Reading a hook written by a first or second grader is sure to bring a smile to your face. It's the attention grabbing line that reels you in a like a fish and gets you excited to read the rest of the piece. In this article, you'll find an easy way to bring your students' writing to life by showing them how to write a hook.
Writing a Hook for a Personal Narrative
As teachers know, it can be difficult to get kids to enjoy writing. Each year, your students will have to write a personal narrative. Each year, you'll have to read them. And this is why teaching your students how to write a hook will benefit both you and your students. While hooks can be, and should be used, in nonfiction and opinion writing, you'll probably begin your school year with a personal narrative so teach your students early. Teach them the skill of writing a good hook sentence that they can use all year long.
The types of hook posters are available in The Nook.
Onomatopoeia
Teaching writing skills to elementary students can be tedious, but it can be great fun! Onomatopoeia, or words that seem to make a sound, is a great way to “hook” students into writing a hook. Especially when they learn that the spelling of these sounds is pretty much up to them. Start by asking students, “What sound does a frog make? How about a lion? A doorbell? Well that's onomatopoeia and you can begin your story with it!”
Example: Ding, dong! Someone was at my front door.
Single Word Hook
This next type of hook can be creative, yet simple. It's a single word hook. Students think about words associated with their topic. Then they choose one word and use it to hook their readers. For example, a topic could be the park. Words associated with the park are swings, picnic, slide, field. . . Once a list of words has been brainstormed, the writer would choose a word and create a hook.
Example: Swings. I love to play on the swings at the park.
Imagine If Hook
So this hook is definitely one your silly kids can get behind. Imagine If requires thinking of some imaginary situation that could or couldn't happen, but using it to create a hook. Using their topic, your students would begin with Imagine if and then continue the sentence.
Example: Imagine if you caught a fish that granted wishes.
Ask a Question
The next idea for teaching your students how to write a hook, is a question. Similar to the Imagine If hook, kids can get silly with their questions and it brings joy to writing. Not only that, your students will get practice forming questions and using correct punctuation.
Example: Do you like to eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches?
Don't forget your hook posters in The Nook.
Use a Riddle
Your students will love writing riddles. In this case, riddles are simply hints at the topic. Kids love a chance to stump people and show off their smarts, so this is the perfect way to do that. Students tend to pick up on this hook pretty quickly and you'll enjoy reading the riddles in their books.
Example: What is small and green and can jump really high? A frog!
Don't forget to get your posters in The Nook.
Hook Writing Practice
Now you don't want to just teach and forget it. Have your students practice their hook writing skills by giving them a topic and giving them the time and space to work on their craft.
Bring the joy to writing with teaching your students how to write a hook. Your students will use it all year long and it will give your writing instruction that extra boost of fun you've been looking for. You can get more of these writing lessons and practice sheets in this engaging resource.
Writing a Hook is perfect for you if you're new to teaching or you've been in it for years. This resource saves you time and energy. It includes slide presentations, so if you're not prepared one day, all you'll need to do is read the slides. Writing a Hook includes 7 lessons and days and days of continuous practice.
