Writing



__** Writing with Humor **__ Authorities on Creativity and Humor remind us that the process of “getting the joke” requires the mental skills of making a leap of understanding, of sensing obscure relationships, or making relevant connections.
 * 1) Laughter Alert: Discovering casual, unstructured comic responses
 * Allow cartooning as an option for written reports
 * Humorous brainstorming – Example; How many different ways can you think of … for catching fish? ……. for eating an apple?
 * Posting cartoons without captions – students write the caption and share their ideas
 * Set up a class humor box – Students write original one-liners, puns, jokes, etc. during the week to be read on Friday before lunch or dismissal.
 * 1) Comic Similes
 * Have students invent original similes, looking for humorous connections and expanding the use of descriptive language. (He was as happy as…..a flea on a dirty dog.)
 * Ask for completion of sentences based on human emotion. ( He was as frightened as…. A goldfish at a shark convention.)
 * Keep a jar or box of mind-stretcher words. Have the students draw two and discover or create hidden relationships and similarities that might lead to a riddle. (How are the full moon and an old sock the same?..... They are both better appreciated from a distance.)
 * 1) Jokes, Gags, One-Liners, and Puns
 * Using words from reading and spelling lists, have students write DAFFYNITIONS (Career- the part of an automobile that eavesdrops)
 * Have students make booklets of collected puns. (A play on words alike in sound but different in meaning, as in, “ He was rocked to sleep when a stone hit him on the head.”
 * Rewrite the ending of Fairy Tales- Instead of a heroic ending for the story, substitute a comic ending.
 * Write and record an original radio show including sound effects. (Crumpling paper for the sound of a fire)
 * Compile a book of “Common Sayings”- awesome, catch you later
 * Tongue Twister Writing
 * Write “Tom Swifties” – “Get to the point,” he said sharply.
 * 1) Lyrics
 * Using familiar songs, write new lyrics for a different holiday or subject such as math, science, or social studies. Example: To the tune of Jingle Bells, write a pumpkin carl for Halloween.

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 * Understanding a Reluctant Writer (A Must Read) **

http://www.livebinders.com/play/play?id=18928&backurl=/shelf/my
 * Publishing Opportunities for Young Writers **

http://www.livebinders.com/play/play?id=18928&backurl=/shelf/my
 * Contests for Young Writers **


 * Unjournaling Prompts **


 * Story Maps **