Students are heading back to school this month and next, and if you're like me, you remember that old standby back to school writing prompt: “What did you do over summer”. If you're looking for some new ideas to get students back in the habit of writing while you have a little fun developing skills, try one these fun writing prompts!

When I was teaching middle school and high school students, I loved using writing prompts for those early days of school (and truly year round). Students are still trying to figure out how to get through new classes and friendships, and writing is an opportunity to gently get to know each other.

How to use prompts with students

Two things helped me set the tone in those early days. The first is this: everyone writes. I set a timer, even if it was only for five minutes and we write. Me included! It meant that sometimes I walked around the room with my notebook and pen in hand trying to get my own words down while silently directing students back on task, but it set an example.

The second thing was this: I always open the floor for sharing at the end of writing time. Sometimes I encouraged students to share with someone near them, other times I would take volunteers, but I always offered it.

Here's how you can make sharing writing more accessible for every student. First, set a timer. If we wrote for five minutes, I might open the floor for another three to four minutes for sharing. Then, limit what is shared. At the beginning of the year, I ask students for a sentence or two they'd like to share.

I never force students to share, and we made it a time to celebrate thinking and word play, instead of focusing on grammar (that came later!). Within a month or two, nearly every student felt comfortable sharing at least a sentence with peers. And that's not easy, even for adults!

Mix up your prompts!

When you're choosing prompts, I love to do a mix each week. I might have mentor sentence Monday where we share a sentence from a writer we'll be reading that week and we all try to write a similar sentence and play with the structure.

We might have a revision prompt on Wednesdays, where students use the grammar skills we've been learning to correct a set of sentences or write their own correctly.

I might have a question that sparks a debate in preparation for a discussion or novel study. Once a month, I might offer a prompt to review their favorite song/ food/ video game/ show for the week.

Using a mix of prompt ensures that students get to think about writing in a variety of ways, and they begin to see that even if one type of writing isn't their favorite, there are other ways to express themselves too.

First week of school prompts

1. Rate this first day/week from 1-5, 5 being best. Imagine you're writing a script for a short social media video about what has been the best and what could be improved. Be specific.
2. Write an advertisement like a help wanted ad for the best teacher/ coach/ tutor/ principal ever. Be specific about the qualities needed and why.
3. What is your favorite subject or topic? It can be a school subject, like English or math, OR just a topic of interest like dinosaurs or soccer or a specific video game. Imagine someone wanted to learn about that topic and took a class. Write a description of what the best class on that subject in school would include.
4. Imagine the best school routine for you. What would the day look like? What would you spend the most time on to meet your academic goals and personal aspirations?
5. As an elementary student, what did you love during the school day and why? How could you incorporate more of that in your current schedule?

Creative writing prompts

1. Create a scene where you send something unusual to school. Examples: your dog, a pet rock, your soccer ball, a parent. What classes would you have them take? What would they learn?

2. Write a story about a character who steps into what looks like a regular school building and instead finds a very different world inside. This new environment could be magical, like a school for wizards or an academy for superheroes, or surreal, like a place where math problems come to life. Describe the classes they attend, the classmates they meet, and the lessons they learn in this unexpected school setting.
3. Write a scene where your favorite character interviews their biggest enemy.
4. Write a story where a character is on a dream school trip but something happens that derails the whole thing, and the character has to come to the rescue.
5. Write about a summer break that ends when something unexpected interrupts making the main character ready to go back to school.

Regular writing practice

Story and narrative writing practice

Rewrite the following sentences being much more specific. For example, with the first prompt, consider the verb “went.” While it's technically correct, it isn't very precise. How did you go? Did you meander? Sprint? Drive a speedster? Also, what store? Be specific. For each one, try to build it into a sentence or two that helps the reader visualize it. (Hint, use sensory details.)

1. I went to the store.
2. She walked through the yard.
3. He got mad.
4. We got in the water.
5. She played in the street.

Persuasive Paragraph writing practice

1. Write a paragraph using evidence from your own experience that answers this prompt: What day at school is the best day and why?
2. Write a paragraph using evidence from your own experience that answers this prompt: Which sidekick would be the most helpful If you were a superhero and why?
3. Write a paragraph using evidence from your own experience that answers this prompt: What food should be offered in the cafeteria at school and why?
4. Write a paragraph using evidence from your own experience that answers the prompt: What is the single most important teacher tip you could offer a new teacher and why?
5. Write a paragraph using evidence from your own experience that answers the prompt: What part of your daily routine (at home or school) is the most important and why?

Personal narrative writing prompts

1. Tell the story of how you got a scar.
2. Share the most memorable moment you've had with a person who inspires you.
3. Write about a lesson you learned outside of school.
4. Share a cherished childhood memory and why you think it's so memorable.
5. Write about the biggest challenge you have overcome so far and how you did it.

Academic journal prompts

1. What are your future goals? Create one long-term goal for the year, but then think about what one small part of that you could do this week.
2. What was one thing you learned today?
3. Who taught you something today? (Bonus if it wasn't a teacher!)
4. How did you show kindness to someone today?
5. What was your favorite activity today and why?
6. What is one topic you'd like to learn more about?
7. What subject at school do you feel you need more help with? How can you ask for that help?
8. What are three things you can do to keep your work organized?
9. Who could you thank at school today?
10. How could you challenge yourself today at home or at school?

As students get back to their studies, I hope we'll all make time to write. It's such a terrific way to learn AND to play. Make it a part of your home or classroom routine and see how creative students can be. Looking for more prompts? Take a look at our top 150 short story ideas here or the August prompts here. 

What was the most memorable back to school experience you've had? Share in the comments.