“I don’t want to write!” Have you ever heard that before? Or maybe this one: “Writing hurts my hand!”
Due to that second complaint, I choose Elijah’s writing tasks carefully. We do not use a formal writing curriculum, but we do use creative activities and games to build motor skills as well as brain connections.
This painless writing activity will help you know that your student is boosting important skills while having fun.
You can implement these listmaking prompts anytime, anywhere, and all you need is a pencil and paper.
This writing game is super simple: Have your student make a list.
Yes, that’s it.
The listmaking writing prompts will be a hit with your student.
The key is to give your student prompts that are fun and funny.
How to Use the Listmaking Prompts
Print the prompts. Let your student choose one of the list writing prompts. Tell your student that he needs to compose a list of at least five things.
Elijah’s first choice was How to Drive Your Mom Crazy. Oh-boy!
He thought this writing activity was fantastic. He did his prewriting out loud, and you cannot imagine how many scenarios he contemplated. Obviously, this kid knows how to drive me nuts.
For the first time in Elijah’s writing career, he didn’t ask how to spell every word.
He didn’t give me the usual looks–the mom-my-hand-can-not-do-this-one-more-second look or the my-hand-is-going-to-fall-off-make-it-stop look.
Just in case you are curious, or if you ever want to upset me, here is my son’s list of ways to make mom madder than a hatter:
1. Take your clothes off.
2. Dump cereal all over the place.
3. Eat a hunk of brownies without asking.
4. Wake her up too early.
5. Take the cushions off the couch.
What’s in the Listmaking Prompts Printable Pack?
The printable pack has two sets of prompts. The first set has black and white images. The second set has color images.
The download includes these list writing prompts:
- How to Drive Your Mom Crazy
- Five Ways to Keep a Monster from Moving into My House
- You will be on a rocket ship for one year, what will you take with you?
- Five Gifts for a Friendly Giant
- Things I Found in a Pirate’s Chest
- Five Ways to Spend $100
- Reasons Why My Dad Is Great
- Invent New Ice Cream Flavors
- Dangerous and Deadly Animals
- My Birthday Wish List
- Place I Would Visit if I Had a Time Machine
I recommend discussing the titles before your student starts writing. I had a blast listening to Elijah process his thoughts out loud before his pencil hit the paper.
At first a prompt like “Things I Found in a Pirate Chest” may seem straightforward, but ask your student questions. What if you found non-piratey things in the chest? What if you found a superhero cape? Or ten pounds of rotten bananas?
You can think of the prompt “Dangerous and Deadly Animals” in a similar way. Are these real animals, or are they going to be imaginary?
Additionally, you could fill out a list while your student does. Don’t look at one another’s answers until you are both complete. Then, read the lists and enjoy the smiles and giggles.
More Listmaking Prompts
If you need more writing prompts for your student, try this pack of 64 seasonal prompts. This set includes a variety of lists to make as well as survey questions to answer and justify.
Grab Your Free Listwriting Prompts
Are you ready for your set of free listmaking prompts? Swipe them below.
>>>Free Listwriting Prompts<<<
Awesome again! I am going to stick this book on my next Amazon order. I gathered the stuff to do the dice writing game with Parker today. He saw the die and that alone made him want to get started now 🙂
Another great idea! I saw this come up in my Google Reader but for some reason didn’t notice the links! Thanks so much for sharing the lists you made up with us! Guess what is going in Hannah’s workbox tomorrow?? 🙂
The exact things drive me crazy daily! We’ll have to do this exercise, because clearly your kids have figured out what mine need to think about a bit more! 🙂
thanks for sharing! i’m going to try this with my grade 2 students. i think they’ll love it!
Boy, am I excited to have found your blog! I came on here for the writing prompts. My son loved your suggestions. I gave him, "How to Drive Your Mom Crazy" last and he said that was his favorite (it's just too easy-a no brainer, and I have such a long list). I look forward to exploring a little more when I have time and learning how to be a more positive and encouraging teacher. Thank you for the inspiration.