Ask your students to keep a personal journal. Provide each first grader with a notebook and allow them to write about whatever they please. When students are permitted to write about what interests them, they are more likely to show enthusiasm and creativity when writing. Occasionally flip through each student's journal to identify if anyone needs additional assistance with handwriting, punctuation or writing complete sentences. Ask your students to read their journal entries to you to discover if they can read what they have written. Write inspiring notes and words of encouragement to your students in their journals to help keep them motivated to continue writing.
Host a literary night in your classroom and allow each student to read a piece of his writing. Plan ahead for your literary night by encouraging each student to write a poem, short story or any piece of writing they choose. Work one-on-one with each student to sharpen the piece by correcting misspelled words and punctuation mistakes. Have students create invitations to invite loved ones. Transform your classroom for the evening by providing inexpensive snacks and drinks and putting a microphone in front of the room. Use a spotlight to allow each student to take pride in his piece of writing as he reads it. Applause each student and offer a word or two of praise after he finishes reading his writing piece.
When your students are able to publish a short story, they may take an increased interest in writing. Make big books with your students to accomplish this goal. Write a story as a class where each student writes and illustrates one page so that a cohesive story is created. Laminate and bind the book and send it home with each student over the next few days. Alternatively, allow each student to create her own short story by writing the words and doing the illustrations. Laminate and bind each book and then read them out loud to the rest of the class as you would any other book. This will give students pride in their work and help them feel like authors.
You may have one or two students that still show little interest in writing after you introduce new activities and ideas into your curriculum. Take a little extra time with these students to continue offering encouragement. Allow the students to write silly stories with made-up words or let them write short poems in place of stories. Help these students make a writing plan so they can work toward a goal, such as finishing a short story or writing a letter to a friend. Periodically assess the plan to ensure that progress is being made.