Writing Skills

In preparation for the ISAT tests, our district is focusing on written language skills this year. Teachers have met during inservice training sessions to review how to effectively teach writing. Recently district staff received a handout on research-based practices for teaching writing by Steve Graham of Vanderbuildt University. Professor Graham highlighted six best practices for improving student writing:

• Teach Writing Processes: "The first and most effective practice is to explicitly and systematically teach kids strategies for planning, drafting, editing, revising, and regulating the writing process."
• Have students work together. Students give each other feedback.
• Create clear expectations.
• Have students write on a word processor. Research shows that using the computer for writing (and editing) can make a significant difference from second grade onward.
• Teach complex sentence structures. Modeling sentence combining and having students practice using complex sentences in their essays improves writing.
• Establish writers' workshop where students are provided a supportive environment to engage in the writing process on a regular basis.

The small group setting of speech and language groups offers a natural opportunity to develop written language skills. Over the next several months, Mrs. DeYoung will be utilizing these practices to improve written and oral communication with many of her students grades 5-8.