This is journal writing in class. Teacher guided us (four people as a group) to complete an unfinished paragraph: “Last Friday evening, I went home exhausted after a long day. When I got home and tried to open the door with my key, suddenly …” Finally, after a series of writing process, we discovered that the ending of story became far beyond the imagination of the beginning writer. Let’s see how creative the writing is!
◆ Clare >>
Last Friday evening, I went home exhausted after a long day. When I got home and tried to open the door with my key, suddenly there was a strange man walked toward me and asked, “Do you go to school today?”
◆ Angie >>
I was so scared that I couldn’t say anything at that moment. Afterward, he told me that he was one of my father’s friends. After hearing what he said, I felt a bit realized and I invited him to my house. On entering the house, I served him some food.
◆ Milly >>
We talked to each other happily until my mother and father came home. When my parents entered the house seeing the man, who said that he was my father’s friend, they both asked me, “Who is he?” ”Dad, isn’t he your friend?”, I asked. “No, I don’t know who he is”.
◆ Cynthia >>
They felt surprised and wondered about who he is. Seeing that we feel puzzled, the man told us who he is. Actually, he is my father’s cousin, twenty years old less than my father’s age. The last time my father met him is twenty years ago when he was an infant! No wonder my father didn’t recognize him. However, how strange is that the man recognized me!
It’s interesting, isn’t it? It was about 8 eight years ago that I first used this writing activity. It was in my very first class in CSGHS. All 45 girls, in their senior year, looked at their new teacher suspiciously, wondering what “tricks” I could do and waiting to judge me when the class was over. Then, this game won all their hearts and trust. They enjoyed the collaboration and challenge. Never had they experienced learning through such an activity. And it was just a beginning!! I taught the girls only for one year, but we had a great time together.
I love this kind of writing activity!
I felt I was not only involved in the game but also learning at the same time. And, it’s fun to share different ideas with each other because the sparkle of brainstorming is fascinating and beyond expectation!
It’s a good way to promote the pleasure and spirit of teamwork.