Endings: Writing with a Wish

Ending a piece of writing with a wish, memory or feeling. Sometimes writers just stop writing. Sometimes they write, “The End.” Lucy Calkins is one of the writing teachers who encourages the writer to think about the “SO WHAT” factor. In grad school, I worked with a few teachers who presented the idea of ending a piece of writing with a wish, a memory or a feeling. Marcia Freeman encourages ending with a feeling. I started looking for quotes by real children’s authors that had written endings that were effective and ended with a feeling, a wish, or a memory. I listed them on a piece of chart paper on my writing wall in my classroom to support my students.

Ending a Piece of Writing with a Wish – What do you wish would happen? Help your readers really know how you feel about your topic. What are you hoping for? If anything could happen, what would it be? “Next time, I go to the park. I hope that we can stay longer.”

Books that End with Wishes

• August 1 – I wish that people wouldn’t judge all spiders based on the few spiders that bite. I know if we took the time to get to know each other, we would get along just fine. Just like me and Fly. Diary of a Spider by Doreen Cronin
• When they had eventually calmed down a bit, and had gotten home. Mr. Duncan put the magic pebble in an iron safe. Some day they might want to use it, but really, for now, what more could the wish for? They all had all that they wanted. Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig
• “I am standing by him,” Pee Wee Reese said to the world. “This man is my teammate.” Teammates by Peter Golenbock (Do you notice how this author is indicating Pee Wee’s desire or wish? Pee Wee is showing the world that he wishes that others would accept his teammate! He did not have to say, “I wish…”)
• “I was not a very famous author. Her line had no end. Mine had no beginning. I’m glad I didn’t join the circus. Even though writing is sometimes hard work, it’s what I love to do. I never dreamed I’d become an author. So this is better than a dream come true.” Author A True Story by Helen Lester
• “I wish it were tomorrow.” The Hating Book by Charlotte Zolotow

Do you have a book that ends with a wish? Please post it in the comment section. I am always looking for more ideas to share with kids and teachers.