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Leap Write In! Adventures in Creative Writing to Stretch and Surprise Your One-Of-A-Kind Mind Review by Nicole Coffman-Cole
Karen Benke303-222-9598
http://www.karenbenke.com
Leap Write In! is a book that creates ways for “non-writers” to realize they can write! Many people, children and adults alike, feel like they can’t write. They feel they are no good at writing and they give up before they even get started. Leap Write In! tells a story. It tells a story that leads the reader on a journey that enables them to tell their own story. And, before they know it, they are writing!
When you pick up the book for your moment of writing for the day, you start by reading a bit from the author. She may be telling you about how to create the perfect place to write, or the perfect mindset, or she may teach about a particular writing style. Whatever it is, you can be sure it will be done in a fun and silly way! After her section, which is usually only a couple of paragraphs, she lets the student have a turn. In the area where the student gets the chance to write, there will be starters to give them ideas on what to write about or examples to get their creative juices flowing.
The length of the lesson really depends on the student and what that day’s assignment is, but you can count on it taking anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes. As a parent of a child whom has never enjoyed writing (not even a sentence!), I am really loving this book! More importantly, though, HE is enjoying the book! When it is time in our day to do our Leap Write In! work, he doesn’t complain. No annoyed look on his face. No silent opposition. This is huge! From his mouth: “I like how the book gives me ideas on what to write about and helps me think in a more creative way.”
The only real complaint I would have is that the author sometimes tries too hard to be “creative.” She seems to try to use lots of adjectives when they aren’t necessary. That might not be a problem for some kids, but for my son it seemed to cause him to lose the point because he was lost in all the words. I would end up explaining that part to him and it was fine. It is a minor thing and in the end will create a larger vocabulary for him. We both still like the book very much and recommend it to anyone wanting to expand your writing skills and become more comfortable with a pen and paper.
From day one of using this book, your child will be writing, and it may just surprise your both!
-Product review by Nicole Coffman-Cole, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, March, 2016
