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How to Write Your Own Tongue Twisters
by Tonja Taylor Proverbs 17:22 (NIV) A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
This morning, I wrote a simple sentence as a story starter to help the kids (including English Language Learners) I teach be more creative: "With Sylvia, a bath is an event."
After a minute or so, I started expanding upon the idea of "Sylvia," and realized I was writing a tongue twister. I will use this to help and delight my students around the world to become more fluent in English.
I also realized I could teach people how to write their own, and have fun being silly and creative, and thus have merry hearts that would bring peace and healing!
How good is our God, Elohim the Creator, Who gives us these wonderful inspirations!
With the help of the LORD, Who is the Author, this is what I wrote:
Sylvia swan swims successfully as she sings silly songs so she succeeds in stufefying squids so they will stop swimming and snotting stuff, and swimmers will stop screeching in the streams saying simple shrieks and screams.
I have written many stories and books, and share them with the kids at my church and beyond. So what started as a story prompt ("With Sylvia, a bath is an event") birthed a fun tongue twister that could not only help my ELL students, but my American students at church, and more.
(My dear husband suggested I also let them illustrate it. Great idea! So I will supply the first sentence, and they can collaborate and write the rest. Then it would be their class story.)
Now here is the tongue twister I wrote as I thought about Sylvia:
Sylvia swan swims successfully as she sings silly songs so she succeeds in stufefying squids so they will stop swimming and snotting stuff, and swimmers will stop screeching in the streams saying simple shrieks and screams. This is actually a pretty simple tongue twister compared to many, but it will suffice (Yes, there's another "S" word for you!).
Now, you can write your own tongue twister. It's not that hard. True, some of us like to write more than others and some of us have more experience, but you can do this! Also, this is the perfect time to engage your children and let them "teach" you by giving you ideas to write a tongue twister!
Here are steps you can follow to write your own:
1. Pick any noun (which can a proper noun, like someone's name) and write it on a white board, your computer, or a piece of paper.
Example: Cathy
2. Picture a scenario in your mind and add an action verb or two, preferably a verb(s) that starts with the same letter as the noun.
Example:
Cathy can't catch
3. Next add direct objects (which are nouns).
Example:
Cathy can't catch cats
4. Now just continue to add words in proper sentence form, but allow yourself to extend the sentence with as many action verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and nouns as possible using alliteration--using words that start with the same letter.
Example:
Cathy can't catch cats in cages 'cause it's crazily catastrophic and crushes creeds of canine cousins considering creating and cutting contracts.
5. Tongue twisters rarely make sense, so have fun being nonsensical! Practice saying your tongue twister as quickly and articulately as possible. Enjoy, and then make more! This can become a favorite activity between you and your kids, and I believe you will be surprised and delighted at their creativity!
Through books, courses, presentations, service, prayer, worship, and more, Tonja and her husband live to exalt God. Her series for girls, P.O.W.E.R. GIRL ADVENTURES, is now out (books I-V), along with LEGACY; YOUR HOLY HEALTH: VISIONS OF THE KING, and more. See the "River Rain Creative" YT channel. Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |