Immerse them in writing with your Writing Room
Turn your classroom into the "Writing Room". Paste, tape, or hang new vocabulary words on the walls, ceiling and floor. Put a dictionary on a table stand in each corner of the room along with grammar books and worksheets. Use large cardboard boxes to create small private rooms for those children who enjoy privacy. Spread 10 to12 colorful folders filled with writing prompts across two to three tables. Create a small stage in front of the classroom for those students who need some screenwriting inspiration. Have two large plastic boxes in the middle of the room. One box should be filled with a variety writing utensils and the second one filled with different types of paper, notebooks, notepads, and journals. Use beanbags, fold out chairs, small mats, and if available, sofas to allow student to choose a comfortable space to sit. Most importantly, remember to shift the room. Keep "ahh-ing" and surprising these students as much as your time will allow you to do. Move the sofas around or replaces them completely with something new. Update the vocabulary words, but don't throw away the old ones. Put them in a prompt folder for them to use later. You can also, redecorate the private rooms or just leave them bare. Update the bulletin board with other classroom written material. Just, don't slow down. Keep it up until the last days of class. This is the time in the semester when students will grow weary of school.
It doesn't have to cost a lot. Don't spend a lot of money decorating and preparing your room. Use what you have! Scratch paper, last years Halloween, Christmas, Valentine designs and old magazines. If you still don't have anything to use, go to a thrift shop, bargain store, or use stuff you have from home, such as old pens and pencils. Get the large cardboard boxes from Wal-Mart, Target, etc, to use for small private writing rooms. Big department stores usually keep their unwanted boxes outside at the back of the store. Ask store managers if they are willing to donate a few things. They usually don't mind. Use old filing folders for prompts material. Borrow beanbags, fold out chairs, etc. Cut vocabulary words out of newspapers or magazines. Maybe an English teacher is willing to let you borrow or have some of the things she no longer needs. Use your computer to download worksheets and other material. Just
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