Developing Student Voices Through Writing

• As a twenty-two year veteran of the elementary and middle school classroom, I can attest to the importance of helping develop student voices through writing. I have worked with many students who found some healing by penning their stories. Some children are working through the death of a loved one. Others are dealing with the challenges of poverty or struggling to find their place in the world. Regardless, I’ve been truly touched time and time again by the power of the written word in schools.

Writing Heals

Teachers in military communities have fantastic opportunities to develop student voices and facilitate healing through writing. Military children deal with change, transience, and far too many goodbyes. Writing through the feelings associated with their challenges and sacrifice will ultimately help our students celebrate their resilience. Sharing stories will also help children celebrate their families’ adventures and the amazing experiences they’ve had in their travels.

This Memorial Day, I created a product to help students in grades 6-12 look deeply into life in the military. Through quotes from famous generals and thinkers, these task cards invite students to delve into issues affecting our soldiers and their families. Some of these cards could be used for more advanced writers and thinkers in elementary grades.

This product isn’t just for students and teachers, though.

Adults can relate to them, too. Do you journal? Are you a blogger looking for some military-related post ideas? These cards will spark your creativity this Memorial Day week for some writing to commemorate Independence Day this summer, and Veteran’s Day next fall.

Best of all? These writing prompt cards are free! They are my gift to you in honor of all the stories we carry in our hearts, all the narratives we need to share, and the accounts of our loved ones that need a voice.

Cruise on over to my Teachers Pay Teachers Store to download these cards, and many other great products for your classroom or your own writing needs.

Smooth sailing, and safe travels!