Motivating Boys to Write
Nine year old boys are active creatures. They like to explore their world. They also love action based fantasy.
Most nine year old boys are either interested in sport or computer type games, or both. They live in an active, action based world. If they read, it is often about fantasy worlds filled with goodies and baddies with names that they can easily roll off their tongues, but adults find impossible to pronounce. Most nine year old boys do not like writing. If they do, they prefer factual writing to being creative and writing fiction.
However, there are ways to make writing fun for middle school boys. If it is fun, they will extend their writing skills and therefore find the task more enjoyable. Anything that improves their literacy skills must surely be a bonus. I recently worked part-time with a class of nine and ten year olds. The task was for each child to produce a picture book they could read to a child in a younger class. Most girls and a few boys were enthusiastic right from the beginning. A large number of boys groaned at the mere thought of the task ahead. But, those boys produced some of the most interesting work at the end of the project.
Teachers long for rewarding results like this. Two boys had completed their picture book and asked if they could spend some time drawing. As I was delighted with their finished work, I agreed. When I asked them what they were drawing, one replied, “We’re planning our next book.” In the course of a few weeks they had gone from reluctant writers to budding authors. I wanted to hug them!
So, what are the secrets for this change in attitude. I believe there are three steps that will motivate young writers, especially boys. These were certainly the things I credit this latest change in attitude to.
1. Let them write about what interests them. In the case of our picture book writing, we studied a wide range of picture books. We analysed the number of words on a page, and the layout, especially how to build suspense. The students were then allowed to choose their own topic. The only rules were there was to be no violence and it should appeal to a younger child. The range of topics was incredible. Not a single child had to be motivated beyond the initial discussion.
2. Give young writers a purpose for writing. Just as adults enjoy writing for an audience, so do children. By giving them children in an allocated class to read their finished books to, they were highly motivated. They checked with me regularly if they were unsure if a particular incident should be in the book, or if young children would enjoy what they were writing. We haven’t shared the books yet, as a few stragglers are still putting the finishing touches to their published work. But the pride on the faces of the boys finished already was reward in itself. As one boy said, “This is good. I didn’t know I was a real author and illustrator.”
3. Praise the ideas, not the spelling and grammar. By constantly telling the students their work was good, the writing flowed. Not until the publishing stage did we work together on improving spelling and grammar. Each writer found his or her own style, not only in the writing but in the way they self-published. They knew their ideas were good. I had constantly told them so. Because of this, they were open to suggestions on ways they could improve. Whenever I read a little precious gem, I’d ask the writer’s permission to share it with the class. This gave other students ideas of how they could improve their writing as well. Praise goes a long way in giving the young writer confidence.
This was just one small project, undertaken over several weeks. Motivation was high throughout and the quality of writing improved tremendously. So did personal confidence. So, don’t despair if your boys don’t like writing. Give them the chance to develop a story on something they are passionate about. Let them self-publish their work as a reason for writing. And praise, praise, praise, every step of the way.
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Tags: boys, literacy, motivation, picture books, school, self publishing, Writing
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December 7th, 2009 at 5:46 am
As a tutor who teaches creative writing as well, I could relate to what you are getting at. Well, boys will be boys. And while I’m no longer that young a boy, I know what’s on their minds. Lol. So yeah, pictures tend to appeal better, since boys like visual stuff more. I like the ideas you proposed. Maybe I could start using them to help my students improve on their writing!
December 7th, 2009 at 6:21 am
This is the age group that taught for the last ten years of my teaching time. I agree with all your ideas. The boys always reacted well to praise and respect for their work. I also had to teach them dance. The more macho dances always appealed to them. A really good article.
Christine
December 7th, 2009 at 7:26 am
My son always liked to deal with facts rather than fiction. If he could choose his subject and he didn’t feel stunted by the restrictions of the curriculum, he wrote well. He is now 15, and doing very well at school. I recently asked him for a Christmas list, he produced a beautifully typed list broken down into categories, each with a neat underlined heading. If only all his school work looked that good!
December 7th, 2009 at 9:03 am
At that age kids are hyper n cud not sit at one place for long to write..may be some few are gifted …anyway good write n offbeat subject. http://www.urlzy.com/50
December 7th, 2009 at 10:22 am
Good article and well written.
December 7th, 2009 at 11:26 am
good one
December 7th, 2009 at 3:31 pm
Reminds me of when my son was maybe 3 years old… the momma was reading a book (it is in Polish so she was translating the tale) and it was about a cat that ate to much and got sick. Doctor’s advice was to NOT eat for a whole day, -and of course the MICE started coming out to play. The cat had to, by doctor’s orders, ignore them. The ol’ ‘while the cat is away the mice do play’ storyline..
Mice were coming out of everywhere, including a grandfather clock… the momma showed the picture to our son and pointed this out. “What were they doing in the clock?” she asked. -Our son, wide-eyed and innocently proclaimed “mouses going ‘TICK-TICK-TOCK’! ”
-Only a child could have thought of that!
December 7th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Good information.
December 8th, 2009 at 3:04 am
That was a wonderful article, as a homeschooled child (an adult now, of course) who plans to homeschool her own children, these tips were very helpful in implementing creative minds, and I can see my future sons wanting to create something for their younger siblings! Thank you so much! Rita M.
December 8th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
Good teachers are a wonder. There was a lot of wisdom in your approach. It was a job well done.
December 8th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
great ideas
December 8th, 2009 at 7:54 pm
good article.
PS iM GOING TO EAT YOU HUMANS
December 8th, 2009 at 8:54 pm
I did some tutoring before and I see your point. It’s better to let their ideas and imagination flow without killing it will grammar and rules first. Great insight and well written maam;)
December 8th, 2009 at 10:15 pm
Good one . j
December 8th, 2009 at 10:28 pm
I lurved your last bit of advice – if students start writing for pleasure and show you their work, focus on the good things. Praise their choice of words and the way they describe the characters etc
December 8th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
Thank you everyone for all your comments, I am overwhelmed.
December 9th, 2009 at 1:28 am
This is very helpful and very easy to practice… It’s great that you make an article out of this very important subject.. Typical boys would rather play than grab a pen to write. Great work…