RE: My tutor student with the mad writing skillz... I didn't have anything for him to do in the couple of minutes it was going to take me to type up his story so he could edit it, so I offered to let him color the picture that went along with the fairy hunting story:
Yes. Offering THIS picture to a ten-year-old boy to color is kind of like handing him the sign-up sheet for a lifetime supply of ballet lessons.
After I drew the bloody sword and the smashed-underfoot kitty, I asked what the leaping fairy could be 'squashing' - tutor kid suggested 'a giant fish. With lots of spikes on its back.' He was totally into coloring after that, and didn't want to stop to edit his story. :)
Boys.