Writing is arguably the hardest thing to teach. For me this is partly because I have never considered myself a stellar writer, but also because there are so many different approaches and styles and a lot depends on the writer’s personality. Additionally, it seems that writing has never had the emphasis that reading and math have had (unless you teach a tested grade), so if something has to get squeezed out, it may well be writing.
It is amazing how much a fellow teacher can influence you and how you teach when they are passionate about something. One of my partner teachers is passionate about writing and getting students to love it as much as her. After many conversations about how she teaches writing, and reading several books that she recommended, I have become a better writing teacher. The following are some tips I learned and resources I have found that are beneficial if you are like me and dread teaching writing!
Tip # 1 Make Time for Writing Instruction EVERY SINGLE DAY!
When I was in the classroom, I found it hard to find the time to actually teaching writing. We wrote across the subjects in an effort to squeeze it in when possible, but what I learned is that my students actually became better writers when I actually taught them skills and strategies that would help them become better writers. Go figure! 🙂 I usually could only manage consistently 20-30 minutes a day for four days a week.
Tip #2 Write in FRONT of your students.
This may sound silly, but modelling what you expect can go along way! I always thought students would copy my style and I didn’t want that. However, what I have learned is that some students (usually the limited proficient students) would copy my style, but it was a lot fewer than I thought. Students benefit from hearing you think aloud and go through the writing process. Keep a writing notebook, similar to theirs so that you can model what is expected.
Tip #3 Use MENTOR TEXTS and Anchor Charts.
Find a great book, article, letter in the genre that you are teaching and pick it apart based on how the author wrote it. Look at texts from a different perspective than when reading for comprehension. For example, if you are teaching students how to write strong beginnings, find several examples of books that have strong beginnings to share just that first paragraph with them. Then create anchor charts that document these different strategies so students can reference them when they begin writing.
Tip #4 Read, read, read!
Read aloud, ALL the time , to your students regardless of their age. My fifth graders learned to love to read because I loved to read and that passion is clear when I read aloud. It is important to read aloud a variety of types of texts and when reading, pause and think like the author of the text.
Tip #5 Follow a workshop model for writing.
With my limited time to teach writing, my lessons often carried over from the previous day. With that said, I usually always followed this model:
- Model the strategy and create the anchor chart with students based on mentor texts.
- Students have a chunk of time to write, independently, in quiet (or with classical music playing).
- Author’s chair.
Students need time to practice the strategy that they just learned. Then they also need to share with their peers what they have come up with. As I walk around the room, I read over their shoulders. I make a little mark on their page if they are sharing what they wrote that day. That way I can screen which students share so I get a variety of different strategies. Some times, they don’t have time to finish their thoughts and so it becomes homework to finish their writing, but regardless, I still have them share if I think they are off to a great start.
Two resources that will help you in your writing endeavors are:
- Portland Public Schools K-5 Writing Binder: They have an amazing collection of writing units for K-5 based on the Common Core genres. Find them here.
- Ralph Fletcher Craft Lessons: He has two books that I have found EXTREMELY helpful in teaching the craft of writing (not the nitty gritty grammar, conventions, etc.). The first is for fictional
writing and the second is for nonfiction 
What writing resources do you find very useful? Comment below!
Hookster's Ideas 