In addition to the 250 prompts, readers will find a sample response for each. Within these three prompts are several real-life skills. These writing exercises are intended to be completed individually however, prompts #235-#237 might be appropriate for a small group project. Other prompts, like #129, provide students with an answer and ask for five questions. Unbeknownst to most people, the chicken had a lot of reasons for crossing the road. Some prompts, like the one below, ask for answers.

Describe the Mancini home, using as many “m” words as possible in your description. They named their children Montague, Meryl, Myron, and Missie. Maxmillian Mariano Mancini married Melissa Macduff. This writing exercise will spur their imaginations: Write a four-line song or poem about mayonnaise.

Write four sentences made up of four four-letter words each.

active sentence).Īctivate those creative brain cells with these challenging prompts: Need to revisit previously taught skills? The authors include numerous ideas for skill maintenance with prompts #51 (hyperbole), #80 (onomatopoeia), #84 (similes), #100 (word choice), and #140 (passive sentence vs. In five sentences, what else did he do? Use descriptive verbs. Students will tackle this assignment with enthusiasm – and perhaps a thesaurus. Want to improve word choice? Looking for strong verbs? Replace those old worksheets with this fun prompt. Focus on the enjoyable experience of writing. I spotted numerous opportunities to talk about metacognition and writing.Ī word of caution: I think it would be a mistake to spoil these delightful prompts by turning a fun writing experience into a full-blown writing lesson. How often do we advise students to revise their writing so that readers can see what they are describing? And haven’t we occasionally begged for details?Īs I perused the 250 prompts, I jotted down my thoughts for incorporating several prompts from unjournaling into a classroom writing routine. Think about the number of times we remind students to use strong descriptive language. Everyone will have fun – even the most reluctant writers or the weariest teachers! Students will find these prompts interesting and challenging teachers will appreciate the flexibility and variety. Readers will find that DiPrince and Thurston have included writing ideas that are “flexible, varied, challenging, interesting, and even fun to do.” (p.2) This second edition includes updated prompts along with fifty new prompts. Teachers are destined to find multiple potential writing topics in Unjournaling: Daily Writing Exercises That Are NOT Personal, NOT Introspective, NOT Boring. Unjournaling: Daily Writing Exercises That Are NOT Personal, NOT Introspective, NOT Boring! 2nd ed.īy Dawn DiPrince and Cheryl Miller Thurston

Unjournaling by Dawn DiPrince