Find more celebration posts at Ruth’s blog.
My students were quietly working on their Slice of Life posts on Tuesday. Erin announced she didn’t know what to write about. I ignored her. Tucked behind a laptop computer on a counter in the classroom was The Writer’s Toolbox. I don’t remember buying this. I think it was at Barnes and Noble one summer when I was teaching a writing camp. Since then I’ve used it occasionally but not very often.
Frankly, I don’t really like The Writer’s Toolbox. It is a box of gimmicks. There are sticks for a first sentence, a non sequitur sentence, and a last scene. There are spinners for characters. The toolbox was designed for adults. There were sticks I had to remove for their adult content. When I used the kit to inspire writing, I found that the writing that resulted was not very good. So there the box sat on the counter until Erin found it.
Erin asked, “How do you play this game?”
I responded, “I don’t remember. Why don’t you read the directions?”
Soon Erin was writing crazy stories. Lani joined her. It seemed like so much fun. Then Emily and Kaiden, and before I knew it, there sat an enthusiastic group of writers. They used the 3 minute timer and wrote in 3 minute segments. They shared their writing, and soon each other’s characters were showing up in other stories. This game went on for 2 days.
Emily and Erin both wrote about this activity on their Slice of Life posts for the week. They asked each other to proof their posts to make sure they were accurate.
So I discovered this amazing game called The Writer’s Toolbox. It lets you make up your own stories. It can be serious or funny. But it’s really hard to not make it funny because the prompts are so weird. One of them is “I was dressed in a completely inappropriate shade of pink.” That was one of mine.
All this got started with Juan when she just wanted some McNuggets and a case of Kool-Aid. But she and Helen became best friends cause they both loved to dance. Then Jimmy told them that they should become exotic dancers. Then Bob came along singing lalala with his dad behind him. Then Hillary popped out of nowhere with a toilet paper covered Sheila and Principal Barbara. Also Melissa and Larry who were eating cat sandwiches. Can’t forget about Fred who just came back from Russia. Finally Mr.Margaret who drove them all insane.
I could not have planned this activity. It would not have worked if I had. The student-driven wild writing that took place delighted this writing teacher’s heart, but I didn’t say that to my students. I don’t want to ruin whatever ferocity that drove this activity by putting the teacher approval stamp on it.
Erin’s feral writing, pages and pages of writing.
Reflections on the Teche 
“I don’t want to ruin whatever ferocity that drove this activity by putting the teacher approval stamp on it.” Love this conclusion to the writing that occurred around this activity that you did not like.
Don’t you just love it when unexpected things happen? Especially when it comes from the students themselves? No need for a stamp of approval.
The fact that they found it, figured it out and then played made it theirs! That is the magic. I also love the direct connection of writing and play.
I had to keep reading, Margaret, because from the picture I thought it was a book. What fun for your students. Maybe we need to reconsider the value of FUN and all the many ways that students can take control of their own writing . . . 🙂
You are so wise!! Love that enthusiasm that comes out of nowhere.
I so enjoyed this, Margaret. I know what you mean about the “box of gimmicks.” I probably would have thrown it away long ago. Who knew! I love your phrase “feral writing.”
Your title caught my eye, Margaret. After reading your post, I see exactly why you titled it so. Your students provided us with a look at student engagement. There is such spontaneity in this activity, wild writing, and just pure fun that you must have been so delighted watching this in action.