writer’s notebooks · 2020. 3. 26. · projects. we write in our writer’s notebooks 3-4 times a...

A set of monthly writing prompts for your students’ Writer’s

Notebooks! These daily quick writes are used as seeds for later writing

projects!

Writer’s Notebooks

Monthly Writing Prompts Designed for Intermediate Students

Teacher Notes We use the black and white composition books for our

Writer’s Notebooks. The first week of school students are able to bring in things to decorate the cover of their notebook (I also provide stickers, decorative paper, etc.).

The idea behind the Writer’s Notebook is to simply get kids writing. The prompts are short (I give no more that 2-5 minutes per prompt). Students can then use the writing “seeds” they plant in their Writer’s Notebooks to use as inspiration for future writing projects. We write in our Writer’s Notebooks 3-4 times a week. You can give the prompts in order, or pick and choose. Feel free to add any additional prompts as well!

Once a week, I have my students mark one page in their Writer’s Notebook with a post-it note. This is the only page I respond directly to each week. I usually write a note back with my comments and ideas for extending the writing to a larger piece.

Time to get writing!

Writer’s Talks In my classroom, we do the Writer’s Notebook prompts four times

a week and a Writer’s Talk once a week. I make them using PowerPoint to go with the novels, poems, and picture books we are using in our classroom at a given time. The Writer’s Talk slides should be focused on the writer’s thoughts on writing, not information about their childhood, family, etc. I include a quote from the author as well, if I can find a good one. I also add in a picture of the writer and the covers of their books so if the students are interested, they can read their books, poems, etc. I copy the Writer’s Talk page at 85% and the students glue it into their Writer’s Notebooks.

Due to copyright restrictions, I cannot sell or even give away the Writer’s Talk slides I have made for my own classroom, BUT you can make your own quickly and easily! I included a few pictures of ones I use in my classroom below. Just choose the author you want to showcase, visit their site or search on-line for interviews and copy and paste the answers to writing based questions. Then do an image search for book covers and photos to use.

Writer’s Notebook Prompts

1. What is the perfect summer day, in your opinion? Describe it! 2. Write a list of things that LOVE the water! 3. Create a chart with three columns, label one red, one white, and

one blue. Write in items that are each color. 4. Write a letter to your teacher. 5. Which do you prefer, cats or dogs? Why? 6. What is your favorite school lunch? Write an advertisement for

it. 7. Write an acrostic poem about the grade level you are currently in. 8. What do you think of homework? Why? 9. What do you like to do at recess? Why? 10. What are some of the things that make you nervous or scared?

Write a list. 11. Write a list of foods, one or more for each letter of the

alphabet. 12. What could you spend hours doing? Why? 13. How do you make new friends? 14. Write a poem about homework. 15. Write a story from the perspective of your book bag or lunch box. 16. Write a list of silly words or phrases. 17. What is your favorite picture book? Why? 18. What would you like your teacher to know about you?

Created by Smart Chick Teaching Resources

1. What is the perfect summer day, in your opinion? Describe it! 2. Write a list of things that LOVE the water! 3. Create a chart with three columns, label one red, one white, and

one blue. Write in items that are each color. 4. Write a letter to your teacher. 5. Which do you prefer, cats or dogs? Why? 6. What is your favorite school lunch? Write an advertisement for

it. 7. Write an acrostic poem about the grade level you are currently in. 8. What do you think of homework? Why? 9. What do you like to do at recess? Why? 10. What are some of the things that make you nervous or scared?

Write a list. 11. Write a list of foods, one or more for each letter of the

alphabet. 12. What could you spend hours doing? Why? 13. How do you make new friends? 14. Write a poem about homework. 15. Write a story from the perspective of your book bag or lunch box. 16. Write a list of silly words or phrases. 17. What is your favorite picture book? Why? 18. What would you like your teacher to know about you?

1. Draw a map of your neighborhood. 2. Think of a season (fall, winter, spring or summer) and write about your

neighborhood during this season using your senses. 3. Create a diary entry about one of your favorite days. 4. Write as many “what if…” questions as you can before time runs out. 5. Examine a leaf. Write a poem about it using your senses. 6. What makes you happy? Write a list. 7. What type of pet would you love to own? Why? 8. What things bother or annoy you? 9. Who is your favorite book character? Write an acrostic poem about

them. 10. Write a letter to younger students with advice. 11. What is your favorite subject? Why? 12. Make a chart. On one side list your “likes” and on the other side list

your “dislikes”. 13. What is the best type of candy? Create a persuasive advertisement

for this type of candy. 14. Draw and label the parts of an apple, inside and out. 15. Observe a crayon. What words do you think of when you see this

color? Think of feelings, places, things, etc. 16. What is your favorite type of wild animal? Write anything and

everything you know about it. 17. Write a list of all of the books you have read (or as many as you can

remember). 18. What are the qualities of a good friend?

1. Draw a map of your neighborhood. 2. Think of a season (fall, winter, spring or summer) and write about your

neighborhood during this season using your senses. 3. Create a diary entry about one of your favorite days. 4. Write as many “what if…” questions as you can before time runs out. 5. Examine a leaf. Write a poem about it using your senses. 6. What makes you happy? Write a list. 7. What type of pet would you love to own? Why? 8. What things bother or annoy you? 9. Who is your favorite book character? Write an acrostic poem about

them. 10. Write a letter to younger students with advice. 11. What is your favorite subject? Why? 12. Make a chart. On one side list your “likes” and on the other side list

your “dislikes”. 13. What is the best type of candy? Create a persuasive advertisement

for this type of candy. 14. Draw and label the parts of an apple, inside and out. 15. Observe a crayon. What words do you think of when you see this

color? Think of feelings, places, things, etc. 16. What is your favorite type of wild animal? Write anything and

everything you know about it. 17. Write a list of all of the books you have read (or as many as you can

remember). 18. What are the qualities of a good friend?

1. Write all of the adjectives you can in the time period given. 2. What do you want to do when you grow up? Why? 3. Draw and label a map of our classroom. 4. What is your favorite book? How does it make you feel? 5. What are some sounds animals make? Write a list. 6. Describe how a leaf feels in the fall. 7. Write the steps you take to get ready for school. 8. Write a diary entry from the perspective of a growing pumpkin

plant. 9. Do you like football? Why or why not? 10. Describe your favorite pair of shoes. Why are they your

favorites? 11. Observe a gourd. Describe it in as much detail as possible. 12. Where is one place you would like to visit? Why? 13. Write an acrostic poem about a color word. 14. Draw a robot using only shapes. 15. How do trees change in the fall? Draw a diagram of the

changes. 16. Write a poem about any type of animal. 17. Draw a picture without your pencil lead leaving the paper. 18. Doodle for one minute, then write about the doodles that you

1. Write all of the adjectives you can in the time period given. 2. What do you want to do when you grow up? Why? 3. Draw and label a map of our classroom. 4. What is your favorite book? How does it make you feel? 5. What are some sounds animals make? Write a list. 6. Describe how a leaf feels in the fall. 7. Write the steps you take to get ready for school. 8. Write a diary entry from the perspective of a growing pumpkin

plant. 9. Do you like football? Why or why not? 10. Describe your favorite pair of shoes. Why are they your

favorites? 11. Observe a gourd. Describe it in as much detail as possible. 12. Where is one place you would like to visit? Why? 13. Write an acrostic poem about a color word. 14. Draw a robot using only shapes. 15. How do trees change in the fall? Draw a diagram of the

changes. 16. Write a poem about any type of animal. 17. Draw a picture without your pencil lead leaving the paper. 18. Doodle for one minute, then write about the doodles that you

1. What would (or could) you buy with $10? Why? 2. Write a list of the words you see in the classroom. Write as many as

you can. 3. What are the five coolest facts you think you know? 4. Write the hardest math word problem you can think up. 5. Draw a detailed picture of your favorite thing. Surround it with words

that describe how you feel about it. 6. What should other people know about you? 7. Describe today’s weather in a much detail as possible using adjectives. 8. Write a top ten list of snack foods. 9. Describe an egg in as much detail as possible, inside and out. 10. What is your favorite song? Why? Write some lines/words from the

song. 11. Make a list of verbs (action words) related to the things you do on a

normal day. 12. What are some “Random Acts of Kindness” you can do for people? 13. Describe your favorite place to sit. What is it your favorite? 14. Draw and label a map of your school. 15. Write an acrostic poem about turkeys. 16. What is your favorite meal? Describe it. 17. Write a list of different types of birds (as many as you can think of in

the time given). 18. Create a new species of insect. Sketch it and tell a little about it.

1. What would (or could) you buy with $10? Why? 2. Write a list of the words you see in the classroom. Write as many as

you can. 3. What are the five coolest facts you think you know? 4. Write the hardest math word problem you can think up. 5. Draw a detailed picture of your favorite thing. Surround it with words

that describe how you feel about it. 6. What should other people know about you? 7. Describe today’s weather in a much detail as possible using adjectives. 8. Write a top ten list of snack foods. 9. Describe an egg in as much detail as possible, inside and out. 10. What is your favorite song? Why? Write some lines/words from the

song. 11. Make a list of verbs (action words) related to the things you do on a

normal day. 12. What are some “Random Acts of Kindness” you can do for people? 13. Describe your favorite place to sit. What is it your favorite? 14. Draw and label a map of your school. 15. Write an acrostic poem about turkeys. 16. What is your favorite meal? Describe it. 17. Write a list of different types of birds (as many as you can think of in

the time given). 18. Create a new species of insect. Sketch it and tell a little about it.

1. Draw and label a map of the “perfect playground”. 2. What are five really good classroom rules? 3. Jot down gift ideas you can give to the people you care about that don’t

cost any money. 4. What things are most important to you? Why? 5. Write as many three letter words as you can. 6. How can we help people that are less fortunate? 7. Make a list of animals, at least one for each letter of the alphabet. 8. Write a letter to your future self. 9. What are some qualities of a good listener? 10. What are some different ways you can say the word, “said”? 11. Tell about your favorite memory. 12. What would you do if you woke up invisible for one day? 13. Draw the future car you would like to drive when you turn sixteen.

What special features will this car have? 14. If you were given three wishes, what would they be? Give a reasons

for each one. 15. Why is it important to eat healthy? What are some healthy snacks you

enjoy eating? 16. Write down a list all of your positive traits. 17. Compare yourself to any book character. 18. Trace your hand on the page. Write five things people may not know

about you, one on each finger of your traced hand.

1. Draw and label a map of the “perfect playground”. 2. What are five really good classroom rules? 3. Jot down gift ideas you can give to the people you care about that don’t

cost any money. 4. What things are most important to you? Why? 5. Write as many three letter words as you can. 6. How can we help people that are less fortunate? 7. Make a list of animals, at least one for each letter of the alphabet. 8. Write a letter to your future self. 9. What are some qualities of a good listener? 10. What are some different ways you can say the word, “said”? 11. Tell about your favorite memory. 12. What would you do if you woke up invisible for one day? 13. Draw the future car you would like to drive when you turn sixteen.

What special features will this car have? 14. If you were given three wishes, what would they be? Give a reasons

for each one. 15. Why is it important to eat healthy? What are some healthy snacks you

enjoy eating? 16. Write down a list all of your positive traits. 17. Compare yourself to any book character. 18. Trace your hand on the page. Write five things people may not know

about you, one on each finger of your traced hand.

1. What are some new things you want to try this year? 2. Write a list of school-related nouns and categorize them as

people, places, and things. 3. Describe one of your friends in detail. 4. What is your favorite of your five senses? Why? 5. Which animals love winter? Why? 6. Write a list of everything you can think of that is blue. 7. What activities would you like to do on indoor recess days? 8. Draw a map of the world. Label as many areas of the map as

you can. 9. Describe your favorite outside winter activity using imagery. 10. What is your favorite time of day? Why? 11. Write an acrostic poem using the word, snowflakes. 12. Describe a day in the life of your pencil. 13. Compare polar bears and penguins. 14. Write a list of things that a better when they are cold. 15. Tell about a time when you were surprised. 16. What is your favorite part of the school day? Why? 17. What things make you laugh? 18. Write all of the words that you can that start with the letter “s”.

1. What are some new things you want to try this year? 2. Write a list of school-related nouns and categorize them as

people, places, and things. 3. Describe one of your friends in detail. 4. What is your favorite of your five senses? Why? 5. Which animals love winter? Why? 6. Write a list of everything you can think of that is blue. 7. What activities would you like to do on indoor recess days? 8. Draw a map of the world. Label as many areas of the map as

you can. 9. Describe your favorite outside winter activity using imagery. 10. What is your favorite time of day? Why? 11. Write an acrostic poem using the word, snowflakes. 12. Describe a day in the life of your pencil. 13. Compare polar bears and penguins. 14. Write a list of things that a better when they are cold. 15. Tell about a time when you were surprised. 16. What is your favorite part of the school day? Why? 17. What things make you laugh? 18. Write all of the words that you can that start with the letter “s”.

1. Draw a heart. Draw several lines through it, breaking it into sections. Write one thing you love in each section.

2. What are some of the things you worry about? 3. Write a new version of the classic, “Roses are Red…” poem. 4. Choose any wild animal. Write a list of things you think this animal

loves. 5. Write a poem about flowers. 6. Draw a picture of an amazing cake. Describe what it would be like to

eat this cake. 7. What are some things that you treasure? Why? 8. Write a short story to describe what it would be like to be a baseball. 9. Write a list of everything that you can think of that is the color red. 10. Randomly choose two crayon colors. Shade in a patch of each color on

the paper. Rename the crayon colors and explain why you new crayon color names are better than the original ones.

11. Make a list of different emotions, at least one for each letter of the alphabet.

12. Think of the color, pink. How many different names/descriptions can you think of for this color?

13. Write a list of things that are shiny. 14. Describe a time when you felt embarrassed. 15. What book do you want to read next? Why? 16. What is your favorite smell? Why? 17. Draw a map of your math brain. Be creative!