Writing Together

When parents, teachers, and children write together they learn more about writing and more about each other. Several National Writing Project sites have experimented with family writing programs as once-a-month gatherings at school. Teacher-leaders at these sites offer practical advice about how to set up such a program, and also suggest writing activities parents and children can do together. The sample activities below are elaborated in "No More Fear and Loathing: The Family Writing Project in Las Vegas."

• The artifact activity. Begin the family writing program with a sharing circle. Adults and children hold up and explain artifacts that reveal something of their personalities or identities. Afterwards, parents, teachers, and children write side by side for five minutes to this prompt: "In your journals, write down some words, ideas, or feelings that come to mind when you think about the items we just shared and the people we just met." Take turns reading aloud.
• The map activity. Children draw maps of their neighborhoods, noting the places they find important: main streets, local stores, playgrounds, schools. Adults draw maps showing where they lived when they were their children's ages. Share maps with one another through writing in journals and talking.
• The photographic activity. Children and adults take pictures around town and the neighborhood, capturing places and scenes that are important or engaging. Share photos in groups, make journal entries, write captions, and find what the pictures have in common.
• The letter-writing activity. Parents write letters to their children as though the children will be receiving them ten years in the future. Children write to themselves, also ten years in the future. Sharing these letters highlights the thoughts, wishes, and dreams of both parents and children.

Through its professional development model, NWP develops the leadership, programs, and research needed for teachers to help students become successful writers and learners. NWP sites, located on approximately 200 university and college campuses, serve more than 135,000 participants annually. For more information, visit www.nwp.org.