Not only am I interested in encouraging creative writing with my students, but as a Teacher Consultant for the Tampa Bay Area Writing project and a facilitator of the Young Writer's Camp every summer, I firmly believe it's vital to teach and foster the love of writing to young minds.
When I find contests for students to enter, I get excited. Not necessarily for the chance for my students to win something, but because a contest provides specific focus and audience for their writing. Oftentimes, teachers assign writing tasks that don't have any real purpose. Finding a good purpose for student writing is key to engaging them. Now, I'm not saying a contest will work for all students, but it's a start for some. And if the teacher is excited about it, that can often rub off on the students!
Usborne Books is hosting a poetry writing contest for grades 3-8. There's even a 16-page curriculum guide for grades 6-8 (email me for that if interested). The contest is based on the "award-winning poetry collection Dare to Dream... Change the World, which pairs biographical and inspirational poems about people who invented something, stood for something, said something, defied the naysayers and not only changed their own lives, but also the lives of people all over the world."
Find out what's happening in Land O' Lakeswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The contest "aims to promote literacy, poetry writing and nonfiction research while inspiring students to follow their own dreams." This speaks to the teacher within me for sure!
The winner will earn $1500 worth of books for their school and 30 student entries will be chosen for a professionally published e-book!
Find out what's happening in Land O' Lakeswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
To get a copy of the Dare to Dream... Change the World book - go to www.readbookstokids.com. Retails for $15.99.
"Like" our Facebook page to keep up with updates - https://www.facebook.com/KennedysUsborneBooksMore