The Magic of Emoji Writing: A Simple Tool That Transforms Young Writers

Janis Lodge
May 23
3 min read

Updated: May 25

I will never forget the first time I introduced Emoji Writing to my third-grade class. I passed out the directions, writing checklist, emoji pieces, and templates to each student—and immediately, their eyes lit up with excitement.

That day, we were using a St. Patrick’s Day-themed Emoji Writing activity, complete with shamrocks, leprechauns, rainbows, horseshoes, and pots of gold. These fun emoji icons would soon become the prompts in their creative writing adventure.

After explaining how Emoji Writing works—students cut out the emoji pieces, arrange them in any order they choose, and then write a story based on that sequence—they couldn’t wait to get started.

There was no stress. No writer’s block. No pressure. They just… wrote.

And I mean every single one of them. In all my years of teaching, I had never seen every student—regardless of skill level, learning style, or writing confidence—engage so completely and joyfully in writing. It was like flipping a switch.

What Makes Emoji Writing So Effective?

Emoji Writing eliminates obstacles like writer’s block and lack of confidence, getting even the most reluctant writers excited about writing!

There’s real magic in this format, and here’s why it works:

✂️ Hands-on Engagement – Cutting and arranging emojis gives students a sense of ownership and playfulness before they even write a single word.
💭 Creative Freedom – The emoji sequence becomes a flexible framework that frees up creative thinking, especially for students who normally struggle with open-ended prompts.
🧠 Low-Stakes, High-Interest – Because the prompts feel fun and visual, students don’t freeze up. They naturally tap into their imaginations without overthinking.
✍️ Universal Access – This activity works beautifully for a wide range of learners, from reluctant writers to gifted students. Everyone enters the writing process with a sense of confidence and joy.

After that first lesson, I knew I had to keep the momentum going. So I created a Springtime version, a School Year version, a Summer version… and eventually, a full year-long collection of Emoji Writing activities that I continued using with my students year after year.

Emoji Writing at Home? Yes!

It wasn’t long before parents started asking me if their children could do Emoji Writing at home. They told me how much their kids loved it and wanted to keep writing outside of school. That gave me an idea: what if I turned these into workbooks?

After a bit of reformatting and thoughtful design, I created the Emoji Writing Workbooks—ready-to-go collections of themed Emoji Writing prompts and templates that can be used anywhere:

📚 At home
🏖️ On vacation
🚌 During road trips
☀️ Over the summer
🕒 After school or during breaks

The response has been incredible.

I want to check out these workbooks!

✨ Watch the Magic Happen in Your Home or Classroom

If you’re a parent, grandparent, teacher, aunt, uncle, or caregiver looking for a fun, zero-prep way to enrich writing for kids in grades 3–8, grab an Emoji Writing Workbook and watch the magic unfold.

You’ll give the child in your life:

A boost in writing confidence
A spark of creativity
And the joyful experience of writing without fear or frustration

💡 It’s not just a workbook—it’s a doorway to storytelling, imagination, and growth.

👉 Ready to try it? Explore the Emoji Writing Workbooks and choose the theme that fits your child’s interests or the season. I promise, you’ll be amazed at what they come up with.

Let’s bring the joy back to writing—one emoji at a time.

Emoji Writing for Grades 3-5

Emoji Writing for Grades 6-8

⚽️ Emoji Writing-Sports Edition