It's NOT About The Writer's Notebook

We used to start off the year by slapping a list of 40 writing topics in the front of the writer’s notebook. I was so proud to assign such freedom. The only parameters were three times a week, 1/2 to 3/4 of a page. Now this was great for a few students but mostly, I got half-page summaries of vacations, or weekends, or soccer games that quite frankly, might be more boing to read than to write. And that’s coming from somebody who hated a blank page as much as any 10-year-old possibly could. 

Here’s what I’ve figured out: the writer’s notebook isn’t about writing. It’s about the process of idea generation; creativity. And by “creativity,” I’m not talking about whose unicorn can say the strangest thing to a talking watermelon. We need students to be able to look at an idea from multiple angles. We need them to create novel solutions to problems they’re going to inherit from us. We need them to see the world as an infinite source of possibilities. We need… bullet points! 

I’m asking for students to spend 15-20 minutes, three times a week generating ideas. I can't thank Linda Urban, author of some of the most thought-provoking middle grade novels of our generation, enough for her post about the early stages of creating the highly acclaimed Center of Everything. Our conversation through Twitter and blog posts is responsible for my reimagining the purpose of the Writer's Notebook. 

What to look for in your child’s notebook (after they fall asleep):

• Divergence / Risk Taking (hence, after they’re in bed): Willingness to resist the expected.
• Elaboration: Pushing ideas to extremes
• Synthesis: Brining together seemingly unrelated concepts
• Fluency: Generating numerous ideas
• Originality: An interpretation made possible by their unique life experiences
• Complexity: The resonance of insights and ideas
• Flexibility: Crossing conceptual boundaries; resistance to closure 

Students are asked to write three entries so every week I provide them with a menu of nine writing ideas. The writing stems purposefully encourage students to engage with the above creativity traits. Please! Feel free to give them a try along with your child and compare them afterwards. Below are some highlights from the week. I’d love to post your work as models for students as well. 

It’s as easy to spot an entry that was completed in 5 minutes as it is an entry with only a few, thoughtful lines of writing. And there’s no mistaking a full page of text that must have been pure torture. If you’re noticing either of the latter, here’s a few tips:

Elaborate on a list of “favorites” over two entries.

• If a student is listing their favorite players, encourage them to go for fluency the first night and list as many as possible. 
• The second night encourage them to add the details that capture what makes the player unique.

Capture a weekend in small details. 

• Instead of a summary, list bits of dialogue, moments, descriptions.
• On another night, encourage a list of possible first lines to tell the story.

Few words. The first gives you the sense that lurking behind those 6 words is a complete story; the second's resistance to closure enables the reader to supply the conclusion; the third is bursting with tension. 

Not only an original recipe idea, the ingredients elaborate on the concept providing even more complexity at each step. In addition, the comments forward that complexity and this student even took the time to develop unique user names.

Each fortune uses metaphorical reasoning. 

Synthesis pure and complex. Essential elements of a book combined with the essential elements of a pet combine to create something wholly unique. 

Not just a story behind that line, it's overflowing with emotion.

This writer began with an idea but chose to reveal it in a slow, methodical manner. Resistance to closure keeps the reader asking for more.

The prompt asked what happens if all the glass in the world were to disappear. This student chose to provide an origin story explaining the disappearance. While the divergent thinking is impressive, they also took a risk in depicting their father. (Sorry to sell dad out but that is funny)

What begins as fun, silly humor arrives at the complex idea of entering through sunlight. 

This Year's Notebook Menus Can be Found Here