WritingFix is currently seeking a K-3rd grade student sample from this writing assignment that can be featured in this space. Submitted student work must show evidence of revision, editing, and the final draft must be typed and sent through e-mail. Teachers: if you can help us obtain up to three student samples, along with a digital photo of the students and a signed permission slips, we will send you either a complimentary copy of the Northern Nevada Writing Project's Elementary Writing Guide, or you may choose from any of our NNWP publications. Writing written as a class or in student groups is always acceptable.

Write to us at publish@writingfix.com and use 'Jeremy Thatcher' in your e-mail's subject line, if you have a student sample to share with us.

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The Three Wishes
by Gabbi, fourth grade writer

As I slowly walked past the magic shop, I noticed there was a mysterious sign that said, “Enter at Your Own Risk.” I wandered in to the store and looked curiously through the aisles. I saw all sorts of cool things but couldn’t take my eyes off of a rainbow-colored egg. I carefully picked it up and the shopkeeper--whose nametag read Maggie--said, “That egg is special. It takes much responsibility, but it’s only a dime.”

I thought, Oh, I have a dime in my pocket, and I gave it to Maggie. She peered at the dime very closely and started to rub it slowly between her fingers like it was an ancient artifact.

She thanked me and told me to come back tomorrow morning, and she would give me the egg at that time. I thought to myself, Why would she want me to come back tomorrow? I didn’t ask because I was too excited.

The next morning I jogged back to the magic shop, eager to find out what Maggie was going to say about the egg. As I burst into the store, I didn’t see Maggie anywhere until she crept out of the back room. She looked surprised to see me. Maggie looked at me and said, “Do you still want the egg?”

I nervously said, “Yes, yes, I do.”

She grabbed the egg out of the cash register safe and started to rub it lovingly. I was starting to wonder whether she was a shopkeeper or a freak when all of a sudden a yellow ray popped out of the egg. Numbers appeared on the egg: one, two, and three…

(Click here to read Gabbi's entire story)

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The Staff
by Tyson, eighth grade writer

One day I was jogging around a bend that led to my house because I have been trying to get in shape for the basketball tryouts. About twenty feet from my house, deep mists suddenly made it impossible to see anything. I started to freak, and I felt claustrophobia closing in. My lungs started to close up, and then I was in a strange shop. An old man at a counter said, "Now, you have several things that you came for, but pick the right one."

I thought it weird at the time, but I thought nothing more of it. I started to look around and saw that the shop held a lot of stuff that people might like if it was fake. The skulls really did look real; plus, there were heads that blinked and moved. Then it occurred to me: this stuff was real. I was amazed. Never in my life had I thought that magical stuff could be real. I started to walk around with more respect. There were eyeballs, magic books, rings that had a lot of rubies, and there were even dragon eggs!

I started to look around for something for me when I encountered the staff. It was a staff that stood about five feet tall, and it had a dragon claw that had four talons. The claw held a crystal that was about six inches in diameter. The ball was clear inside and there was green mist that just hung there, suspended.

I was fascinated. When I grabbed it, there was a bright flash, and I was back at home. Well, I thought it was home. Then a bright light flashed and I was sent back to the shop. "How mush is this staff?" I asked.

The old man smiled and turned around. "Well, normally it is about a quarter and a half, but I will make it only a penny in your case." When I started to walk to the counter to give him my penny, there was a commotion at the front door.

(Click here to read Tyson's entire story)

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