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Writing can give our brains a workout; there’s a lot to learn and remember. It’s why whenever I teach writing, I encourage my kids and students to focus on their interests. It is also why I love using creative writing activities. Not only does creative writing make writing more fun, but it also gets kids to connect to their writing, which is key. No matter what we’re learning, when we connect to the material and the way it’s taught, we are much more likely to remember what we learn and be able to use it later. Creative Writing + Connection = two ways to encourage our kids to write. Here’s a third way: Encourage Writing with Night Zookeeper.
Night Zookeeper is an online learning program that combines reading, writing, and art. Kids create a zookeeper and zoo animals and then use their creations to write creative stories.
Word games, sentence puzzles, and writing prompts help kids learn and apply their learning in creative ways. Video lessons creatively teach grammar and punctuation and then offer fun games and writing activities to help kids practice what is taught.
Here’s an example of a lesson taught on common and proper nouns
- Kids watch a short video lesson with animated characters who teach types of nouns.
- Kids are asked questions during the lesson to help them interact with materials.
- Kids take a short quiz to help them assess what they have learned.
- Kids are given writing prompts and sentence starts to help them use and identify common and proper nouns in their writing.
Perfect for ages 6-12, lessons meet kids where they are and offer additional support when needed. Kids can also pick their level of challenge.
My niece and nephew loved a Night Zookeeper book we gifted them last Christmas, so when Night Zookeeper asked me to review their program, I knew the perfect pair of kids to help me. What follows is not my review but theirs (and a few reasons I, too, recommend Night Zookeeper).
Kids Review Night Zookeeper
Night Zookeeper Review- Maddie, Age 8
Things about Night Zookeeper Maddie Loved
- You create your own creatures
- You get to draw
- You have your own Night Zookeeper
- Word games
- Fill in sentences
- Missions with videos
Things about Night Zookeeper Maddie Found Challenging
- Wished there was a word bank for some of the activities
- Zookeeper ran away if she got something wrong
Overall, Maddie gave Night Zookeeper a 5 1/2 out of 5.
Night Zookeeper Review- Sam, Age 10
Things about Night Zookeeper Sam Loved
- Fun stuff to learn
- Helps with vocabulary and spelling
- Very artistic
- You get to draw a lot
- You can choose your challenge and make it harder
- The lessons are games
- You can make animals and collect them
- Found the feedback really helpful
Things about Night Zookeeper Sam Found Challenging
- Wished for a tan color
Overall, Sam gave Night Zookeeper a 4 out of 5.
Both kids thought it was easy to log in and use the program independently. They preferred to use a touch screen. They thought it was a great way to learn for kids who needed help with reading and writing.
Personalized Feedback
One of the things Sam found helpful was the teacher’s feedback. This is my favorite part of Night Zookeeper’s program too.
Night Zookeeper teachers give writers personalized feedback. Writers get 1-1 connection with a reader while getting encouragement and ways to grow. I love how the teachers suggest words, help kids with spelling and ask questions to help kids keep writing and digging deeper into their stories.
If you’re looking to outsource some of your child’s learning, Night Zookeeper is a fun way for kids to play and get direct instruction.
Positive feedback is important for all writers, but it can be especially helpful if you have a reluctant writer or a child who does not want to receive feedback from their parent (it’s common).
Night Zookeeper also encourages kids to read each other’s writing. They have a class blog where kids can share and comment on each other’s work and remind them to be kind. This is awesome for young writers who are looking for a writing community.
Parent Support
From a parent perspective, I love how Night Zookeeper has an easy-to-use interface that lets me see what my kids are doing and learning.
Night Zookeeper is a great resource for homeschool ELA. It also makes an awesome way for kids to practice reading and writing after or during school (school accounts are available). Even though my homeschooler is too old for Night Zookeeper, I’ll be using their resources for my younger students and recommending homeschool and school families do the same.
If you have a kiddo who loves writing or needs a little encouragement, take Sam and Maddie’s advice (and mine) and give Night Zookeeper a try.
