English Second Language children need exciting content to stimulate their ideas. Written language can be difficult for children who are native English speakers but creative writing presents a special challenge for students learning to speak, understand, read and write simultaneously. How can we help them to express themselves on paper or online? 

Let’s try by offering exciting scenarios that stimulate their interest and their imaginations. There are many children’s storybooks available in the stores. Although these are an important part of any program, a storybook written specifically for English Second Language children often includes a student workbook and a Teacher’s Guide. The workbook exercises sometimes have the students travel with the storybook characters. This allows for each child to interpret events in their own way and become involved by deciding what might happen next.

That personal involvement is the key to creative writing. We suggest that initially the children be encouraged to write their ideas without concern for grammar or spelling. Once they have an idea on paper they can be helped to correct the grammar and spelling. It is difficult to know the amount of emphasis to place on the corrections. If too much re-writing is required then the excitement of expressing their idea is lost. If too little comment is made then the learning is limited.

We suggest that first you CATCH THEM DOING IT RIGHT. Find any small part of what they did, it may only be their idea, and tell them it’s good. Then, if possible, choose an error that is repeated and offer help. Depending on their English level, it isn’t likely necessary to correct every mistake. Individual needs vary greatly.

 As you read this you may be thinking that those ideas are fine but you have a class of 30 or 40 children. If that is your situation, then try to find volunteer help. Have the children helping each other, or invite parents or older students into your class. Do whatever works for you.

 Try this activity with your class. You’ll find that science fiction is universally popular. Our young students in Eastern Europe taught us that!

Children’s creative writing in English can be fun!

Use the graphic at the top for this creative writing lesson.

Introduce the time period names and talk briefly about the most recent one and the one that was the longest time ago.

Have the students study the chart to identify when the dinosaurs lived.

Start a discussion of what it might have been like when the dinosaurs lived on Earth by asking:

"What would it have been like for you to live on Earth at that time?"

During the discussion write their ideas on the board.

Have them write a paragraph about what they would do or see if they lived at the time of the dinosaurs.

Their topic sentence might begin with: 

If I lived during the __________ period I would...

OR

When I was living with the dinosaurs I...