Isn’t teaching writing so tough? Personally, I always find it the most challenging subject to teach. I have been to professional development and found resources with online videos and books that helped me, so I wanted to share with you!
Texts for Students and Teachers
First, I highly recommend helping your students get invested in learning about writing with books made for children. I love the Katie Woo Series, Arthur Writes a Story, and several more.
Also, I find books for teachers to be very helpful. Some of my favorites are:
Teaching Writing by Lucy Calkins
How’s it Going? by Carl Anderson
The Writing Strategies Book by Jennifer Seravello
Picture Prompts
Use Funny or silly picture prompts to inspire students! You can use silly pictures from the internet or, if you want it all done, explained, and ready for you, check out Hojo’s Teaching Adventures blog post here.
Anchor Charts
So helpful! We are Teachers have collected and shared tons of ideas!
What Works Clearinghouse Tips
Steve Graham from What Works Clearinghouse (U.S. Department of Education) has shared some really helpful tips.
Provide Daily Time to Write
- The important, but often overlooks daily writing time – Even 5-10 minutes of free writing, or working on in progress work is great!
Teach the Writing Process
- Teach by modeling the steps of the writing process and be sure to display a visual or visuals for students in your space.
- Also use the gradual release of responsibility to help the students.
- Support Students in choosing and using appropriate writing strategies.
Teach Students to Write for a Variety of Purposes
- Help them expand their idea of audience. Some students write just for themselves or you, but have them write letters to their principal or consider writing with younger book buddies in mind, or local politician or the world at large!
- Help your students understand difference reasons and purposes for writing.
- Teach students to use models (ie mentor texts, peer exemplars) to learn from.
Create an Engaged Writing Community in your Classroom
- Support student collaboration.
- Help students learn how to give appropriate peer feedback. I love the peer editing checklists from Keys to Writing.
- Share your own writing with your class!
- Provide choices for students as far as to topics and assignments!
Writing Prompts (Including a Freebie!)
Finally, I also have some ready to go writing prompts that would help you and your students. I used them weekly with second graders. There is a freebie you could try out, and your could look for other prompt collections in my store, or you could save money, time, and grab the full year, 229 page bundle here! You can also join the RWR Insiders Club (free to join) for a 15 page writing prompts freebie! Join up here. Click on the images below to take a look at them!
Feel free to let me know your favorite tip for teaching writing in the comments!
Also check out any of the books I have mentioned by clicking on their covers below to see them at Amazon.
