Naughty Monsters

I was again given the chance to lead the creative writing group. All I had to do now was choose a subject.

Naughty Monsters

I decided to use a few Lego Monsters and the book ‘What’s Naughty?’ as inspiration.

One of our regular participants is EAL and has lived in the UK for quite a while; his English is very good, but he regularly comments that a few English words trip him up. One of these is ‘naughty’. I had told him about the ‘What’s Naughty?’ storybook and thought I would bring it along to inspire the writing session. It would be perfect; I just hoped he would turn up. 

I also planned to start by using some of my Lego monsters for the first part of the group.

The Monster Icebreaker Start

1. A little Lego car and Monster driver would be passed around the group.
2. Say your name and give yourself an alliterative monster name. (I’m Wicked Wickstead!)

Writing task One

1. I offered everyone a chance to take one, two or more Lego monsters.
2. Today’s theme was to write about monsters, inspired by a Lego figure or whatever ideas it sparked.
3. 20 minutes to write, and then a chance to read out our writing piece if we like.

The pieces were, as ever, varied and very good. One delegate had written about the ‘Monsters’ who perpetrated the 9/11 bombing and her recollections of working at Virgin Airways at the time. This was especially relevant, as the news had just celebrated the 25th anniversary. It was clearly a personal account, and it was great that she wanted to share.

There would then be a ten-minute break before the start of the second task.

Writing Task Two

1. This was to be using the ‘Naughty’ book prompt, but sadly, Ayad, for whom I had planned this, was not there today.
2. I began by saying how cross I was with Ayad, which immediately caught everyone’s attention.
3. I gave a quick account of the story of the boys as a start and said that again it was up to the group how they used the word ‘Naughty ’, but that Ayad certainly was today.
4. We again had 20 minutes to write and read.

Once again, the responses were very different; one writer had written specifically for Ayad, so I hope he writes it up to give to Ayad next time.

I was pleased with the outcome, and the tasks went well, despite the absence of Ayad.

I wrote a monster poem for Alexander and Isabelle. 

Our Monster Mash

Today will be a monstrous day,

When two little visitors come to play.

Monsters stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp, a joyful romp.

Monsters munch, munch, munch, on bones that crunch.

Monsters howl, howl, howl, hear them growl.

Monsters will roll their terrible eyes,

Monsters will show their terrible claws.

“Who’s a terrible monster?”

“Me!” Said Alexander.

“I am too”, said Isabelle

“Roar!”

So, after a stomp and a romp

And a terrifying roar

My two little monsters went out the door.

“Oh, no!” said Daddy

“Where have they gone?”

“I’ve no idea”, said Nanny

“But they won’t be long.”

We love our monster day,

When we get a chance to play.

Said Nanny.

Where the Wild Things Are

 Alexander told me that his class are using the book 'Where the Wild Things Are'.

We have always loved that book and have certainly done a lot of stomping and gnashing of teeth, as well as acting out being 'Wild Things'.

We have some wild hats to wear too.

I wonder if Alexander's class might like my 'Wild' Monster poem?