In this post, I’ll outline the key components of an effective creative writing curriculum for high school, using examples from my own High School Creative Writing Curriculum<\/a> to help you envision a program an English teacher AND a high schooler can love!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Want to skip the prep? Grab my complete 9-week done-for-you High School Creative Writing Curriculum!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n Creative writing classes provide your high schoolers with the opportunity to express themselves, think critically, and develop a love for writing. In addition to nurturing creativity, these classes teach valuable skills like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n These days, students rarely write for fun. I bet many of your students have never even considered doing so!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Creative Writing shows students that writing doesn’t have to be arduous. <\/strong>They don’t always have to stress about “getting it right.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Plus, just getting students to write can go a long way in increasing your high schoolers’ writing fluency. Before you know it, they’ll be considering their word choice and adding sensory details to even essay writing!<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this post, I talk about more benefits of teaching a Creative Writing class. <\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n But, in my opinion, the top reason to teach one? It’s going to be fun for you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the right curriculum, your students will gain confidence in their writing abilities while learning to appreciate the art of storytelling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A successful creative writing curriculum for high school should offer a mix of activities that engage students, teach essential high school writing skills, and guide students through the writing process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can base your Creative Writing units upon anything you wish to focus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, you can have Creative Writing units on different genres (such as memoir writing, science fiction, and children’s books). You could focus on different types of poetry, moving students through new formats. Or you could even break your class into poetry vs. short story. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As long as you focus on building vocabulary, teaching the writing process, and allowing students to have fun, you’ll have a successful Creative Writing Curriculum!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n (Want tips for actually teaching that Creative Writing class? Check out this post!<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n Every good English Language Arts class should start with a bang! Or, maybe just a poem!<\/p>\n\n\n\n If possible, try not to just spend the first day of school reading your Creative Writing syllabus.<\/strong> Your Creative Writing students signed up hoping for something a little different, so give it to them!<\/p>\n\n\n One of my favorite ways to begin a Creative Writing class is by having students write an “I Am” Poem.<\/strong> You can grab my free lesson here.<\/a> It’s a great way to show students that they will be expected to write daily, allow them to get to know the other Creative Writing students, and help them get comfortable showing their work to others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, there are many different ways you can start your class.<\/strong> Maybe you have students listen to an amazing slam poet. Perhaps you ask students to define poetry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Whatever you do, just make sure it sets the right tone for the rest of the school year. Like a short story, every Creative Writing elective needs a good beginning.<\/p>\n\n\n Begin each class with engaging activities to spark creativity and get students thinking. I recommend choosing a bell ringer that emphasizes the skills you want your Creative Writing students to really focus on.<\/strong> After all, whatever you choose will be the concept that your high school students practice every single day!<\/p>\n\n\n In my High School Creative Writing Curriculum<\/a>, I offer two different kinds of warm-ups: Journal Writing Prompts<\/a> or Poem of the Week activities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Journal prompts are perfect for encouraging free writing.<\/strong> If you want students to just get comfortable writing and getting their ideas on paper, this is the best way to go! You might ask students to “Describe your happiest memory in vivid detail” or “Imagine a world where emotions are traded like currency. Write about a character navigating this system.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n Plus, if students are journaling every day, they’ll always have a bank of ideas to refer to for bigger projects later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If, however, you want to spend more time analyzing writing and getting technical, Poem of the Week Activities<\/a> are phenomenal!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n They provide an excellent opportunity to analyze a mentor poem, focusing on literary devices like alliteration, metaphor, or personification. Afterward, students can challenge themselves to include these techniques in their own creative work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With my Poem of the Week Activities<\/a>, I always encourage students at the end of the week to write their own poem using that week’s poem as a mentor text<\/a>. It’s a great way to make writing a regular part of your schedule while challenging students to try different techniques. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This post has more information on using poetry analysis as a daily warm-up.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to helping Creative Writing students hone their skills, starting every class with a regular warm-up is solid classroom management<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![Blog post Pinterest pin that reads, \"The Best Creative Writing Curriculum for High School Students\" over the image of a male student reading](\"https:\/\/itslitteaching.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Creative-Writing-Curriculum-High-School-Pins-683x1024.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nWhy Teach Creative Writing in High School?<\/h2>\n\n\n
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What Should a High School Creative Writing Curriculum Include?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![Blog post Pinterest pin that reads, \"The Best Creative Writing Curriculum for High School Students\" over the image of a rose resting on a book](\"https:\/\/itslitteaching.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Creative-Writing-Curriculum-High-School-Pins-2-683x1024.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nCreative Writing Curriculum for High School Students Feature #1: A Plan for the First Day of School<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a>Creative Writing Curriculum for High School Students Feature #2: Bell Ringers and Warm-Ups<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a>Journaling with High Schoolers<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Analyzing Poetry with High Schoolers<\/h4>\n\n\n
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