PIPPIN PUBLISHING

FROM THE HEART: A CREATIVE APPROACH TO WRITING

ISBN: 0-88751-097-3    View Graphical Site    Go Back

Descript:

It can be frustrating, demoralizing even, to be too afraid or intimidated to express either in speech or in writing what is going on in one's mind. It's one thing to write enough to complete a class assignment or to please a teacher; it's another to really use and take ownership of one's language, and express oneself from one's heart.

The main goal of From the Heart is to encourage just that. The exercises are designed to give students the opportunity to develop language skills while at the same time using their own, individual creative talents. The activities were selected with several goals in mind:
•     To help students explore their own creativity in a supportive environment
•     To help them discover that inspiration for writing is everywhere
•     To build their confidence in voicing their own heartfelt ideas
•     To provide abundant opportunities to practice their newly acquired skills
•     To help them feel comfortable about getting  -  and giving  -  feedback that improves       writing

As they achieve these goals, they will find themselves more confident and comfortable with their new language, producing texts that are much more interesting than standard classroom fare, and really writing from their hearts.

Paperback  8.5" x 11"            Fully illustrated

Table of contents:

Introduction

 

Heartfelt Breakthroughs

1.  Thoughts in Shreds

2.  Outrageous Acts

3.  Deep Feelings

4.  Take a Hike!

 

Finding Inspiration

5.  Ransom-Note Poems

6.  Sign-Language Poems I

7.  Sign-Language Poems II

8.  Op-Ed Pieces

9.  I Remember…

10. A Childhood Room

11. Ommmmmm…

12. Dream Journals

13. A New Twist on Old Things

14. Treasured Characters

15. Finding Inspiration in Life Experiences

16. Finding Inspiration in Visual Art

17. Finding Inspiration in Music

18. Dally with Dali

19. Who Is That in the Portrait?

 

Editing and Polishing

20. The Basics

21. Poem Diet

22. Don’t Add the Ads (Adjectives and Adverbs)

23. Loud and Louder

24. Breaking Up Is Hard to Do

25. I Can’t Believe You Said That!

26. The Drawing Board

27. Good Question!

28. Be-Gone!

29. I Really, Really Mean It!

30. Are You Gonna Try This One?

31. All You Need Is Love

 

Long-Term Projects

32. A Personal Narrative

33. Dear Diary

34. Short Story

35. Public Performance Poem

36. Poetry Walk

37. The E-Zine Project

 

Recommended Reading

Fiction

Writing Resources

Review:
"Kathryn Bell has provided an imaginative and useful collection of writing activities for the ESL classroom.... one of the strengths of From the Heart is its flexibility. Although developed with college ESL students, the activities could be easily adapted to high school or adult education settings." -- NCELA, May 2004