Writing Methods

Writing Methods

Part 3: Recommendations

Write From the Beginning

Start

Struggling Writers

A useful strategy to use with struggling writers is interactive writing. These students need modeling and guidance on how to write sentences correctly and how to get started, so interactive writing is a great way to help them in their first years. The entire class can help each other sound out words/letters when a student is writing at the front of the classroom. If errors are made, corrections are made immediately. Write From the Beginning allows teachers to use interactive writing during the first 4 levels. It is all about brainstorming as a class and getting students to create thinking maps together.

Read together when the writing is complete!

english learners

Guided writing is a great strategy to use for English learners because it is a targeted approach that can be used in small groups. The teacher can work with students whom have similar needs and teach new vocabulary, spelling, and sentence structure (or any other specific needs dependent on the grade level). The teacher can focus on a specific task for that week/month until the students are confident and ready to be challenged with new concepts. WFTB has time built into the curriculum where guided writing can be incorporated. Small groups are already utilized and guided writing can easily be used with English learners.

Use images whenever possible to help with word recognition!

advanced learners

6+1 Traits of Writing is something that all students are exposed to, but I feel that advanced learners are capable of understanding and putting into practice. Write From the Beginning exposes students to the 6+1 Traits of Writing. It challenges advanced learners because not all of these traits are reached by students in first grade. By exposing them to these traits and giving them practice writing in this manner, they will be prepared for the years to come when it is expected of them.

Use images whenever possible to help with word recognition!

special needs

• Write From the Beginning features interactive writing throughout the first 3 levels and is a great tool to reach students with special needs. It gives students a voice because they collaborate and create ideas on the chosen topic (or topic of their choice).
• All students are involved and/or can be walked through the writing process with the help of aids in the classroom as the teacher leads a lesson
• Keeping a routine is a key for success with interactive writing and Write From the Beginning offers that

Mini-lessons

Write From the Beginning mini-lessons supports all learners. They are a quick 5-10 minute warm-up to give students extra practice on a key concept. It is a great strategy to help reach areas of writing that you wouldn't normally have time to discuss throughout the day. A powerpoint is provided to each grade level.

It provides opportunities for small group collaboration

Encourages student voice

Allows all students to give input

Write From the Beginning thrives on asking questions. Teachers pose questions to students to encourage student engagement, promote vocabulary, and student voice.

The district provides numerous power points to support with key concepts. They are useful resources to use when working on a specific topic or small group.

Have students talk before AND after writing

Write from the beginning recommendation

thank you!

Rebecca De Sousa

Special Needs

The teacher models correct writing techniques for all students. WFTB encourages interactive writing within the curriculum throughout the first 3 levels as the teacher and students brainstorm ideas and create circle maps.

• Students write ideas on the circle map
• Students collaborate to create new ideas
• Read sentences aloud with everyone

6+1 Traits of Writing

• Voice: allows the students to feel a sense of ownership because they are writing their own ideas
• Ideas: advanced learners will remain focused on a single idea and elaborate on that
• Presentation: since advanced learners have mastered the basics of writing and need more of a challenge, they can work on how to present their writing
• Conventions: now that advanced learners can write their sentences, they can focus on spelling, punctuation, grammar, etc.
• Organization: advanced learners focus on writing clearly with details and use transitions
• Word Choice: using adjectives and verbs to create a visual in the student's mind
• Sentence Fluency: advanced learners are encouraged to use varied sentence structures

Writing Everywhere!

"Create opportunities for children to write during daily activities and routines" (Gerde et al., 2012). Even outside of the WFTB curriculum, students need to be writing.

• sign-in sheets
• across all content areas
• letters to peers
• letters to families
• daily calendar activities

Build Confidence

Focus on what students can do to help build confidence. "Embrace the scribbles, scribble writing, and letter-like shapes as children begin to write and move from name writing to other forms of writing (e.g., letter/word writing, story writing) (Gerde et al., 2012). Rather than correcting students' spelling errors, try to help them understand how to create a sentence with a capital letter and correct punctuation.

Sample Questions

• What does it look like?
• Who likes it?
• What can it do?
• How is it made?
• How does it feel?
• Where does it come from?
• Can it be compared to something else?
• Why do you like/dislike it?
• When can you see/play/find it?

Write From the Beginning Curriculum