पी. एम. श्री केन्द्रीय विद्यालय मुरादनगर
Activity- Open Writing Challenge
The concept of "open writing" during a library period involves engaging students in various creative and critical writing activities within an open and trust-based library environment. This approach shifts the library from a quiet storage space to an active, dynamic learning hub where students are encouraged to experiment and develop a love for literacy without the pressure of grades.
Core Concepts
- Open Access & Trust: An open library fosters a sense of responsibility and trust by allowing students free access to diverse physical and digital resources, encouraging independent exploration.
- Choice and Freedom: Students are given the freedom to choose what they write about, what they read, and how they engage with the material, which is a key element of the workshop model in education.
- Reading/Writing Connection: Activities leverage the reciprocal relationship between reading and writing, using exposure to various genres and authors to inspire students' own creative output.
- Community and Collaboration: The library period becomes a social learning experience through activities like writing groups, peer feedback, and author interactions, which build a sense of belonging.
Practical Writing Activities
During "open writing" library periods, students can participate in diverse activities designed to make writing engaging and relevant:
- Creative Writing Prompts: Students can respond to imaginative prompts related to libraries, books, or characters, such as "You open a bottle that holds a genie who tells you she will grant you one wish. You say 'library card please'".
- Book Reviews and Recommendations: Students can write and present short book reviews to their peers, fostering discussion and helping others discover new books.
- Author Letters: Students can write letters to their favorite authors. Many authors reply, which can be a huge source of encouragement.
- Story Weaving: In groups, students can collaboratively write stories, with one group starting a story and another completing it.
- Design and Illustration: Students can design book jackets or bookmarks for books they have read, which combines creative art with an understanding of the book's themes.
- Journaling and "Writing Boxes": Providing dedicated writing journals or a "writing box" allows students a private space to write when they play and play when they write, free from grading pressures.
- Current Events and Analysis: For older students, activities might involve analyzing different newspaper articles on the same topic to understand varied viewpoints and writing styles.
- Book Blogging: Students can contribute their thoughts and reviews to a school or library blog, publishing their work for a wider audience.
These concepts aim to make the library period an exciting, self-directed time that fosters a lifelong love for reading and writing.
