Today, as a special, instead of a forum, I am opening this blog for teachers to ask for a quick idea in the ESL realm.  In the comments section of this blog, ask a question, for example, "I need some speaking ideas for advanced students", " I want some homework ideas for Esl reading"  etc.  Please write in and I will reply with ideas.  Visitors are invited to send their ideas too. - Lucille L.

In the previous blog, I suggested writing essays in a circle - continuation stories written by the students.  This blog is just to refer to the page on this website that gives Essay Ending sentences and Essay Beginnings.  Of course, you will probably have many, many ideas of your own, but often a prompt will help with suggestions for topics and ideas.

Returning to school after the all the holidays means having to stir up excitement in the students and getting them back to work again.  A typical activity given by many teachers is to ask what the students did, what the most exciting event was, the most disappointing day etc. 
Here is another idea that will broaden the thought process, yet be based on the students' real experiences.

Have the students think about something of interest that happened on any of their holiday days.  They then have to write three essays giving three perspectives of that same event.  For example, through the eyes of their mother, the baby and the dog; through the eyes of grandfather, the neighbor, the maid; from the perspective of the goldfish, a man, a woman.

This will give them a focus in which they can take a real experience and make themselves look at a situation in a variety of ways.  Creative writers will enjoy embellishing, while other writers will be encouraged to find some interesting perspectives based on the same event.