Quick, Speed, or "Burst" writing is a tool that allows students to get out of their heads and get words onto the page. Quick writes are a critical tool in the writing or English teacher's toolbox. Here's an overview of what you can learn about in this post:
Daily Quick-Writes
Bell-ringer (on board w/ timer)
Creative, fun, FAST!
Build into other assignments
Kagan shared
Color group competitions
Bell-Ringers: Pros and Cons
How many times have you stood at the front of the classroom trying to get everyone to sit and settle down and they are all talking and asking "what are we doing?" and you're trying to tell them, but there's too much noise and you feel like you haven't had enough coffee for this?
As teachers, we have all heard of the concept of bell-ringers. We know that having students come in the door and immediately having a task to accomplish can boost their interest and get them into the correct work mindset, while also minimizing distracting and off-task behavior. I also gives teachers some time to take attendance!
If bell-ringers are so great, why don't we always do them?
Well, bell-ringers can take some time to create, and more work is the last thing teachers need. Teachers worry that playing a game at the start of class can get students too rowdy. Also, sometimes it's hard enough just to get the class started, how will a bell-ringer help?
Studies show that students need routine. Instead of delivering verbal instructions to students, try having instructions up on the board already so that students come in, sit down, look at the board, and GO! In my class, students know that part of the routine is coming in, opening their Digital Notes Journal, and looking up at the board to see what today's daily "quick write" prompt will be.
Quick Writes as Bell-Ringers: A Match Made in Heaven
As mentioned above, Quick, Speed, or "Burst" writing is a tool that allows students to get out of their heads and get words onto the page. I use these as bell-ringers to start class.
Where do I get my quick-write prompts? Some from writing prompt books, teacher blogs, Pinterest boards, cool book or story first-lines, but you can get them anywhere, really! Through these prompts, the students have an opportunity to write something fun, silly, and maybe a little weird. Feel free to borrow my Google Slides Quick-Writes presentation and add your own.
For other content classes, just put a quick question or scenario up on the board that will tie into your lesson or activity for the day.
What do the students do with their quick writing responses? In my class, these quick writes are always formative, and all that matters is that they have to keep writing for the entire time the timer is going. Students like knowing that this writing can either be totally trashed if they hated it, OR expanded into something more if they loved it.
After time is up and they have finished writing, I have them share their responses to the prompt in their small learning groups (Kagan modified). Sometimes after they share, I have the students in the groups vote to pick their favorite response to share with the class. Other times, I use a random student picker to have a particular volunteer from each group share.
I often turn these into fun, low-stakes, competitions to keep students interested and having fun, or to start a larger conversation relating to the major lesson of the day.
The best part? The whole process takes 10 minutes or less from the time the bell rings!
BONUS CONTENT
English, LA, and Writing Teachers, Check this Out: Story Boarding & Design Project
Trying to teach plot structure in a totally new way? Trying to teach students how to plan? Trying to teach outlining or writing process? Want an innovative idea for a longer writing project?
Push your kids beyond the typical short story writing and give them a real plot structure and story development project by writing a Choose Your Adventure story!
Check out this video with some of my students explaining the process and why they loved this project:
Comments