Do your students get excited when it’s time to write?
Or do you hear the grunts and groans? What if I told you that every year – almost without exception, my students ask as they are turning in a published essay, “What do we get to write about next week?” But that doesn’t happen automatically. I’ve heard all the complaints, too. So, I challenge myself at the beginning of the year to get my kids excited about writing.
Video journal prompts are the best way to motivate my students to write. A new video is how we begin every Friday morning. I present the video, students write their reactions, and then share with classmates. They love it!!
For example: Bubble wrap was invented to be wallpaper.
Possible Written Response: It would be so cool to wallpaper my bedroom in bubble wrap! My brother and I could have a WWE wrestling match and not even get hurt when we’re slammed against the wall! And, most importantly Mom and Dad will never hear us, so we won’t get in trouble!
BENEFITS OF Video Journal Topics
✅Engaging
✅No Prep
✅Digital or paper
✅Great practice for written response type questions!
For the first few weeks of school, I demonstrate how to turn the prompt into a statement and then elaborate. This helps beginners become more confident in their writing skills. Soon, students will need no guidance. They’ll be excited to see the next topic, think about what it means to them, and then record their feelings in either their digital or paper journal. My students love their writing journals!