6 Tips to Promote Writing Through the Summer: With FREEBIE

We want our students to return back to school refreshed and ready to learn. But, we also don't want them to fall behind. Summer is a great time for students to continue working on important skills. With all the activities going on this summer, it's really easy to create opportunities for kids to write. There are no due dates, no grading, and students can select their own writing formats. In this post, I have a 6 tips to promote writing through the summer. And, guess what! I've included ideas with technology!

1. Encourage your students to keep a journal throughout the summer. 

Journaling will also give them something to do during down times each day. Students can write about "Small Moments." Journaling is a wonderful way for young writers to express their feeling in a nonjudgemental environment. My granddaughter keeps her journal with her every day. Harper loves having a key to lock her journal. (Even though she loses the key all the time!) This journal on Amazon has space for drawing, too. If your child doesn't like keeping up with a book, just create a fun template on Google Apps.

2. Keep a travel journal while on vacation. 

Write about favorite sites, food, culture, weather, facts and experiences each day of the trip. Journals can be purchased for places all over the world. Below is an interactive travel journal that is so engaging. Students can express their feelings, places they visit, write about their experiences, and add photos. It can be purchased on Amazon. Or, why not create your own? Take a look at my vacation travel journal you can download from my TPT store. 

 

3. Write summaries from summer reading. 

Write about books that are read during the summer. Write about the characters, personal connections, main idea, and sequencing. I love the Book Scavenger Series by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman because the books are filled with clues to keep the readers engaged and curious about the secret of the game. Because this book is a mystery, it will spark writing about the story. To learn how you can use technology to promote summer reading, click HERE. I have a bundle of digital book reports (using Google Slides) that are fun for students to complete after reading a favorite book. They include biographies, fiction, nonfiction, and generic formats.

4. Write letters to friends and relatives. 

People are getting out of the habit of writing letters because of email and social media. I love receiving handwritten letters and cards from friends and family. Purchase some cute cards or stationery that would motivate writing. I also recommend using PicCollage to create cards to send. It's perfect for all occasions.

5. There are great apps and websites that focus on writing. 

These websites and apps have cute graphics and settings that help stimulate writing. I love Storybird and Book Creator. You'll also love Storybook Maker and Toontastic. 

6. Provide writing prompts for summer writing and collaborative writing.

I have a FREEBIE just for you filled with summer writing prompts and apps and websites for writing. Just click on the image below to grab your free product. If you're looking for a Google Slides editable activity, click HERE.

If you have Google Classroom or a way students can collaborate, provide a writing prompt for collaborative writing. Students can each write a page to the story. After the story is completed, they will have a great class story they all can read. Students can also write in pairs to write a mystery or adventure story.

 

Encourage your students to continue learning throughout the summer. If you share these ideas to promote writing through the summer with them, they'll surely be prepared for the next school year. We want our students to be life-long learners.