just the faqs
First - before we dig into the details - here is why I chose to make NaNoWriMo the curriculum for our entire fall semester:
it is a powerful writing project (that addresses myriad writing standards);
it can be the catalyst for addressing reading and literary analysis standards as well;
it provides many opportunities for students to learn and practice digital literacies and citizenship in the online world;
it can even help develop students' empathy;
it turns students into enthusiastic, engaged, thoughtful writers AND readers.
Now for the FAQs:
Q: What is NaNoWriMo?
A: National Novel Writing Month (a.k.a. NaNoWriMo) is a challenge to writers world-wide to pen an entire novel (50,000 words) in the month of November. It is "thirty days and nights of literary abandon."
Q: But my students are too young! Surely they can't write a novel of 50,000 words in a month!
A: True! 50,000 words is a serious challenge for adult writers! But the Young Writers Program (YWP) of NaNoWriMo offers tips to help students choose appropriate word goals no matter their age, making the NaNoWriMo challenge accessible to all.
Q: But a NOVEL, really? My students hate to write!
A. Do your students hate to write, or do they hate to write when teachers tell them what to write? The beauty of NaNoWriMo is that students choose the genre, characters, plot line, conflicts -- they have all power and control over their writing! And then they rapidly build their writing skills because they are fully engaged in crafting a lengthy story that they want to write. Check out these 8th graders' enthusiastic responses to NaNoWriMo:
Q: But I've never written a novel! How could I possibly help my students do that?
A. The YWP provides all kinds of support for teachers and students, including lesson plans, workbooks, and online resources throughout the entire month of November (and beyond).
Q: OK, that sounds pretty good. But I'm still wondering if my students would be willing to write that much for a whole month. How do I motivate them?