Teaching Writing: Daily Writing Prompts With Lesson Plans: In the realm of high school education, developing strong writing skills is of paramount importance. One of the most effective ways to foster this growth is through the practice of daily writing. By incorporating regular writing exercises into the curriculum, educators can help students unlock their potential, express themselves effectively, and prepare for the challenges of higher education and beyond.
Daily writing offers numerous benefits for high school students. First and foremost, it allows them to hone their writing skills through consistent practice. Just as athletes train their bodies daily to improve their performance, writers must exercise their minds regularly to enhance their craft. Through daily writing, students learn to organize their thoughts, construct clear and coherent sentences, and develop a unique writing style.
Moreover, daily writing encourages students to explore their creativity and imagination. By responding to diverse prompts and topics, students are pushed to think outside the box, consider different perspectives, and generate original ideas. This creative exploration not only makes writing more enjoyable but also helps students develop critical thinking skills that are essential for success in various aspects of life.
In addition to boosting writing proficiency and creativity, daily writing serves as a valuable outlet for self-expression and personal growth. High school students often face a myriad of challenges, from academic pressures to social and emotional struggles. Writing provides a safe space for them to process their thoughts, emotions, and experiences. By putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) daily, students can gain a deeper understanding of themselves and develop a stronger sense of identity.
Furthermore, daily writing prepares high school students for the rigors of academic and professional writing. Whether they are crafting essays for college applications, researching papers for class assignments, or communicating ideas in the workplace, strong writing skills are essential. By engaging in daily writing exercises, students build the foundation necessary to tackle these future writing challenges with confidence and competence.
In conclusion, daily writing is a powerful tool for high school students to sharpen their writing skills, unleash their creativity, express themselves, and prepare for the demands of higher education and beyond. By making daily writing a priority in the classroom, educators can help students unlock their full potential and set them on the path to success.
Resources on our site
We have many resources for teaching writing on our site. We have Grammar Help that are simple lessons for students, and we have many writing prompt both creative and journal writing prompts including daily writing prompts for students.
Here are some of our student writing prompts:
- 100 Classic Philosophical Writing Prompts
- 100 end-of-the-year writing prompts
- 100 Greatest Narrative Essay Topics
- 100 student writing prompts about failure
- 100 what-if scenarios writing prompts for students
- 1000 Writing Prompts
- 1000 Writing Prompts for Students
- 184 Daily Writing Prompts for Students
- 200 Persuasive Essay Topics
- 300 Writing Prompts for Middle School Students
- 31 Creepy Writing Prompts for Every Day of October
- 50 spring break writing prompts for high school students
- Daily Writing Prompts
- Daily writing prompts for high school
- Daily Writing Prompts for November
- Writing Prompts for High School Students
Lesson Plan: Daily Writing Prompts
Feel free to cut and paste these lesson plans and rubrics and use them in our classroom. There are many more to come.
Grade Level: 9-12
Duration: Every day, 15-20 minutes
Objective:
Students will develop their writing skills, creativity, and ability to express their thoughts coherently by responding to a daily writing prompt with at least one paragraph.
Materials:
- Writing journals or notebooks for each student
- Writing prompts (can be displayed on the board, projected, or distributed as handouts)
- Timer or clock
Procedure:
- Introduction (2-3 minutes):
- Explain to the students that they will be engaging in a daily writing exercise to improve their writing skills and creativity.
- Emphasize the importance of consistent writing practice and how it can help them express their ideas more effectively.
- Present the Writing Prompt (1-2 minutes):
- Display or announce the writing prompt for the day.
- Ensure that the prompts are diverse, thought-provoking, and appropriate for the grade level.
- Examples of writing prompts:
- “If you could travel back in time, which historical event would you like to witness and why?”
- “Describe a challenge you faced and how you overcame it.”
- “Write a story that starts with the sentence: ‘As the door creaked open, I knew my life would never be the same.'”
- Writing Time (10-15 minutes):
- Instruct students to write at least one paragraph in response to the prompt.
- Encourage them to express their thoughts freely and not worry too much about perfect grammar or spelling at this stage.
- Set a timer or notify students of the remaining time periodically to keep them on track.
- Sharing and Discussion (5-10 minutes, optional):
- If time allows, invite a few volunteers to share their writing with the class.
- Encourage positive feedback and constructive comments from classmates.
- Facilitate a brief discussion on the different perspectives or ideas that emerged from the writing prompt.
- Closure (1-2 minutes):
- Praise the students for their effort and participation in the daily writing exercise.
- Remind them to keep their writing journals organized and to reflect on their progress over time.
Assessment:
- Collect the writing journals periodically to provide individual feedback and track student progress.
- Assess students’ writing based on criteria such as:
- Relevance to the prompt
- Coherence and clarity of ideas
- Creativity and originality
- Grammar, spelling, and punctuation (gradually increase focus on these aspects as the school year progresses)
Extension:
- Encourage students to expand on their favorite writing prompts and develop them into longer pieces, such as short stories or essays.
- Create opportunities for students to share their polished pieces with the class or through a class blog or publication.
Note: Adjust the time allocations and activities based on the specific needs and constraints of your classroom. Regularly update the writing prompts to keep the exercise engaging and challenging for students throughout the school year.
Rubrics:
Short and quick:
3 sentences = 2pts each = 6pts
Grammar = 2pts
Answer Question = 2 pts
Extended
Daily Writing Prompt Rubric
Grade Level: 9-12
Criteria:
- Relevance to the Prompt (1-4 points)
- Coherence and Clarity (1-4 points)
- Creativity and Originality (1-4 points)
- Grammar, Spelling, and Punctuation (1-4 points)
Scoring:
- Each criterion is worth 4 points, for a total of 16 points.
- To calculate the final score, add the points earned for each criterion.
- Final Grade Scale:
- 14-16 points: A
- 11-13 points: B
- 8-10 points: C
- 5-7 points: D
- 0-4 points: F
Note: This simplified rubric is designed for quick assessment of students’ daily writing prompts. Teachers may customize the criteria or scoring as needed.
