“I don’t know what to write about.”
Part of the problem is that kids don’t spend enough time writing. Another part of the problem is that we prompt them to write about huge events, like summer vacations. Those only happen once a year.  We need to show them how to write about small things - things that happen everyday. If they begin to do that successfully, they will never run out of ideas. The way to teach them how to do this is to model it. Every time you write a story, think it through… “I want to write about my day at the amusement park, but that’s too big. I’ll just write about one ride.”

Think, Talk, Draw, Write
This is a great exercise for kids having trouble organizing and following through with their writing. I’ve used this process with grades 2-6. Remember that you have to model every step of the process. I like to start modeling with the time I broke my arm (everybody has an injury story). Here’s how it works:
Day 1
1. Prompt students to think of an event they’d like to write about (keep it small and non-fiction narrative)
2. Have them tell their story to a partner
3. Have students fold a piece of copy paper into four boxes and label each one (1,2,3,4)
4. Draw the story in the four boxes (this really forces them to organize their thoughts)
Day 2
5. Go back to the drawing. Add details that show setting, characters’ emotions, dialogue, etc.
6. Talk through the story again, using the pictures as a guide
7. Begin writing (on a separate sheet of paper or in a blank book)
Days 3-5
8. Continue writing and editing
9. Allow them to illustrate the final product