Narrative writing can be incredibly personal, which makes it easy for some students and difficult for others. Our narrative writing graphic organizer bundle can help students of all ages plan out and write strong narrative essays and creative stories. The organizers are simple to use and free to download.
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Narrative Writing Graphic Organizer Bundle
Grab your free graphic organizers by entering your email info in the form on this page. You’ll get immediate access to download and print!
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How To Use Our Narrative Writing Graphic Organizers
Here’s what you’ll get in the narrative writing bundle:
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One-Page Narrative Writing Worksheet
This worksheet is an all-in-one guide to narrative writing! Students can map out their composition, making notes about the topic, theme, setting, characters, and plot. It also includes a handy checklist to remind them to add details, ensure they have a beginning, middle, and end, and more.
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What’s Your Story? Topic and Theme
For students who are writing longer essays or need more guidance, try our set of detailed organizers. This one helps kids brainstorm ideas, choose a story they want to tell, and identify the theme that will tie it all together.
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Who, Where, and When? Setting and Characters
When it comes to narrative writing, the more details, the better! This organizer page will help students flesh out the characters in their narrative and find the right words to set the scene of time and place.
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Beginning, Middle, and End
Narrative writing tells a story—one with a beginning, middle, and end. Use this page to guide students in crafting the plot that makes up the bulk of their narrative composition. They can make notes of the words they want to use, as well as illustrations to help capture the mood.
What is narrative writing?
Narrative writing tells a story—whether true or fiction. This category includes creative writing like novels, short stories, and epic poems or ballads. It also encompasses memoirs, biographies and autobiographies, and personal narrative essays.
Describe a time when you did something you didn’t want to and ended up liking it.
What is your happiest memory?
Write about a time when you or someone you know displayed courage.
Explore a time when you felt you were treated unfairly.
When was the last time you questioned something you had thought to be true?
Describe a performance or sporting event you took part in.
Tell about a time when you made a mistake and had to apologize and/or fix it.
Write about meeting your best friend for the first time and how your relationship developed.
Tell the story of your first day of kindergarten.
Describe a time when you had to make a difficult decision.
More Writing Prompts for Kids
We’ve got so many ideas and prompts to spark young writers! Take a look at these:
Don’t forget to grab your free printable narrative writing graphic organizer!
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Just click the button and enter your email info in the form on this page to download and print your copy today. It’s an easy way to help kids get a jump-start on their compositions!
Lined writing paper has so many uses in the classroom! We’ve got a variety of options to choose from in our free bundle, plus ideas for using these pages in almost any subject.
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Lined Writing Paper Bundle
Get all of our writing pages, including dotted-line kindergarten paper and paper with room for drawings too. Just enter your info in the form on this page and download it right now!
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Lined Writing Paper Bundle Pages
Here’s what you’ll get in our free bundle:
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Dotted-Line Kindergarten Writing Paper
For kids just learning to write letters and numbers properly, this writing paper with dotted center lines is the perfect way to practice. It provides scaffolded guidance for those in kindergarten and 1st grade, and even older students who need some extra reinforcement.
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Colored Dotted-Line Writing Paper
Colors help new writers differentiate between the lines, making it easier to identify the top, bottom, and midline. These visual cues provide differentiated support as young learners practice their writing skills.
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Highlighted Dotted-Line Writing Paper
When colored lines aren’t quite enough, try this version of kindergarten writing paper. The main writing area is highlighted, making it very obvious where letters should start and end. This kindergarten writing paper also includes a dotted midline.
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Simple Lined Writing Paper
Use these pages for students who no longer need the scaffolded guidance offered by the center dotted lines. The lines will help keep their handwriting straight across the page and also give them an idea of how much they might be expected to write for an assignment.
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Lined Writing Paper With Drawing Boxes
Pages like these give kids some room to add their own illustrations while also keeping their handwriting neat and straight. You get three different options with small, medium, and large boxes and varied amounts of lines.
How To Use Printable Writing Paper With Lines
Try these ideas to make the most of your free lined pages!
Dotted-Line Kindergarten Writing Paper Ideas
Staple together 26 pages to make an alphabet book, one page per letter. Write a sample letter at the top of each page for kids to copy, in both uppercase and lowercase, then let them practice on their own.
Have students write a row of one specific letter (uppercase or lowercase). Then, ask them to look over the row and circle the best example. They can also look for patterns (e.g., “I always forget to dot the i,” or “My lowercase bs are backwards sometimes”).
Have each student write their name at the top of the page. Then, everyone passes their paper to the person on their left. Kids write their own name on the second line of that paper, then pass it again. Repeat until all the lines are full, and kids have a page filled with their classmates’ names in their own handwriting!
Ask students to pick the eight letters they have the most difficulty writing (or choose for them). Write each letter at the beginning of a set of lines, then let kids practice by filling in the rest of each line on their own.
Young students need practice writing numerals too! Use lined kindergarten writing paper for number-writing exercises. They can repeat one numeral per line, or try writing from 1 to 20, or 50, or even 100!
Simple Lined Writing Paper Ideas
Use each page for a daily journal entry. Punch holes along the edge so students can keep all of their journal entries together in a binder.
Help students write arithmetic problems neatly using the lines as guides.
Ask students to number the lines, then use the writing paper for spelling tests.
Write acrostic poems by starting each line with the letter of a word, written vertically down the page. Learn more about acrostics here.
Here’s a creative way to reuse paper that’s already been used for practice: Give kids scissors and have them turn the paper sideways and practice cutting along the straight lines!
Ideas for Lined Writing Paper With Drawing Boxes
Write a short poem on the board for students to copy in their own handwriting. Then ask them to illustrate the poem.
Staple together a series of pages so students can create their own illustrated storybooks!
Use the lines for students to take notes on any topic, and then draw diagrams or other helpful illustrations that deepen their understanding.
Create a nature journal with multiple pages. Kids sketch what they observe (birds, animal tracks, tree leaves, flowers, etc.), then write about their experiences.
Have kids write and solve an arithmetic equation on the lines. Then, ask them to illustrate the problem in the box. For instance, if the equation is 8 x 3 = 24, they might draw 8 red dots, 3 blue dots, and 24 purple dots.
Writing Prompts and Ideas for the Classroom
Looking for more writing resources? Check these out:
Get your free lined writing paper for kindergarten and primary students today!
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Click the button below and then enter your info in the form on this page. You’ll get instant access to our free bundle of pages for your students!
Break through writer’s block and sharpen communication skills with this list of writing prompts for high school students. Use them for daily warm-ups, journal entries, creative writing, narrative essays, and so much more.
Check out our engaging writing prompts for high school students. Just fill out the form on this page to download your free slides.
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Benefits of Writing Prompts
The more writing practice kids get in high school, the better. Here’s how they benefit from using writing prompts in any classroom.
Improve written communication skills
In today’s world, many careers require people to be able to communicate clearly and succinctly through the written word, whether in emails, online messages, reports, or other communications. Writing comes easily for some students, but in general, the best way to get better is to practice, practice, practice!
Overcome writer’s block
Teachers hear it again and again: “I don’t know what to write about!” Specific prompts help overcome those complaints, helping students get started by providing a focus, style, or other instructions.
Build critical thinking skills
Challenging writing prompts and essay topics encourage students to think more deeply about topics, approaching them from different points of view. Writers practice evaluating cause and effect, weighing evidence, and taking a stand on issues.
Invite personal reflection
Journal prompts and personal narratives inspire students to consider their own emotions, reactions, and behaviors. They can spur students to build resilience, mindfulness, and personal strength as they write.
Encourage self-expression
Creative writing and journal prompts are especially good for emboldening students to share more about themselves. This helps build self-confidence, as well as offering ways for them to process experiences and emotions.
How To Use Writing Prompts With High School Students
Wondering how to work writing prompts into your classes? Try these ideas:
Daily warm-ups: Start with a short writing prompt to get kids thinking and ready to participate.
Journal writing: Give kids space to write personal and private thoughts and reflections each day.
Creative writing practice: Help students write stories, plays, poems, and more.
Discussion starters: After students spend some time writing on a topic, put them into pairs or groups to talk about their thoughts.
Test prep: Give prompts that students might find on SAT, ACT, AP, or other standardized exams to practice timed essay writing.
Substitute plans: Writing prompts make easy sub plans! Leave substitute teachers a list for students to choose from, and class will take care of itself!
End-of-class reflection: Use prompts as exit tickets or a way for students to summarize what they learned and make real-life connections.
Journal Writing Prompts for High School
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What do you value most in a friend?
What’s one thing you’d like to improve about yourself, and how could you start?
Write about a quality you admire in yourself.
What are you most afraid of? How could you overcome that fear?
Describe a place where you feel completely comfortable.
Which subject is hardest for you, and how do you handle it?
Write about a teacher who made a positive difference in your life.
Do you prefer working alone or in groups? Why?
What motivates you to keep going when life feels difficult?
How do you feel about homework?
Describe your ideal classroom environment.
Who do you look up to and why?
What makes someone trustworthy?
What role does social media play in your friendships?
How do you cope when you’re feeling anxious or worried?
What’s a lesson you’ve learned from a relationship that didn’t go well?
How do you show appreciation for others?
What matters more, honesty or kindness?
Do you think high school friendships can last a lifetime? Why or why not?
What does happiness mean to you?
Creative Writing Prompts for High School
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The power goes out across the world. Write about what happens during the first 24 hours afterward.
A character writes a letter but never sends it. What does it say, and who was it meant for?
You discover an old photograph taken decades ago—and realize you’re in it.
Write about a day in a world where emotions are sold in bottles.
Describe a UFO landing in your backyard and who or what is inside.
Write about a superhero with a silly superpower and how the “real” superheroes treat them.
Write about a day when every thought you have is visible to everyone around you.
Describe a world where music has magical powers.
Today you realized your whole life is a reality TV show—and everyone else is actors. Now what?
Imagine a day in the life of a pet (yours or someone else’s).
Write about the first people to visit another planet and find life there.
Write an episode of your favorite show with you as a guest star.
Choose a book or story and write a different ending for it.
Write a story set in a world where people age backward.
What would happen if people could no longer see colors, only black, white, or shades of gray?
Write the news article for this headline: Scientists Discover the Secret to Eternal Life.
Write a story set in a world where people communicate through dance instead of spoken language.
You’ve been accused of a terrible crime you didn’t commit. Write about your experiences.
Write a story set on a spaceship that travels the galaxy but never lands anywhere.
Write a conversation between two historical figures from different eras.
Short 5-Minute Writing Prompts for High School
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What’s one skill you’d like to learn that isn’t taught in school?
Describe your mood right now using only weather words.
What sound do you find particularly annoying?
What’s one thing you’re grateful for today and why?
Give today a movie title, and explain why you chose it.
What’s one school rule you would change if you could?
List five things you’d put in a time capsule being buried today and opened in 50 years.
Write a complete story in five sentences or less.
What’s something small that made you feel happy recently?
What’s one small thing you could do today to make the world a better place?
10-Minute Writing Prompts for High School
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Write a letter to someone you love, telling them why you love them.
Write about a smell you associate with a happy memory.
Set a small goal for yourself, and explain how you’ll accomplish it.
Write a text message exchange between two fictional characters.
What’s going really well in your life right now, and what is most challenging?
Choose a favorite song and describe how it makes you feel.
How do you cheer yourself up on a bad day?
If money were no issue, what career or job would you choose?
List three new things you’ve learned recently, then explain which is the most important.
If someone offered you the thing you want most, what would you be willing to give up for it in exchange?
Fun Writing Prompts for High School
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What’s the funniest joke you know? Why does it always make you laugh?
Describe the perfect meal from start to finish.
Would you rather be able to fly or be invisible?
How would you fight a monster 50 times your size?
Write a commercial for shoes that let you walk on the ceiling.
Create a new holiday, and explain how it’s celebrated.
List the five funniest excuses for being late to class.
Make up a sport that could only exist on another planet.
What if every time you sneezed, you switched bodies with the person closest to you?
Write a letter to your personal hero, then imagine their response to you.
Writing Prompts for High School Seniors
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Which grade year of school has been your favorite?
Which grade year of school was your least favorite?
When you look back over your K-12 years, what do you wish you had done differently?
What class do you wish you had been able to take (real or imaginary)?
Do you think your K-12 years have prepared you to be an adult? Why or why not?
Compare and contrast the friends you had when you were in elementary school and the friends you have now.
List 10 things you hope to have accomplished 10 years from now. Which of these is most important to you?
What teacher has had the greatest impact on your life over the years?
What advice would you offer to kids just starting kindergarten?
Fill in the blanks, then explain your answers: Graduation is the end of ____________ and the beginning of ____________.
Narrative Writing Prompts for High School
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Describe a time when you did something you later regretted.
Write about your proudest moment.
Describe your favorite field trip of all time.
Write about the best party or celebration you’ve ever attended.
Write about a time when you or someone you know displayed courage.
If you could relive any day in your life, what would it be? Would you want it to be the same or different?
Explore a time when you were treated unfairly.
When was the last time you questioned something you had thought to be true?
Choose one of the communities to which you belong and describe that community and your place within it.
Describe a time when you had to make a difficult decision.
There are so many facets involved in the science of reading. In the primary grades, students are just learning how to read, and the five pillars of literacy are the main focus: phonics, phonemic awareness, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. When students reach the upper elementary grades, things shift from learning how to read to reading for meaning. This is the start of a new era for English Language Arts (ELA) students, where elements of fiction are now the main focus.
Third grade is the start of high-stakes standardized testing, which continues until high school graduation. A deep understanding of the elements of fiction is crucial for students at this point in their ELA education. The six elements of fiction are character, plot, point of view, setting, theme, and conflict resolution. Each one helps students deepen their understanding of a text as they analyze and synthesize information. Let’s get to know more about each and how to incorporate fun ways to teach them to your students.
6 Elements of Fiction
Character
The characters of a text are the people, animals, or other beings involved in the events of a story. The characters help build the plot of the story.
Ideas for teaching character:
Character role-play: Students act out their favorite character from a story.
Character trait posters: Students draw their favorite character from a story and write different character traits around the drawing to describe them.
Character timelines: Build a timeline of the character from beginning to end describing traits at each point. Students can map character growth, which also helps identify the theme of the story.
Character social media profile: Have students create a profile page for a specific character.
Plot
The plot consists of the main events of a story and is broken down into three main parts: beginning, middle, and end.
Ideas for teaching plot:
Story maps: Have students draw events in sequence, creating a map of events. There are plenty of ways to do this using different types of ready-made graphic organizers.
B-M-E identification: Have students write a few sentences to a paragraph each for the three main parts of the story: beginning, middle, and end.
Sequence activities: Provide sentence strips or cards with different events from the story. Students then put them in the order in which they occurred.
Plot diagram charts: Make a diagram to show the rise and fall of the plot. Label it with the five key stages of a story: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. Use a plot pyramid template to map the story structure, or get artsy with a mountain or roller coaster shape.
Setting
The setting is where and when the story takes place. It is important to identify it from the start since it sets the tone and builds an understanding of the other elements.
Ideas for teaching setting:
Time period research project: Identify the time period of the story and have students research trends, events, and other fun facts about it.
Setting maps: Create maps showing the different locations (real or fictional) of where the main events take place.
Travel brochures: Create a travel brochure for a story’s setting. Include landmarks, best things to do, important places from the story, and other highlights to convince others to visit.
Setting switch rewrite: Students rewrite the story (or a major scene) in a completely different time and/or place. Students then analyze their own writing (or a classmate’s), comparing and contrasting it with the original version.
Theme
The theme is the central idea, message, or lesson of a story.
Ideas for teaching theme:
Analyze fairy tales and folktales: Both genres are great since they are short stories where characters often learn a lesson at the end.
Cross-text theme hunt: Compare two or more texts (stories, poems, or songs) with similar themes and discuss how each conveys the theme differently.
Theme tracker charts: Students go back through a text individually or in groups and record evidence supporting the theme. For example, as characters grow and change, the theme develops. How does it all build up to the end?
Make a theme collage: Students create a digital slide or draw a poster containing different images supporting the theme of a story.
Point of View
The point of view refers to how a character feels and tells the story. This can also refer to the perspective of the narrator of the story.
Ideas for teaching point of view:
Readers theater: Students are assigned different characters to act out from a story. They tell their point of view of events based on how their character sees it.
Point of view rewrite activity: Students rewrite a short story or scene from another character’s perspective or as the narrator.
Create a diary entry: Students pretend to be a character from the story and write a diary entry describing a main event from the story. Students should go into detail about the setting, feelings, relationships with other characters, and more.
Narrator voice comparison: Read two versions of the same event from different points of view. Compare and contrast the point of view of each narrator using a Venn diagram. Fractured fairy tales are great tools for exploring point of view since they take a different angle on the original.
Conflict Resolution
The conflict in a story refers to the problem a character faces in the story. The main types of conflict are as follows: character vs. self (internal conflict), character vs. character, character vs. society, character vs. nature, character vs. technology, and character vs. the supernatural. The resolution is how the problem is solved.
Ideas for teaching conflict resolution:
Conflict type sort: Provide students different scenarios or excerpts from stories. Students identify the type of conflict: character vs. character, self, society, nature, technology, or the supernatural.
Conflict timeline: Students record a conflict’s development over time, from the beginning to the end of a story. Students analyze how the character reacts during each event.
Conflict resolution match-up: Write out conflict situations on index cards. Make a matching card for each with a possible resolution. Students match them, providing reasons why they go together. The cards can have more than one answer, providing a fun and creative way to solve the problem!
Make connections: Compare a conflict in a text to another situation. Connections can include text-to-text connections, text-to-self connections, or text-to-world connections. Identify how the scenarios are alike and come up with a resolution that works for both examples.
Elements of Fiction Anchor Charts
If you need anchor charts to help teach elements of fiction to your students, look no further! Check out these examples and re-create your favorites for your classroom.
Journaling has a lot of benefits, like reducing stress and keeping you organized. There are all sorts of ways to journal, including a calendar diary, a blank book, or daily writing prompts. One method that’s become incredibly popular in recent years is bullet journaling. Learn more about this system, and get lots of creative bullet journal ideas to try.
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Habit Tracker Bundle
For a quick and easy start, try pasting one of these habit trackers directly into your bullet journal. With different styles for each month, they also provide great theme ideas! Click the button to see them all and download your free set.
What is a bullet journal?
A bullet journal is a book with pages full of faint dots in a grid pattern. It’s similar to a blank book in that you can turn any page into anything you like. But the grid of dots helps many people feel a little more organized and inspired. You can connect the dots to make calendars, tracking grids, and much more. Or you can ignore them and just doodle or create a work of art on each page.
Most people who use bullet journals enjoy the creativity involved. Many of them use stickers, templates, markers, and other stationery supplies to make their journals colorful works of art. But you don’t necessarily need to use a bullet journal that way. This system is so versatile that it can really work for anyone.
You can find lots of bullet journal inspiration by searching sites like Instagram. Tip: Try using the hashtag #bujo in addition to #bulletjournal when you search. This nickname is very common in the bullet-journaling community.
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How To Choose a Bullet Journal
There are lots of bullet journals to choose from out there. (You might also see them called dotted grid notebooks, dotted journals, or something similar.) Make sure you choose one that lies flat when it’s open so you can easily write on the entire page. Also look for heavy-duty paper, since a lot of the fun of bullet journaling involves markers and colored pens that can bleed through thinner pages. Pick a size that makes sense for you: Do you want large pages with tons of room or something smaller that you can tuck into your bag or pocket?
Once you’ve chosen the right journal, now it’s up to you to fill it with pages that fit your needs and personality. Take a look at these ideas to get started.
Bullet Journal Habit Tracker Ideas
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Habit trackers are some of the most popular bullet journal page ideas. In their simplest form, they’re just a grid of squares you can fill in as you accomplish your habit goal each day. But many people use the open-ended nature of the pages to make truly creative trackers, such as the petals of a flower or the rays of a sun. Here are some of the most common tracker pages found in bullet journals.
Habit Tracker
Combine all your habit trackers into one simple page, where you can simply mark whether you met your goals for each day.
Study Tracker
This tracker helps kids keep track of how long they spend in focused study. They can break it down by subject, or combine the time together into one tracker.
Mood Tracker
Here’s another creative type of tracking page, this one for moods. People often use colors to track their moods, but you might also select stickers, emojis, or another design.
Exercise Tracker
Keep track of your daily exercise with a simple tracker page. If you like to mix up your routines, use different colors to indicate the various types of exercise you complete.
Sleep Tracker
Tracking the amount, timing, and quality of your sleep can help you see how it connects to your overall health. If you have a fitness tracker, you can even note the amount of time you spend in deep sleep, REM sleep, etc.
Reading Tracker
If you’re trying to read a little more, create a tracking page in your journal. It’s also a good place to record books you’re planning to read in the future.
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Self-Care Tracker
In addition to tracking exercise or hydration, keep track of other important self-care activities, like meditation, personal time, creative activities, or affirmations.
Anxiety Tracker
Need to tame the anxiety monster? Try tracking your anxiety level each day so you can identify patterns and make connections.
Expense Tracker
Trying to get a better handle on your finances? Use an expense tracker so you’ll have a clearer picture of where all that cash is really going each month.
Hydration Tracker
Most of us never seem to drink enough water, no matter how hard we try. A hydration tracker might give you the nudge you need to meet hydration goals.
Distance Tracker
Prepping for a 10K or a marathon, or just want to encourage yourself to run or walk more? A distance tracker is a fun way to keep yourself on the right path.
Fitness Tracker
Lay out your favorite exercise routines, then track how often you complete them. This is a good way to see if you need to balance out certain fitness routines, like cardio and strength training.
Goal Tracker
Tracking your progress toward goals can keep you motivated and engaged. Set up your tracker by day, week, or month, or simply track the progress you’ve made toward achieving each goal.
Creative Bullet Journal Page Ideas
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One of the most fun parts of bullet journaling is the creativity! Whether you draw and illustrate your own pages or add stickers and use stencils instead, the goal is to create a fun, colorful journal that truly reflects your personality.
Monthly Theme
Lots of bullet journalers like to create a title page for each new month, often with a theme they’ll use all month long. These colorful pages can help set the mood for the weeks to come.
Art Page
Love to draw, sketch, or paint? Fill your journal with your own beautiful works of art!
About Me
It can be really fun to create an About Me page every so often (maybe once a year or so), so you can track your own personal growth and achievements.
Quote Page
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You can use this page to document and illustrate one favorite quote, or create a whole collection you can reflect back on as needed.
Book Review
Whether you belong to a book club and want to organize your thoughts or simply love to write reviews for your own enjoyment, these bullet journal pages are always fun and relaxing.
Bullet Journal Planning and Organization Ideas
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Calendar
Calendar pages are one of the most basic and common bullet journal pages. Use a ruler or straight-edge to connect the dots into a grid, making the blocks any size you like. Then you can decorate the calendar pages with drawings, stickers, and more.
Task List
There are lots of creative ways to set up a task list. Some people connect the dots to make tiny checkboxes. You can also make a single slash mark for each item, then add a second to create an X when you’ve finished the task.
Budget
A budget layout is a very personal thing, so choose the style that works best for you. All that matters is that you stick to that budget!
Schedule
Schedule pages can be very simple, or they can be more artsy and colorful. Experiment with both styles, and see which you prefer.
Goal Setting
Goal pages are another very common bullet journal feature. Some people prefer to keep them simple so they’re not overwhelming. Others use their goal page for inspiration, making them creative and full of color and life.
Notes
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This is a no-rules kind of bullet journal page, where you can jot down anything you need in any way you like. Small sticky notes and highlighters can help you keep thoughts clear and organized.
Year-at-a-Glance
Get a look at the big picture with a year-at-a-glance layout. Sketch out each month with an overview of the highlights. Try color-coding different activities and events to make it easier to read and follow.
Project Planner
Planning a project in advance is good, and keeping your plan in your bullet journal means you’re less likely to lose it before you implement it!
Meal Planner
Create a list of your family’s favorite standard meals. Then, draw from those ideas and set up a meal plan for the week or month.
Chore Chart
These aren’t just for kids! Create a detailed cleaning schedule to help yourself remember all those pesky household chores.
Yearly Bookshelf
Meghan Mathis for We Are Teachers
How cool is this idea for tracking the books you read each year? And it’s really not that hard to draw if you use the dots and a straight-edge as a guide.
Gift Planner
Get ready for the holidays or plan out your gift-giving needs for the year ahead with this bullet journal idea.
Trip Planner
As you prepare to travel, create lists of places to go, things to do, and other details that will help make your trip a success.
Packing List
Speaking of travel, a packing list page is another bullet journal winner. Keep a standard packing list you can alter as needed for each trip—it’s a real time-saver.
Lesson Planner
Teachers, have you tried using a bullet journal as a lesson planner? You might be surprised at how well the flexibility works for you!
Mindfulness Bullet Journal Ideas
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Bullet journaling is all about mindfulness, with its combination of structures and unstructured pages and activities. Consider these ideas to bring a dose of calm meditation to your journal experience.
Daily Gratitude
Bullet journaling is meant to be a mindfulness activity, so be sure to include a page each month for documenting all the things you’re currently thankful for.
Mind Map
Mind mapping lets you get ideas out of your head and down onto paper, in a somewhat organized fashion. You can refer back to these pages as you set goals and create task lists.
Personal Reflection
Take a few minutes to think about your recent life activities and events, and to consider your current state of mind. This kind of mindfulness is very helpful at reducing stress.
Daily Journal
If you like to keep track of what you’ve been up to on a daily basis, a bullet journal is a terrific option for that. Many people like to add drawings, stickers, and other creative elements to these pages too.
Playlist
Capture the music of the moment with a playlist page! These are fun to look back on when the year draws to a close, helping you see the soundtrack that’s been scoring your life.
Daily Overview
Many people like to create a separate page in their journal each day to document what they need to do and what they actually accomplish. Spending a few minutes on this exercise each day is a form of mindful meditation and can be very soothing.
One Line a Day
If a full journal entry seems like too much, try this easy page. All you need to do is write one sentence each day, capturing the mood and most important moments of the day.
Bucket List
Dream big on your bucket list! Some people like to make them for a season, a year, or even a month. Or create an ongoing bucket list with goals for your entire life.
Affirmations
When you need daily inspiration, turn to your affirmation page and remind yourself just how great you really are.
Daily Delights
Each day has a highlight, so take a moment to jot it down before you go to sleep.
Monthly Challenge
Meghan Mathis for We Are Teachers
Choose an activity that brings you joy, and devote a little time to it each day, documenting your progress in your journal. This is less about establishing habits and more about choosing something new and enjoyable each month. Try an art challenge, a writing challenge, a photo challenge, or something else that sparks your creativity.
Travel Wish List
Use your journal pages to document all your travel dreams! You’ll appreciate having these pages when it’s time to plan your next vacation.
Travel Diary
Bullet journals are wonderful travel diaries. You can add photos, sketches, and travel mementos alongside your written reflections on your adventures.
Month in Review
When the month draws to a close, create a spread where you reflect on the highlights and accomplishments before you move on to the next one.
Recipe Page
Turn a bullet journal into a cookbook, or just capture a favorite recipe every so often. Be sure to include your own notes on making the recipe a success.
Recipe Collection
A collection of favorite recipes will make it much easier to plan meals or prepare special foods for celebrations (or just for Mondays).
Remember all those VIBs (Very Important Birthdays) with a bullet journal page. (If you’re artistic, try adding a sketch of each person next to their birth date!)
Brain Dump
Sometimes it’s nice to just have a place to jot down notes, worries, and anything else that’s taking up space in your brain. Later on, you can look back over this “dump” and use it to make more organized lists or charts.
Gearing up for some Halloween writing activities? You’ll want this list of evocative Halloween words to share with your students. Start by grabbing the free printables, then try some of our favorite Halloween activities for all ages.
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Words for Halloween Creatures
alien
apparition
bat
black cat
boogeyman
crow
demon
devil
Dracula
Frankenstein
ghost
ghoul
goblin
Grim Reaper
hobgoblin
imp
jackal
leech
monster
mummy
ogre
owl
phantom
poltergeist
rat
raven
scarecrow
shape-shifter
skeleton
sorcerer
specter
spider
spirit
tarantula
toad
troll
vampire
vermin
werewolf
witch
wizard
wraith
zombie
Halloween Words About Fear
afraid
alarming
bizarre
blood-curdling
bloody
chilling
creepy
eerie
evil
fright
ghastly
gory
grim
grisly
gruesome
haunted
horrible
horrify
horror
jittery
lurid
lurk
macabre
morbid
nasty
nefarious
nightmare
ominous
petrify
quake
qualm
quaver
quiver
repulsive
revolting
scary
scream
shiver
shriek
sinister
terrible
terrify
terror
thrilling
tremble
unnerving
vile
weird
wicked
yell
yowl
Halloween Words About Death
bones
boneyard
cadaver
casket
cemetery
coffin
corpse
dead
epitaph
graveyard
headstone
killer
lifeless
mausoleum
netherworld
RIP (rest in peace)
skull
tombstone
undead
undertaker
urn
vault
victim
Halloween Words About Witches and Wizards
broomstick
cackle
cauldron
hocus-pocus
incantation
invisible
jinx
kettle
lair
legend
magic
potion
ritual
spell
supernatural
ugly
unearthly
vanish
voodoo
wand
Fun Halloween Words
autumn
costume
decoration
disguise
fall
fog
jack-o’-lantern
lantern
mask
Monster Mash
nocturnal
October
orange
pumpkin
quiet
shadow
twilight
whisper
Halloween Activities
bobbing for apples
bonfire
carving
corn maze
costume contest
costume party
dress up
games
ghost story
haunted house
hayride
masquerade
party
prank
prowl
pumpkin patch
trick-or-treat
Halloween Food and Drink Words
apple cider
apples
candy
candy apple
candy corn
chocolate
cocoa
gummy worms
hot chocolate
popcorn ball
pumpkin pie
pumpkin seeds
spicy
sugar
sweet
treats
More Halloween Words
boo
cobweb
dark
enchanting
eyeball
eye patch
fangs
flashlight
haunt
howl
icky
inferno
jet-black
knife
knock
laboratory
midnight
mist
moonlight
mutilate
mysterious
night
ooze
possessed
quagmire
rancid
rattle
reek
rotten
séance
slaughter
slimy
spooky
Transylvania
vengeance
venom
will-o’-the-wisp
wretched
X-ray
yuck
How To Use Halloween Words in the Classroom
There are so many ways to use these creative words with your students. Some ideas you might try:
Word Wall
Printable cards make it easy to build your own Halloween-themed word wall! Post options that kids can use in writing activities, journal entries, and more. Learn more about word walls here.
First, read some of the best spooky stories from masters of the craft like Poe and Lovecraft. Then, challenge kids to write their own, using as many words from the list as they can. Here are 10 scary short stories kids and teens will love.
Print copies of the Halloween word list and cards and hand them out to students to use for writing assignments, vocabulary practice, and more. Just click the button below to share your email address and get instant access. Then share your ideas for using it in our We Are Teachers Helpline Facebook group.
Even if you find a study or paper that you can’t access in one of those databases, consider reaching out to the study’s lead author or researcher. In many cases, they’re happy to discuss their work and may even share the study with you directly and offer to talk about their research.
Get a Good Filtering System
For journalist Paulette Perhach’s article on ADHD in The New York Times, she used Epic Research to see “dual team studies.” That’s when two independent teams address the same topic or question, and ideally come to the same conclusions. She recommends locating research and experts via key associations for your topic. She also likes searching via Google Scholar but advises filtering it for studies and research in recent years to avoid using old data. She suggests keeping your links and research organized. “Always be ready to be peer-reviewed yourself,” Perhach says.
When you are looking for information for a story or project, you might be inclined to start with a regular Google search. But keep in mind that the internet is full of false information, and websites that look trustworthy can sometimes turn out to be businesses or companies with a vested interest in you taking their word as objective fact without additional scrutiny. Regardless of your writing project, unreliable or biased sources are a great way to torpedo your work—and any hope of future work.
For Accuracy, Go to the Government
Author Bobbi Rebell researched her book Launching Financial Grownups using the IRS’ website. “I might say that you can contribute a certain amount to a 401K, but it might be outdated because those numbers are always changing, and it’s important to be accurate,” she says. “AI and ChatGPT can be great for idea generation,” says Rebell, “but you have to be careful. If you are using an article someone was quoted in, you don’t know if they were misquoted or quoted out of context.”
Audrey Clare Farley, who writes historical nonfiction, has used a plethora of sites for historical research, including Women Also Know History, which allows searches by expertise or area of study, and JSTOR, a digital library database that offers a number of free downloads a month. She also uses Chronicling America, a project from the Library of Congress which gathers old newspapers to show how a historical event was reported, and Newspapers.com (which you can access via free trial but requires a subscription after seven days).
When it comes to finding experts, Farley cautions against choosing the loudest voices on social media platforms. “They might not necessarily be the most authoritative. I vet them by checking if they have a history of publication on the topic, and/or educational credentials.”
When vetting an expert, look for these red flags:
You can’t find their work published or cited anywhere.
They were published in an obscure journal.
Their research is funded by a company, not a university, or they are the spokesperson for the company they are doing research for. (This makes them a public relations vehicle and not an appropriate source for journalism.)
And finally, the best endings for virtually any writing, whether it’s an essay, a research paper, an academic report, or a piece of investigative journalism, circle back to the beginning of the piece, and show your reader the transformation or the journey the piece has presented in perspective.
As always, your goal should be strong writing supported by research that makes an impact without cutting corners. Only then can you explore tools that might make the job a little easier, for instance by generating subheads or discovering a concept you might be missing—because then you’ll have the experience and skills to see whether it’s harming or helping your work.
Creative writing is a challenge for many students, often because they can’t come up with anything to write about. That’s why we love picture writing prompts. Each one sparks the imagination and helps young writers jump right into crafting a story to match. We rounded up a whole collection of intriguing images for use with kids in grades K-12 along. Plus we designed a set of free Google Slides featuring all of the prompts so you can easily share them with students.
Tip: Start by showing students the picture (or let them choose from among several) without making any comment about what they’re seeing. For kids who still struggle to get started, suggest a potential title or opening sentence, like the examples included here.
Don’t miss our free downloadable. Grab your full set of ready-to-go Picture Writing Prompts Google Slides with all of the prompts below.
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Elementary Picture Writing Prompts
When kids first see these picture writing prompts, they may or may not immediately feel inspired. If they need some help, ask them questions like “What led up to this moment?” or “What’s going to happen next?”
When his team lost the championship, Miguel was crushed, but it turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to him.
Middle School Picture Writing Prompts
Middle school writing prompts can be a little more complex, with pictures that have a lot of potential interpretations. Encourage students to delve deeper into the story by describing how the characters feel and why they behave the way they do.
“Well, that’s convenient,” Javdok remarked to Qabow when they saw the sign.
High School Picture Writing Prompts
High school writers are ready to dig deep, exploring character development and detailed plots. These pictures offer a jumping-off point to set their imaginations free.
It seemed like a funny joke to pose the skeletons in front of old Mrs. Petoski’s house, but then she turned up dead, and the police said it was murder.
Aliyah stood on the tracks, uncertain of where to go next.
Art Picture Writing Prompts
These picture prompts are all works of art, some more well known than others. Try providing them to students without sharing the titles first, then offer up the titles if they need some help getting started.
Get Your Free Picture Writing Prompts Google Slides
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Just click the button below to fill out the form and get instant access to free downloadable Picture Writing Prompts Google Slides with all the prompts included above.
