Make Writer's Out Of Your Students
Let me say straight up, your students should be writing every day.
Students need to be exposed to writing skills, structures and types of texts to become strong, confident, independent writers. Writing everyday is a must for their growth as writers, their attitude towards writing and even to work on their letter formation and handwriting skills.
I usually start the week with my students writing a recount of their weekend, then throughout the day and week we complete writing tasks in other text types. I include two guided and modelled handwriting sessions we write responses in geography, science and maths and include even a daily reflection at the end of the day.
Below you will find simple ways to make writers out of your students;
Use YouTube as an introduction to your writing lessons such as Not So Wimpy Teacher or Teaching Without Frills
Start with joint construction and model the correct structure of the text - what is the purpose of the text - is it to inform, persuade, describe or entertain?
Be explicit when modelling your joint construction with the class on how to form the letters, where to start on the page, to skip a line for a new paragraph, and what is expected in writing PEEL paragraphs
When teaching the younger years - compose sentences together, reread the message, clap, snap or count words. Children re-read the sentence to me. Cover it over on the board and students attempt to write the sentence themselves.
Having environmental print for writing displayed around the classroom is vital - high modality words, text structure, grammar - verbs, nouns, adverbs, other words for said… And refer to it often. Keep bringing the students attention to it
Have a word wall - in alphabetical order and stage appropriate words. Use Velcro on the back and students can pull words off the wall and write them in their books at their tables
Provide students who have trouble remembering to use finger spaces with a paddle pop stick or something similar for them to use - I call them space buddies
Use low, medium and high-quality writing samples during guided modelled lessons so students are aware of expectations prior to their writing
Allow students to share back after they have finished
Encourage students to use their imagination for narratives - animals are allowed to talk, you can include witches, wizards and dragons
Read to your students often, even multiple times a day especially in infants if you have the opportunity
What do you do differently in teaching writing skills to your students? We would love it if you joined the conversation and left a comment below.