The Writing Prompt

Hidden carefully in desks, and worked on while the teacher's back was turned, the sixth grade class quietly put together a portal to summon Satan.

Near the beginning of the school year, after gaining a lot of insight on how my students were taught during the 20-21 school year, I wrote a writing prompt based on my students. I was aware as I wrote this prompt, that I in no way wanted to give this prompt to my students. It would give them Ideas™. 

My students did not need more Ideas™.

(They named the garbage can Maurice and began daily "feeding" rituals. They began a petition for more recess after nearly revolting when they were told they only had one. The girls organized a tea party potluck for lunch. They tried to go to the bathroom en masse. They conveniently forgot my instructions to work quietly. They bought me a plant after I told them I would never get a class pet, named it Rick Plantley, and overwatered it. They started a wanted mystery which didn't end until the "cattle rustler" was turned in and the winner got $~70,000-- pronounced sñeventy thousand dollars. They begged me to get a boyfriend and bring him to class. In short, they had new Ideas™ every week and acted on them.)

And so, I endeavored to teach them. I tried not to bring up my dates (a complete failure on my part). I tried to encourage the constructive ideas and ignore the destructive.

But one can only do so much.

Last Monday, when doing our daily writing practice, my students wanted a new prompt. They wanted a different prompt. They wanted something made just for them.

And so, despite my best efforts, I gave them the prompt. Collectively their eyes got wide and their imaginations turned on. I let them adjust it ever so slightly ("I'm Christian! I can't summon Satan!"). And then, I set the timer and let them get to work.

H. gave each student in class superpowers and explained how that helped them build portals. MT1 and MT2 somehow communicated telepathically(?) to decide to summon Snoop Dogg in very similar ways. N. had the entire class pulling out bits of metal and paint from their desks. I. had everyone building a fake back wall to hide the portal. E.S. was a lookout in several stories. D. summoned Caillou instead of Satan. And P.S. summoned her cat (who was, as I understand it, a therapy cat and allowed to come to class anyway).

When the time finished, they all wanted to share. When the time finished, they all wanted to keep going. When the time finished, they hadn't. So the next day I let them keep writing. And they continued writing the day after that.

H. took his story home and carefully added details. P.S. included her best friend E.A. who sat next to her and even helped write. Several students warned me not to look behind the coat racks as they created a false wall and giggled when I looked anyway.

I told this story to the rest of the staff Thursday morning during our staff circle time. I explained the prompt and how my students' imaginations grew and how much they loved it.

I will admit to some anxiety as I shared this with the rest of the staff. After all, summoning Satan is usually frowned upon in Utah County. But instead of horror, I heard murmurs of excitement. I heard snatches of sentences like, "Oh how fun for them!" and "Ooh! Portals!" The kindergarten teacher told me she was going to have her students imagine a portal and then ask them what they would summon with it. Two other teachers told me they were going to use the same prompt with their students.

I realized an interesting thing while sharing this prompt with the rest of the staff: all my students needed was a way to properly cultivate an Idea™. And with a nudge into the right bounds, their creativity and imaginations will continue to flourish.