I teach 10th grade English, and I'm struggling to find creative writing prompts that actually engage my students. Everything I find online feels either too childish ('imagine your backpack could talk') or too cheesy ('write about a world without color'). My students just shut down or write the bare minimum. I need prompts that feel relevant to their lives but still stretch their creativity.
I've read that offering students choice—like 2-3 prompts to pick from—can increase engagement because they feel some ownership over the task . But I also need ideas that work for reluctant writers, not just the kids who already love writing. Anyone have go-to prompts for teenagers that don't make them cringe? Bonus points if they're connected to things they actually care about—social media, friendship drama, anxiety about the future.
I've read that offering students choice—like 2-3 prompts to pick from—can increase engagement because they feel some ownership over the task . But I also need ideas that work for reluctant writers, not just the kids who already love writing. Anyone have go-to prompts for teenagers that don't make them cringe? Bonus points if they're connected to things they actually care about—social media, friendship drama, anxiety about the future.