Third Grade Wisdom

I spent a lot of time teaching creative writing to third graders this year, and though our time together has ended, I can’t stop thinking about certain tidbits that they taught me while I was trying to teach them.  For example:

Silence is golden–especially in a room full of 8- and 9-year-olds.

Bodily functions are always funny.

A story is composed of a character, a problem, and (in third grade, at least) a solution.

Lines and plots from TV, books, and movies only improve with repetition and rewriting and repetition and rewriting.

The tooth fairy is very important.

Limericks don’t have to be dirty.  They can be about talking guitars from Mars.

Every story is better with illustrations.

Sometimes the best pieces of writing are produced through Mad Libs.

The best part about writing is sharing it.

3 Responses to “Third Grade Wisdom”

  1. Sara says:

    Teddy Ruxpin! I had his friend Grubby too.

    Sounds like you all had a lot of fun with that class.

  2. Asa Maria says:

    “Lines and plots from TV, books, and movies only improve with repetition and rewriting and repetition and rewriting.”

    I like your third grade class, they completely justify all the frivolous and vapid TV shows and movies I have lined up to watch this summer.

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