How to Help a First-Grader Write a Story

A first-grader can have a scary dream or a funny situation that happened at school. Suggest the child put those visuals and happening onto paper.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. SUMMARIZE THE STORY
   
   Even if the child wants to write it right now, he should sum up out loud what he intends to write. I don’t mean these will be the words he’ll write. Speaking out loud is important to hear the idea first. This will give the child an auditory version of what he will write.
2. ASK QUESTIONS
   
   In the writing, the child will become stuck about what to write next. Rather than give suggestions first, ask questions that will lead him to his own conclusions and move the story along. Begin with urging the child to tell you his ideas. Let him talk his plot through. If he’s can’t think of ideas, you might have to ask questions in a “what if” way and more than once. Gradually, if he really wants to write this story, he will decide the next section. And no subjective urgings for “your” plot!
3. STAY WITH HIM THROUGH THE ENTIRE PROCESS
   
   A first-grader is not going to write a long story. His hand will tire soon, for one thing. He also thinks in shorter story form. If you’re with him through the entire writing, he will feel more secure, follow through on his project, and know someone cares about his story.
4. CREATE A BOOK
   
   With many types of blank books, you can suggest he rewrite it into his own, hardback book to keep. Some places, especially teacher supply shores, have the all-white, hardback books in various sizes. This allows the child to draw and create everything about the book. He can paste magazines pictures or photographs. If you cannot find that, you can find a thin, inexpensive, hard-cover notebook with beautiful covers to choose from. Some have blank pages, such as an artist’s sketch book, or some have lined pages on one side with a blank page on the opposite, thus giving the child a place to draw or glue in pictures.
   
   Since you’ve been his mentor for this project, you and the first-grader will be thrilled if you purchase the book for him. He might want to come with you to pick out the cover. This is an inexpensive project that can be the beginning of a future journalist or novelist.