30 Ways to Encourage Student Writers — Alphabetically Speaking
If you were a fly on my classroom wall you would see and hear me offering the following suggestions to teachers & parents (when asked) in an effort to encourage (reluctant) writers both in the classroom & at home … alphabetically speaking that is. 
Cheers,
Ally
30 Ways:
1. Authenticity – make it real & relevant
2. Be an artist: draw stories and ideas first
3. Brainstorming & pre-writing ideas – take the time; enjoy & play!
4. Break activities down into bite sized, manageable pieces
5. Clear instructions – help to guide them
6. Create cool, comfortable writing nooks/spaces
7. Dear Diary – a personal journal; a personal space just for them
8. Editing checklists – have them on hand
9. Encourage creativity – whatever this means to each individual child
10. Fan letters – Who are they “crushing on”? or in awe of? a singer? an athlete? an actor? Write a letter!
11. Fun Materials – colourful pens & pencils, fancy/cool paper, notebooks, diaries, etc.
12. Give topic suggestions & ideas
13. Hot Penning – http://www.annburnett.co.uk/hot_penning.html
14. Keep a writer’s journal/notebook – play with it
15. Letter Writing – write to a friend, a grandparent, a pen pal, etc.
16. Make lists – grocery shopping lists, travel lists, guest lists, wish lists, birthday lists, gift lists, etc.
17. Model, Model, Model – let them see you writing
18. Music – music & lyrics can inspire pieces of writing
19. Notes – pass notes back and forth
20. Personal experiences and meaningful memories are good starting points
21. Pictures/Photos can inspire a piece
22. Plan, plan, plan – make sure that you/they have a plan
23. Postcards – short and sweet and fun
24. Provide opportunities to publish & share pieces
25. Purposeful writing – helps to encourage and guide
26. Role-playing prior to writing
27. Share & Suggest – share & suggest ideas – help to get them going
28. Share & Pen – do some of them writing for/with them
29. Use technology
30. Visualization techniques
