6th graders participate in National Novel Writing Month
For 30 days, sixth graders had total freedom to create imaginative tales in Yue Yuan’s English class.
By Sierra Smith, Communications Specialist
Sixth Grade English Teacher Yue Yuan’s classroom was unusually quiet this November; students’ minds were far from the walls of 2000 Edgehill as their imaginations transported them to fictional worlds and made up scenarios. Engrossing storylines and clever characters came to life on their pages as these Middle Schoolers honed their creative writing skills and developed a greater understanding of literary elements as part of National Novel Writing Month’s Young Writers Program.
National Novel Writing Month, also known as NaNoWriMo, is a fun and empowering approach to creative writing with a goal of writing an entire novel in just 30 days.
According to the NaNoWriMo website, the program “is designed to help young people find value in their stories, become confident and proficient storytellers, and realize their creative potential to build new worlds — on and off the page.”
English Teacher Robbie McKay, who teaches several creative writing classes in the High School, recognizes the value in implementing creative writing assignments for younger students.
“We can't really teach someone to be a poet or storyteller, but we can provide opportunities where poems might be made and stories told, and as a side benefit — no matter one's age, but especially for young people — playing with words is one of the best ways for any person to explore who they are and what they might become,” shared McKay.
NaNoWriMo is not new to USN, nor is this the first time these sixth grade students have participated. Writing a novel in a month was a familiar assignment after retired Fifth Grade English Teacher Susan Godwin introduced them to the creative writing challenge last year.
“I was delighted to hear that Yue was continuing NaNoWriMo in sixth grade,” said Godwin, who capped her pen at the end of the 2019-2020 school year. “It’s such a useful tool for building the kids’ confidence and gives them a wonderful outlet for self-expression.”
The elevated confidence to which Godwin referred was evident in this cohort of young writers.
“I thought it was going to be really hard because it took me a long time to come up with an idea last year, but this time it really didn’t,” said Calhoun Maddox ’27.
Coco Shepard ’27 felt a similar improvement in her creative writing abilities, “I was excited when Mrs. Yuan told us we were doing NaNoWriMo again this year because I knew I could do better this time.”
Students began with pre-writing exercises, planning, and goal setting before they locked away their inner editors for a month of imaginative thinking and the freedom to create. When asked about their favorite part of the project, each student shared a similar answer.
“I liked that we could be free and write anything we wanted,” shared Maya Parikh ’27.
Calhoun responded in kind, “It was just nice not to be told what to write, or how many words; I liked having that kind of freedom.”
For some, NaNoWriMo has sparked a lifelong love of fiction writing.
“The more I write, the more ideas I keep coming up with, so I’ll probably keep writing my story for a while,” said Jonah Bendell ’27.
As students edit and turn in their writing, Yuan is able to reflect on the project’s success. She shared, “The heartfelt time writers take in class to structure plot, build suspense, and complicate characters is worth the sacrifice — not necessarily a completed story, but an understanding that writing is a constant practice we can enjoy within a community. I hope the creativity from our vibrant writers inspires others to believe in their own stories: word by word, sentence by sentence.”
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Athletes beyond Edgehill
Read MoreIt is common to have five or more University School of Nashville student-athletes sign college athletic commitment letters each year, and this year, USN saw eight more student-athletes commit to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level. USN has several alumni participating in their chosen sport at the collegiate level from the Classes of 2021 through 2025. Continue reading to learn more about where Tigers are competing beyond Edgehill.
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Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
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2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
USN Mission:
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.