Planning back to school writing activities doesn’t have to be stressful. Introduce your students to 8 writing activities and writing prompts for an engaging way to get to know your students’ writing abilities and interests. These writing prompts can be used anytime throughout the year, too! Whether you’re diving in at day one or spicing up the routine midway, these prompts are your secret weapons for captivating formative assessments that’ll make your classroom buzz with creativity all year long.
Back to school writing ideas
Keep reading for some great ideas that will help you build relationships with your students and create a welcoming learning environment. Let’s get started!
Writing Prompt #1: School Favorites
Get to know your students’ writing skills by asking them to write about their favorite subjects in school. What do they like to learn about? What are some of their favorite activities in class? This is a simple, but overlooked, writing prompt will give you a good idea of your students’ writing abilities and what kinds of things they are interested in.
Writing Prompt #2: Narrative Writing
Have students choose an object from home that is special to them.
- Write a narrative about why the object is important to them.
- Share the narratives with the class and discuss why the objects are special to each student.
For example: I have a teddy bear that my grandma gave me when I was born. It’s my favorite because it reminds me of her and how much she loves me.
Be sure to grab the free writing prompts below for one of my favorite, no prep ways to work on opinion, narrative and explanatory writing.
Writing Prompt #3: Hope & Dreams
If you want to get to know your students on a more personal level, you can have them write about their hopes and dreams. What do they hope to achieve someday? What are some of their biggest fears? This writing prompt will help you connect with your students on a deeper level and learn more about what motivates them.
Writing Prompt #4: Personal Experiences
This writing prompt is a great way to get to know your students’ senses of humor. Have them write about a time when they were really embarrassed or when something really funny happened to them. This prompt will not only help you get to know your students better, but it will also help them get to know each other.
Writing Prompt #5: Creative Writing
This writing prompt is a great way to get to know your students’ creative sides. Have them write a story about anything they want, whether it’s something that happened to them or something they make up. This prompt will help you see how imaginative and creative your students are.
Writing Prompt #6: Write a Letter
This writing prompt is a great way to get to know your students’ writing skills. Have them write a letter to someone they admire, whether it’s a family member, a friend, or even a celebrity. This prompt will give you an idea of your students’ writing abilities and what kinds of things they are interested in.
Writing Prompt #7: Opinion Writing
This writing prompt is a great way to get to know your students’ opinions. Have them write about something they feel strongly about, whether it’s a current event or something personal to them. This prompt will help you see what kinds of things your students are passionate about and what kinds of things they think about deeply.
Writing Prompt #8: Hobbies & Skills
– Have students choose one of their favorite things to write about.
– Give them some time to write and then have them share their writing with the class.
– For example: I like writing about my favorite sports teams. I know a lot about them and I like to share my knowledge with others.
– Ask the class questions about the topic and discuss what they have learned.
Let these ideas serve as your launching pad, but don’t stop there- be creative and have fun with it! Your students will appreciate the effort you put into getting to know them, and they will be more likely to engage in their learning.
What are some other ways you like to get to know your students? Share your ideas in the comments below!
