Let It Go: Unleash the Words, Ditch the Red Pens!

In a world where students are often terrified of making mistakes, especially when learning a new language, I wanted to create a space where my EAL learners could just let go. Inspired by Frozen (yes, Elsa’s anthem!), I started a free writing activity called 'Let It Go'. The rules? Well, there aren’t any. I grabbed a few stunning picture prompts from Pobble 365, set the timer, and let the students’ imaginations take the wheel.

In the spirit of letting go, I provided some guiding prompts and a small word bank to help students get started—just in case they feel a little lost in the vast ocean of free writing. The prompts were there to spark an initial idea, and the word bank served as a gentle nudge toward expanding their vocabulary. Before we dived into the writing task, I included a short, engaging discussion. This served two purposes: to activate prior knowledge and to lower the anxiety around writing. Students were given a chance to talk through ideas, ask questions, and clarify thoughts, so when it was time to write, they could approach it with a sense of calm and purpose. The goal was to provide a supportive framework without stifling their creativity, ensuring they feel both confident and inspired to put their ideas down on paper. My students were excited when I let them choose a notebook with designs they liked. This made the whole experience feel very personalised!

Now, here’s my secret sauce—the one thing that makes this activity magical: no marking. Yep, you heard me. No red pens, no correction stamps, no squiggly lines under every misplaced comma. Why? Because this isn’t about nitpicking every grammatical hiccup or spelling slip. This is about something far more important: confidence. We’re building writers, not just test-takers.

But there’s more. If you want to get the most out of free writing, there are some things you absolutely, positively must avoid doing. Think of these as the anti-Elsa moments—things we must let go of!

What Not To Do in Free Writing

Don’t Play the Grammar Police ?? Picture this: your student has just written a fantastic, imaginative piece about an alien invasion, but all you see is a missing verb tense or a dangling modifier. Resist the urge to correct them. In free writing, creativity comes first, and grammar second. Your students will learn those technicalities later when they’re ready. For now, let them fly free!

No Limiting Creativity ??“Let’s keep it realistic, shall we?” said no one ever in a free writing class. One of my students once wrote about a squirrel going to a camp. Another described a tree that could talk. This is not the time for boundaries. If your students want to send penguins into space or make unicorns the next world leaders, let them! In the words of Elsa, it’s time to let it go. Who needs logic when you’ve got imagination?

Don’t Focus on Word Count ?? Free writing isn’t about writing a 500-word essay or filling an entire page. If your student can pour their heart into 100 words, that’s just as valuable as a longer piece. Quality over quantity, always. Besides, it’s not the length of the writing—it’s the journey the student takes to get there.

No Interruptions! ?? This is a sacred writing space. Once the pen hits the paper (or fingers hit the keyboard), there are no interruptions allowed. No, “Are you sure that’s what you meant?” or “Maybe you should write about something else.” We’re not here to police their thoughts—just give them the space to explore them. Imagine interrupting Beethoven in the middle of writing a symphony—rude!

Avoid the Post-Writing Critique ?? You know that moment when a student finishes and looks at you with that hopeful, “So, what do you think?” expression? It’s so tempting to give feedback, but resist! In free writing, there’s no critique afterward. You can ask how they felt about the activity or what they enjoyed writing, but no deep dive into the mechanics. The idea is to keep this space as light and free as possible. Save the critique for structured writing lessons.

So, what’s the point of all this chaotic, no-rules writing? It’s simple. By removing the fear of mistakes, we unlock the door to creativity. Free writing helps students break through that mental wall of "I can’t," and instead focus on what they can do—tell stories, share ideas, and engage with language in a way that’s meaningful to them.

Those Pobble picture prompts are a game-changer—they offer endless creativity and inspiration, making writing fun and engaging for students of all levels. One day it’s a picture of a magical forest, the next it’s a group of dancing robots. Whatever the image, it works wonders for sparking their interest to think, imagine, and, most importantly, write. They begin to realize that their ideas and stories are what matter most, and slowly but surely, they start seeing themselves as writers—not just EAL learners navigating grammar rules.

But here’s the kicker: I actually do learn a lot from their free writing. It informs my teaching. I see patterns—where they’re struggling, what vocab they’re using, how they’re forming their sentences. This helps me plan more structured lessons down the line. It’s like a window into their language journey—except they don’t even realize they’re being observed (sneaky, I know). If you would like to take this further, have students reflect on what they’ve written after the writing session. This could involve reading parts aloud, sharing with a partner, or even identifying areas they want to improve in future writing. Reflection helps them become more aware of their own learning process.

Free Writing: A Superpower in Disguise ??♀?

At the end of the day, free writing is like that underappreciated superpower—quiet, unassuming, but capable of greatness. When we give students the freedom to explore language without the fear of being marked down, we see their creativity and confidence soar. They stop worrying about getting it “right” and start enjoying the process of simply writing.

So, let’s continue to let it go—no marking, no boundaries, just pure, unfiltered expression. You’ll be amazed at what your students can create when you give them the freedom to fly.