Transform Reluctant Writers with Emoji Paragraph Writing 😁

We all have that one student… you know, the one that struggles to even pick up the pencil to write. The reasons might vary: writer’s block, lack of self-confidence, or sheer frustration. I remember one student in particular, who we'll call “Susie” for anonymity. Susie suffered from all of the above. And I mean ALL of them.

After trying many different strategies—providing encouragement, offering additional support—nothing seemed to work. Her inability to put pencil to paper almost brought her to tears, and that’s when I knew I had to try something new.

That new thing? Emoji Writing. This activity takes the stress, anxiety, and decision-making out of the writing process. Students use fun, interactive emoji pieces to construct a well-organized and creative paragraph. This was a game-changer for “Susie.” Within a week, she went from tears to asking, “When can we do Emoji Writing again?” She thrived with this activity, and I knew I had found something special.

St. Patrick's Day Emoji Writing

Emoji Writing Templates

Emoji Writing Templates on Lodge's Learning

I’m sharing this with you because you are bound to have a “Susie” in your class, and this WILL be the activity that gets him or her to love writing again. In fact, EVERY student in your class will LOVE Emoji Writing!

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Why Emoji Writing Works:

Emoji Writing eliminates obstacles like writer’s block and lack of confidence, getting even the most reluctant writers excited about writing!

The key to this activity is to use simple emojis that could have multiple meanings and interpretations. It’s fun to have a specific theme or holiday that ties all the emojis together, making it easier for students to construct their individualized writing piece.

I have created Emoji Writing Templates for almost every holiday and theme, and they can be used throughout the year. You could even save them all and create a year-long writing booklet or portfolio. You will be amazed at how student writing progresses throughout the year! If you would like to use the templates I have created, you can find them HERE.

Emoji Writing Templates on TPT

Emoji Writing Templates on Lodge's Learning

Emoji Writing is also available in an interactive workbook format! You can find that HERE.

Emoji Writing Interactive Workbook

How Emoji Writing Works:

1. Arrange Emojis:

   • Students cut out and arrange emoji pieces in the sequence of their choice. These are glued onto a writing sheet.

2. Write a Paragraph:

   • Next, they write a creative, concise paragraph that follows the sequence of the specific emoji representations.

3. Illustrate:

   • Finally, they draw an illustration that represents their writing.

Recommended Materials:

• Printed Emoji Pieces (Save time, and use mine!)

• Writing Paper

• Pencils

• Colored Pencils

• Crayons

• Glue sticks

• Scissors

• Pastel Copy Paper

How to Get Started:

1. Start with having the students brainstorm multiple possible meanings of each emoji. For example, an inner tube emoji could represent something in the plot related to a pool, or it could be a setting that takes place at a lake. Or, you could think outside the box and interpret that shape as a sweet donut! The possibilities are endless. 

   
   

2. Optional: Give students time to write a rough draft of their paragraph, then go through the writing checklist to make revisions and improvements. 

3. Set up a quiet environment for students to work on their paragraph. This can be done as a whole-class activity, or in a small group or writing center. I like to play quiet instrumental music in the background. 

4. If you have time, you could have some students read their paragraph aloud. Another fun extension idea is to have students anonymously vote on their favorite paragraphs. See the extension info below for details. ⬇️

Writing Extension Idea:

One way I love extending this activity is to have students type their paragraphs into a platform called Socrative.com. By doing this, you can launch a live poll where students can anonymously see all the writing from their peers and vote for their favorite one!

Here’s How to Set Up an Account on Socrative.com:

1. Visit Socrative.com:

   • Go to Socrative.com and sign up for a free account.

2. Create a Quiz:

   • Create a new quiz where students can submit their paragraphs.

3. Launch a Poll:

   • Launch a live poll and let students vote for their favorite paragraphs anonymously.

     
     

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Emoji Writing is a fantastic way to get all your students excited about writing. I’d love to hear your success stories this year! If you haven’t already grabbed this resource, you can find it HERE. You can get them individually or as a complete year-long bundle. Let's make writing fun and engaging for every student!