I’ve been seeing a lot around the blog world and on Twitter about summer reading plans. I think it’s also important to help the writers in our classrooms think about their summer writing plans. Here are some ideas to encourage summer writing. I’m hoping you add to the list in the comments.
- Help students think about where and when they will write. Is there a special place around their houses (either outside or inside) where they can see themselves writing? It’s also an important part of the plan to determine now when they will have time to write. With summer days it’s easy to lose track of time and miss out on prime writing opportunities. (At least it is for me!) Share with your students your summer writing plans. For instance, I know that I will blog first thing in the morning on the end of my couch. I also know I’ll work in my notebook before bed gathering ideas for my next story.
- Ask students to make a list of writing projects. Lately each time I start a new notebook I’ve pushed myself to make a list called 25 Books I Could Write. It’s important we give students time to dream about possible writing projects.
- I know funding is tight, but if it’s possible to send kids home with a new notebook, ream of paper, or set of colored pencils, I think this is a great way to encourage summer writing. Anytime I get a new notebook and pen I just can’t wait to start writing.
How about you? How are you going to encourage your students to continue their writing habits throughout the summer?
TWO WRITING TEACHERS 
I was lucky to have enough extra composition notebooks to send one home with each of my students. I put a Toni Morrison quote and a classroom inspirational saying on the front, along with the child’s name. They each got a handwritten note from me about their writing development. Who knows if they will actually use it, but I do know that they felt really, really special when they read the notes. I also know that they promised me they would write…we’ll see!
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I am having my students write sixth grade memoirs as our end of the year project. Our site purchased Barebooks, blank hardback books for each sixth grader. We take the best of what we have written over the year and publish it in this book. Inevitably, there are always pages left in our book, we title them summer dreams, and it is my hope that they continue the project into the summer. This year we are also publishing digitally, and I think we are going to set up a space on our http://www.writingforchange.net to let students respond and continue to write.
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This is a great reminder to encourage our students to continue to write over the summer. I’ve only been thinking about how to encourage their reading. Thanks for the post!
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I forgot to add how much I like your ideas, of setting a regular routine, & projecting ahead with ideas, like the 25 novels.
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Field journaling is an integral part of our school. Students journal to capture their thoughts and feelings during different experiences, then compose from those notes. It’s kind of like a textbook of caught learning all the year long. They are encouraged to keep journals during the summer & especially on vacation trips with family and/or friends, or at camp. And then asked to bring into school next year what they wrote over the summer; it jumpstarts the workshop writing.
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I send my kids home with writing paper, stamped envelopes that have my address as the return address. I write first to get them started and then they need to write to me at least three times during the summer.
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