But I Don’t Know What to Write!

Funny Classroom Moments + Quick Fixes for Writer’s Block

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If you’ve ever asked your students to start writing… and then heard a dramatic sigh followed by “But I don’t know what to write!”—just know you’re not alone.

One year, I had a 6th grader (we’ll call him Alex) who was known for this. Every writing block, without fail, he’d slump dramatically over his desk, stare at the ceiling like he was searching for life’s meaning, and announce to the whole room:

“I have nothing. My brain is empty.”

Cue the rest of the class either laughing… or chiming in with the same excuse. 🙃

After about the third time this happened, I realized two things:

1. Alex was hilarious.

2. I needed more tools in my teacher toolbox to help kids like him get unstuck.

So here are a few quick, teacher-tested fixes that worked for my students (including Alex) when writer’s block hit.

1. Keep a Prompt Jar Handy

Somedays, I grabbed a small, clear acrylic jar like this one and filled it with slips of paper. Each slip had a fun, silly, or creative writing prompt.

Sometimes I’d let students pull a random prompt… other times I’d pick one for the whole class.

Other days, I’d project a slide from my Silly & Creative Writing Challenge PowerPoint for the whole class to see.

Each slide has a funny or out-of-the-box prompt that’s perfect for getting even your most reluctant writers smiling and scribbling.

And if you’re more of a print-and-go teacher, this resource also comes with a printable challenge sheet that students can keep in their writing folders or journals for easy access anytime they feel stuck. Don't worry! It comes in a black & white version too. I know there are printing limits sometimes!

It’s a fun way to turn writer’s block into a classroom-wide creative challenge!

2. Use Sticky Notes for Quick Brain Dumps

Before diving into a full paragraph or story, I’d hand students a sticky note (I like the lined ones, because we all know what kind of handwriting may show up if not!) and ask them to write down just one idea—no pressure to be perfect.

We called it a “brain dump.” The goal was simple: Write something. Anything.

Sometimes, just writing one silly sentence was enough to break the block and get the ideas flowing.

3. Give Them a Change of Scenery (Even in the Classroom)

For my more restless writers (yes... Alex again 😅), I started keeping a small stack of clipboards by the writing center.

When I noticed a student getting stuck or zoning out, I’d say something like:

“Grab a clipboard and find a different spot in the room to work.”

It wasn’t anything dramatic—just letting them move to a corner of the room, sit against the wall, or even turn their chair to face a different direction for a little mental reset.

Even small changes like this helped them re-focus and made writing time feel a little less “stuck at my desk” routine.

4. Try a Low-Pressure Small Group Writing Break

Some days, when I could tell that the whole class (or certain students) were hitting a wall, I’d pull a small group for a quick, low-pressure writing break.

I’d grab my Silly & Creative Writing Task Cards and invite a few students over to the back table or carpet area. We’d each choose a card with a fun, out-of-the-box prompt—something totally different from whatever serious writing assignment we had been working on.

This little routine-breaker worked wonders for kids who felt like writing had to be perfect, formal, or research-based.

The small group setting made it feel less intimidating, and the silly prompts gave students permission to write without overthinking. We’d set a timer for 5–10 minutes, write something just for fun, and then (only if they wanted to) share with the group afterward.

Not every piece had to be polished or “turned in.” The goal was just to get words on paper and enjoy writing again.

Anyways...Teaching writing isn’t always smooth and predictable—some days it’s full of energy and great ideas, and other days… well, it’s like pulling teeth. 😅 But over the years (and thanks to students like Alex), I’ve learned that small tweaks and fun, low-pressure tools can make all the difference.

If you’re in the middle of one of those “why won’t they write?!” seasons, just know—you’re not alone. Hopefully, a few of these ideas will help breathe some new energy into your writing block.

Thanks for stopping by today! Feel free to browse around for more classroom tips, freebies, and teacher tools. And if you try any of these ideas in your classroom, I’d love to hear how it goes! 💛

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Shop the Post: Teacher-Mom Writing Essentials

Here are some of my favorite tools and resources that help make writing time fun, easy, and productive, even on the busiest days that were mentioned above!

Classroom Tools on Amazon:

• Durable Classroom Clipboards — Perfect for letting students shift spots in the room while they write.Grab these clipboards on Amazon

• Premium Sticky Notes for Classroom — Great for quick “brain dumps” or jotting down ideas.Check out these sticky notes on Amazon

• Large Acrylic Jar for Writing Prompts — Perfect for holding your prompt slips or task cards.Get this cute acrylic jar on Amazon

Helpful Teacher Resources on Teachers Pay Teachers:

• Free Paragraph Planner — A reusable planner to help students organize their writing without overwhelm.

• Silly & Creative Writing Task Cards — Fun prompts that get even reluctant writers laughing and writing.

• Silly & Creative Journal Prompts PowerPoint + Challenge Sheet — Perfect for whole-class writing challenges or small groups.

You can find all of these and more in my TPT Store.