LEAP Writing Celebrations

By Kristen Ferguson | Posted: Tuesday March 7, 2023

The LEAP (Literacy Extension Activities Program) class is comprised of 19 senior students who have a passion for writing.

Each day before getting into the "nitty-gritty'' of the class, we do a Power Write. This is where students have the opportunity to freely handwrite their ideas for 5 minutes. They are usually given a picture, object, word or story starter to help prompt their ideas, and they are encouraged to practice the strategies that have been taught so far. Our most recent focus has been on "Tightening the Tension" in our narratives. Students are thinking about how they can keep the reader interested and develop a series of problems for their characters to face. I asked the group to choose the Power Write they are most proud of so far. Below is one example of a Power Write each student has written:

I walked, I stuttered. Uneased I felt the sudden horror as I tried I realized it was gone … Suddenly a massive shape swerved up and up until it went properly as high as the tallest tree and my face went pale…(Amelie - Rm 10)

I was in the corner of my little wooden play house. So dull, so plain. The cold feeling of loneliness embraced me like a ghost trying to hug a still tree. A big, oaky one in fact. The cold swept around me as if I was trapped inside a big puffy snowball. The roof was leaking for no good reason. My mouth was as dry as a desert. This wasn't the best place to be, I thought, as a cold shiver went down my spine as I breathed slowly.. (Aria - Rm 10)

I nervously waited at the bus stop. This day couldn’t get any worse at all. Waiting at a bus stop at midnight, getting minimum wage, and as the cherry on top, the bus wasn't going to be here until 1:00am. A loud crack was heard overhead. I spoke too soon. A cold raindrop splashed onto my fingers. I looked up. It had begun to rain. A few puddles had begun forming around me. As I waited, a small splashing sound was heard from one of the puddles next to me. The sound put me at unease. From the shadows emerged a pair of scaly arms, feeling around, and grabbing at my ankles. I looked into the puddle the arms emerged from. Two large yellow eyes with slit pupils stared back at me, freezing me with fear. Although it was raining all around me, It felt like silence with that… Thing next to me. (Cam - Rm 9)

One day the trees disappeared, the land was wiped clean. The overgrowth turned into ashes. The hunters now gone. The wilderness disappeared and all of a sudden the flames ate it all. (Clarissa - Rm 9)

I’ve been searching for five hours now. Searching, for my little sister Georgie. I’ve been walking up and down the shoreline all day and all I've found is her coat. A bright blue mackintosh, with buttons that shine like stars - just like her eyes. I can clearly remember how tears were filling her eyes as she spoke these words to me.” I must now go somewhere where you cannot follow. They will hunt you down and kill you if you try so don’t.” I haven’t seen my little sister since then. Every night I stare at the horizon from the beach, wondering where on Earth she is. Or outside the Earth...(Eleanor - Rm 11)

An ice cold draught swept past my body. The moment was heart stopping with dread. I heard creaking floorboards everywhere around me with an odd scream that sounded like someone being tortured. I nervously tip toed towards the the living room and sat down and sighed, but at that moment I realized that the seat was still warm! So I felt the candles in front of me, and to my horror they were still warm too. I got up and ran. I remembered the scream I heard earlier and that must have been someone that the monster was chasing…(Ella - Rm 9)

Mrs Bumclenching is so boring, I think she’s a monster, she certainly looks the part, gray hair, a black buttoned up cardigan and a sour face as sour as the Sour Patch Kidz my mum got me from the dairy. Anyways I feel the urge to go up to her but I’m too scared (sigh) inhale exhale. Mrs Bumclenching," “Yes” says a gruff voice. "When you were a kid in the… olden days, were you ever a witch?" “How dare you say that to me.” (Evie - Rm 11)

Footsteps slowly creaked on every step. The sound sent shivers down my spine… There was no time to waste. My parents had prepared me for this. I opened the closet door and stepped inside. My hands were trembling violently. The footsteps sounded closer now. They continued along the hallway and stopped right in front of my bedroom door…(Hanh Minh - Rm 12)

Footsteps creaked on every step of the stairs, my bedroom door handle turned slowly. The door opened, there stood a floating figure dressed in black made of thick black smoke. He had two glistening green eyes. In one hand he held a flaming torch, in the other a glistening knife. The fire was fighting for it's life in the howling wind, then he lunged at me and stabbed me in the heart. I screamed but as I did, he vanished into thick black smoke and with nobody else to help me. I perished. (Harry - Rm 9)

Fire blazing red as deep as lava,

Fire burning everything like a big bright blue wave,

Fire scorching down trees like thunder crashing down,

Fire shining as bright as moonlight glowing with laughter,

Fire twirling around like a petal blizzard tornado,

Fire overflowing with futuristic thoughts,

Fire burning down with happiness and peace.

(Htin Bhone - Rm 10)

Boom, bang, ahh! Lights were flashing everywhere. Sniff, sniff. What's that smoky smell… ahh! My tail’s on fire. All that yelling, screams and explosions were hurting my ears, wait, my ear drums are popping. Then I started to lick the floor for no reason, but because I wanted to. Wait, is that the taste of crunchy fried chicken? (Isabelle - Rm 11)

I felt cold. I’ve been sitting here for 3 weeks wondering what to do next. My granddaughter recently died, she was found dead in a gloomy dark forest. She was killed by some hunters 1 week ago. I’ve been crying on this bench, looking at her grave, putting pale pink roses on her concrete grave. Tears dropped down my face, I heard a whisper “Grandad?” the voice said “Lilly!” “Hi Grandad, I want to take you somewhere”... Suddenly the man started levitating “Where am I going Lilly?” He said, “To the place I came from, Heaven." (Leia - Rm 9) 

Silently, I crept down the never ending hallway that seemed to have millions of doors, old ladies in strange, pale costumes rushed into rooms every now and then. All of a sudden there was another door, right in front of me this time. A shudder slid down my spine. I stared blankly at the door and then found a red sign that read, ‘ENTER IF YOU DARE.’ I was frightened but also fighting the urge to see inside. I couldn’t take it any longer. My hands trembled down by my side, trying not to make a run for it as I slowly lifted one shaky arm and the door knob turned… (Lia - Rm 9)

A sad lonely man was sitting on an old wooden bench in the cemetery of Lilliput town. The trees were dancing with the wind. The clouds were crying. The Squeaky Gate opened and closed. When a shiny penny sparkled in the ray of moonlight the old man bent down and picked it up. Then he walked over and threw it in the old broken down well. Then it fell to the bottom with a plonk. When everything went silent and 2 shards of glass sparkle in the moonlight. (Lily - Rm 9)

Without hesitation I started the car. I had to get to Hambridge River before it happened. The car wasn’t starting. Please not now why now and I remembered what my dad had always told me treat the car nice and it will treat you with transportation. I patted above the glove box and all of a sudden the car came to life. The headlights flickered on slicing through the darkness. The engine turned on with a loud humming noise. I arrived at Hambridge River in five minutes. I got out of the car and the cold quickly seeped in and then from the shadows emerged. What I was supposed to stop what I had to stop stood before me. (Reid - Rm 11)

Another petal fell, another tear slid down his face. He stood up every bone in his body aching, people walked past but to him he was just another poor person, a nobody. He opened the cemetery gates and took one last glance at his wife, the only person that ever loved him. (Leon - Rm 10)

Disappear A case that needed to be solved. There have been many disappearing lately. One of a man and his family. People were scared of all the disappearing. Thinking they'd be next except one person. Ninja baby he had learned all the ninja moves, including the tornado kick. People were amazed of how strong he was. (Ivy - Rm 10)

*Poof!* My favorite bum has disappeared from the collection! NOOOOOOOOO!!! It all happened like this… I was polishing the buns for the bum elections, and then *Poof!* Ma butt, along with its priceless turd, disappeared! Who could do such a thing! Such a evil fart’in villan! When I find him, I will rip off his butt and replace it with a green, sloopy, sloppy one! Mwa ha ha ha ha ha high cough splutter splutter! (Hee, hee!) (Mia - Rm 11)

It’s the first day of school and I suspect my teacher is a MONSTER. Dan Dan DAAAAAAAAAN!!! What type of monster is she? Is she a vampire? Or is she a zombie? Or maybe, just maybe she’s a Butt eating Snogglewhooperdopperdoodlepoo! I don’t know, But(t) (Tee Hee!) I want to know so I'm going to find out! (Lexi - Rm 11)