Presents five ways elementary teachers can enrich their students' fiction writing abilities: teach students to incorporate their own experiences; encourage students to do research; give students chances to read and discuss fiction related to their writing; and help students recognize story elements. (SM)

The creative writing process, like any writing process, begins with a prewriting activity. Story starters are one such activity which teachers can use to begin the creative writing process with their students. For example, large cartoon-like characters made on an opaque projector can be used to initiate discussion. The second step requires a…

Four K-3 teachers (Brevard County School District) described their experiences using whole language programs. They had in common a child-centered attitude; an initial experience of frustration followed by encouragement from the children's excitement and involvement in learning; and an approach that began with the writing process and moved to…