When our school signed up for the Tadpole Press 100-Word Writing Contest, I saw it as more than just an enrichment activity. It was a chance to show every student that storytelling was for them.

Not just the kids who always finish their homework on time. Not just the ones who love to write. Everyone.

Here’s how we turned it into something joyful, accessible, and surprisingly powerful with tips you can steal and shape for your own school community.

1. Launch it like an event, not an assignment.

I first introduced the contest during a whole-school assembly. We kept the tone light and celebratory as I shared what the contest was about, read a few winning stories from previous years, and made it feel like something anyone could do. The room shifted from curious to inspired pretty quickly.

2. Normalize success by showcasing examples.

Reading aloud some winning entries from previous years helped demystify the task. Hearing strong, short stories gave students a real sense of what 100 words of brilliance can sound like, and it made the challenge feel achievable.

3. Build momentum with follow-up assemblies.

Two weeks later, in a second assembly, I read out a few of our own students’ submissions (with permission). That sparked something. Submissions began to pour in. Proof that hearing peer examples makes a huge difference. A kind of “If they can do it, so can I” feeling.

4. Embed mini writing lessons into the fun.

During that second assembly, I sneakily wove in craft tips: things like using adjectives beside nouns or when to start a new paragraph. Skills we have been teaching in class. I pointed them out in real examples, making grammar feel less like a rulebook and more like a writer’s toolkit.

5. Bring in familiar role models.

To make writing feel relevant and cool, I mentioned authors our students love — Julia Donaldson, JK Rowling, Louis Sachar, David Walliams, and talked about how they use those same classroom techniques to build compelling stories. It wasn’t about being famous. It was about being smart with the tools you already have.

6. Keep the vibe playful and pressure-free.

This was key. I knew that if it started to feel like extra work, we’d lose momentum, either because it felt boring or because it felt intimidating. So, we kept it light, optional, and 100% framed around fun and imagination.

7. Offer optional writing support.

I ran weekly lunchtime writing workshops for any student who wanted a little help with their entry. Some came to brainstorm, others came to get a second opinion, and they all left feeling more confident. Having this space made the contest feel personal and accessible.

8. Celebrate along the way.

We showed Tadpole’s announcement videos (especially the one of the Celebration of Words where our students were mentioned!) during another assembly. It added a burst of excitement and gave the whole school a reason to root for each other. It felt like a victory for us all.

9. Recognize every effort.

When the contest wrapped up, we made school-issued certificates for every student who entered. Everyone got recognized. And we gave a special certificate to our student who made it onto Tadpole’s longlist. It was important that this celebration wasn’t just about winning, but about creating.

10. Make it part of the school story.

More than anything, this contest became a shared experience. We talked about it in class, at recess, and even at home. It was light, fun, and rooted in joy and that made it stick. Now, it’s something our students will remember not just as a contest, but as a moment when their voices mattered.

11. Because everyone loves a bonus tip.

I will connect with Amber and the team at Tadpole Press each year as this becomes an annual event for children in elementary school. The children know that there will be another chance when they’re in the grade above and are already talking about what their entries might look and sound like.

Your students’ first writing contest doesn’t need to be flashy or flawless. It just needs to feel possible. Show them the door, then cheer as they walk through it.

Dean Owen has been teaching kindergarten through grade 2 in both the UK and Portugal. He is also the Academic Enrichment Coordinator and grade 2 curriculum lead at TASIS, an American school in Lisbon, Portugal.