Dear Teacher… {Six-Word Wednesday}

I recently shared six-word stories, one of my favorite writing forms, with my high school students, on a day we could actually breathe a little.

 Any more, these days are few and far between.  No observers.  No guests.  No testing.

 Just time to write. Creatively.

Makes me miss (even more!) the days when Reading/Writing Workshop was the foundation of my then-middle and later-high school reading classes.

After a brief intro to six-word stories that included my collection of nearly 1,000 six-word stories written by my HS students the past three years and showing the Smith Mag web site, my kiddos were ready to dive in.  I made it an optional writing activity, since it was really our Independent Reading/SSR day ~ a rarity this year, scheduled for 1st and 3rd Wednesdays, and any extra day I can build in.

Within five minutes, the basket of blank index cards was empty and students were asking for more.  I collected a little over 100 six-word stories that day!  And every day since last week, I find more six-word stories in the designated basket near my desk. 

Found this one yesterday, from a student who said last week, “I can’t stop writing six-word stories in my head!”

Thanks, Lindsey! I promised to pass it along… 🙂   Let’s hope they’re listening.

p.s. ~ For Orange is the New Black fans, there’s an interesting connection between Piper Kerman’s memoir and this writing form. You can read about it [here]. Might have to do a little research …..