What Should I Write About?

Teaching writing in first grade is so much fun!  The growth in their writing in one year is amazing.  I use a writer’s workshop in my class and I have been very happy with it.  It really enables me to guide my students at whatever stage of writing they are at.  I always have students who struggle with what to write about.  Word lists are great for inspiration!

Inspiring Ideas

I find that one of the biggest obstacles beginning writers have is finding a topic to write about.  How many time have you heard?

“I don’t know what to write about”

Too many!  So the way that I solve this is by providing thematic word lists for guidance.

I start out with just a few word lists on a binder ring.  The ones below are called “littles” because the are half a page.

TB-littes

Usually when I introduce the lists, I put on the family list, school words list and the birthday word list.  I model writing a story about my family.  Once I have modeled my story, I find my first graders are able to find a story to write about their family or even a birthday party they have had.

I usually add a new list to the word card rings every week (I have a lot of themes).  Each table group has their own “littles” word ring.  It keeps my writers inspired!

At my writing centers, I have a couple of binder rings with the “bigs“.  These are the same word cards, just whole page.  Students can grab those for inspiration too!

TB-bigs

For some of the more popular word lists, I copy the backline version and they can put them in their writing folder.  The are call the “bigs” backline version.

TB-bigs-blackline

Whenever I add a new list, I model a story that I would write.  It’s always fun to read the new writing that comes when a new list is added.

You can find these word list packs below.  These are all growing bundles, so I do add new word lists to them from time to time.

Just the Littles

Just the Bigs (Color Version)

Just the Bigs (Blackline Version)

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