Writing Workshop: Dr. Seuss Style

Yesterday I mentioned that we read the Sneetches (while talking about some of the lessons about the Civil Rights Movement: Civil Rights Movement Lessons – Prejudice Stereotypes Groups and More).  We talked for a long time about how it feels to be left out. We talked about fitting in and sometimes how it’s hurtful not to wear the right thing or look the right way. I told the kids a story about how when I was in 6th grade I had some hand-me-down bell bottom pants with flowers on the pockets that I got from my older sister. I loved those pants. I felt great in those pants… until… some girls in my class made fun of me.  I never did wear those pants again. I was definitely not a star-belly sneetch in those pants! Anyway, we also talked about how groups form and how some groups of people/kids can make fun of others… for what they look like, what they wear, how they act or talk and so forth.

But the kids also just loved listening to the Dr. Seuss stories… we went on to read the other four stories in that book.  For our writing workshop, I had the kids try writing in the style of Dr. Seuss. LD groaned and said he can’t rhyme (He then set off to write without further fuss, I should add.)  I always write at the same time the kids do… and whipped this out because LD’s groan made me chuckle:

I’m not going to do it, you can’t make me rhyme
I won’t put a word in my notebook this time.
I’ll throw my notebook up in the air
I’ll pout and I’ll frown — I’ll scream in despair.
No way I can think of a story to tell
The words just won’t come out very well.
Perhaps I should throw my journal away
Torch it and burn it this awful day.
Rhymes and words don’t go together
I won’t do it- seriously – not ever!
I can’t think of any words that rhyme
Don’t torture me during writing time!

Both LD and DD came up with pretty good stories… and even ED hauled out her writing notebook and put down rhyming words. We all were excited to share our writing with each other that day!

Do you want to learn more about starting your own Homeschool Writing Workshop? Here are some related posts:

• Creating a Homeschool Writing Workshop – Post #1 — How/Why we needed a change in our writing program
• Creating a Homeschool Writing Workshop – Post #2: Creating a Writing Workshop Area and Materials to Have on Hand
• Creating a Writing Workshop Post #3: This post is about Mini-Lessons during writing time, mentor texts and includes reviews of 8 or 9 writing books that you might find helpful.
• Writing Resource Pack: This is a post about the 30-page pack I made for our writing workshop. Reference pages on the 6 +1 Wri ting Traits, Mini-Lessons, the types of writing, creating a powerful beginning, techniques for ending a story/paper, and so forth. (These writing resources are free to download.)

• Writing Workshop: Dr. Seuss Style: The kids and I had fun writing in the style of Dr. Seuss!
• Biography Research Paper Resource Pack

• Wonderful Free Writing Resource for Young Writers

• Practical Pointers for Working with a Reluctant Writer (or any Writer)
• Writing Activity to Spark Kids’ Imagination!
• 40 Journal Writing Prompts (Free Printable)
• Animal Portfolio Project: writing, art and geography activities that go with any animals… With many activities to choose from. Writing activities include both fiction and non-fiction suggestions such as
  • Write a speech or a letter to the president on why your animal needs protection in the wild.
  •  Menu: Create a humorous menu at a restaurant where your animals would like to eat.
•  WWII Portfolio Project

• Writing Workshop: What We’re Doing for Writing This Fall
• Writing Workshop Rules! Why the Writing Workshop continues to work so well in our homeschool.

Mini-Lessons to Use in a Writing Workshop:

1. What makes a good book or story?
2. Make your story come alive with details and description.
3. Creating Interesting Characters
4. Story Openings: Set the mood or feeling of your story
5. Gathering story ideas from your own life
6. Alliteration and more

Come visit us at the Homeschool Den Facebook Page! We’d love to hear what you’re doing for writing and what works well for you.