TRUE one this time) you have from when you were younger. Use lots of descriptive words so that anyone who reads it would feel like they were there with you.
*Copy the following phrases, and then continue on with the story…
“I woke up surrounded by thousands of flowers, and as I stood up to look around, I saw a vast land in front of me. I had no idea where I was, or how I got there, but I did know…”
9th-12th Grade Prompts
*Describe in detail the most ridiculous (made-up) day you can imagine. Include at least five real-life people, and at least three imaginary people.
*Pretend $1,000,000 suddenly appeared in your bank account and it is determined that you are legally allowed to keep it. Explain all the things you would do with the money, adding reasons for each.
*List 10 existing inventions or innovations you wish you would have thought of first. Then, choose one of them and share exactly what you would have done differently than how it actually exists.
*Write your life story from the beginning, through current, all the way until the end. Make sure everything is accurate up until now, then make up the rest!
*Copy this story starter word for word, then continue on with the story in your own words: “I was just elected ruler of the country, and I will start off my term by …”
I hope you and your kids enjoy using these original writing prompts in your homeschool days. Click here to download a PDF I made just in case it would be a blessing to you! May they bring a bit of fun and a lot of joy to your home today.