National Novel Writing Month now has a free education website specifically for assisting student writing this November.
The Young Writers Program has a new beta website for its 11-year program, according to Education Week. Students can draft novels and take ownership over every step, from choosing the genre to publishing their story through NaNoWriMo.
“NaNoWriMo” is a challenge in November where writers race to complete at least 50,000 words of a novel in 30 days. The Young Writers Program is a bit more lenient—students can set their own word count goals.
On the new website, teachers can engage with students in “virtual classroom spaces,” where they can hold class discussions and monitor individual progress, and and set writing challenges. Free resources are available, including Common Core-aligned lesson plans, student workbooks, and “pep talks” from popular authors. Teachers can connect and share ideas via a forum.
According to a 2015 survey, 87 percent of participants said the Young Writers Program made them more excited about writing. Roughly 84 percent said it helped them improve their writing skills.
NaoNoWriMo mails out 2,000 free classroom kits every year, with progress charts, stickers, and buttons.