11 Tips on Developing Confident Writers

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2. Having the proper tools

It’s important to have the proper tools available,  in order to foster confident writers. In every area of life, we need a toolbox with the helpful resources we need to function. Writing is no different. It is one area of life that our students need to function. Here are a few tools that can help students improve their writing confidence in the classroom.

• Daily Journal

Daily journals can be used across the curriculum. They can be used to ensure there is a place for and allows for easy and regular writing implementation. It is a place for students to dump all their thoughts in their heads. Writing can be therapeutic for students if posed as such.  Daily journals also alleviate the distribution of the paper. A routine can be created for students during their writing. It can also be a place to house multiple subjects. It allows students to practice penmanship and proper formatting. The more often they write, the better they become.

• Writing Portfolio 

 A  writing portfolio is a place to house work samples, whether completed or incomplete.   This portfolio is the keeper of progress, not only for the students but for all stakeholders. That said, when a  student is doubtful about their progress, show them where they began and affirm their current progress. Let them know how far they have come. And lovingly tell them one of my favorite quotes, “Slow progress is still progress.”

• Writer’s Folder

When truly engaging the art of writing on a regular basis, things can get out of control. If  you are working on the writing process, different students can be in different places. If students are writing in different subjects then there may be  a mix of writing assignments. So the folders can separate the complete works, from the in-progress works. 

• Bulletin Boards 

Having bulletin boards that showcase writing in every subject area across the curriculum is another great way to build confident writers. Allow students to see their work around the room, even those students who are not performing at grade level. Move away from worksheets and continue to move closer to student-generated products. This will def build confident writers.

So those are a few tools that will help build confident writers. 

2 3.  Writing Daily 

Writing involves several skills that are to be used simultaneously by all writers.  There are a host of skills that must be employed, in order  to be effective writers which include: 

• • using motor skills to physically write

• • using typing skills to type

• • using their mind to create ideas

• • using the writing process

• • attending to the prompt as a whole

• • providing evidence to support the main idea

• • formulating sentences. 

• • including proper spelling and grammar, usage, and mechanics.  

Needless to say…It’s a lot!!!. That’s why they must practice using these skills daily. Getting students to write can be like pulling teeth. But, the more students write the easier it becomes.  The easier writing becomes, the more confident,  students become. 

3 4. Modeling

Modeling the product you want  from day one, will make a world of difference.  it is important to model your expectations in  writing, as well as, anything else you expect from students. .  Some ideas for what to model are:  

• • how to create a  proper heading, whether it is writing or typing

• • how to answer assessment  questions

• • how to format journal writing

• • how to write a sentence

• • how to write a simple paragraph

• • how to respond to on-demand writing prompts.

• • How to cite evidence aurally and in print 

• • how to add evidence to writing pieces 

• • how to take notes

Spend time,  a month or two, modeling then enforcing these elements. Doing this will yield a quality final product, and happier and more confident students. 

4 5. Background Knowledge 

It is important to prepare students to write.  Students need background knowledge from which to draw.  Discussion, plus visuals levels the playing for students. Any terms or academic vocabulary students are expected to use should be present.  Whatever the requirements are should be present and discussed. The source of the writing should be made available if the writing is based on a piece of work. There should also be a rubric available for student so they how they are being graded.

5 6. Organization 

 Prewriting is one of the most important stages of the writing process.  It is here that students develop   and sequence their thoughts.  Good writers spend 80% of their time organizing their writing, while poor writers spend 20% of their time organizing their paper. Walk students through the prewriting process using graphic organizers. The organizer should be related to the specific writing genre. Each genre has different requirements. Once a student can take themselves through the prewriting process, they will be unstoppable.

6 7. On-Demand Writing/ Performance Tasks 

Just as you assess  students in other content areas, students should be assessed in writing .  Administer an On Demand/ Performance Assessments where students have to answer questions extemporaneously. Use writing prompts from stories that were  read earlier in the week. Use content from other subject areas, as well.  For example.

“Write a paragraph explaining why settlers traveled west?  Provide three reasons. Be sure to include a  topic sentence, at least three supporting details and a concluding sentence.”

Simple on demand assessment can create grades not only for writing, but for the specific content areas tested. 

If students are used to On Demand/Performance Tasks, they will become more confident.

7 8. Grading in Pieces 

Often times teachers don’t engage in writing because it is too time-consuming to grade and too  many areas to critique. If this is the case for you, try grading in pieces.  For each writing,  focus on a different element of writing, and of course, let students know what the focus is from the beginning.  Some different areas to focus on  are:

• • Usage of parts of speech

  • For example, your class has been working on prepositions.  Give them a writing assignment where they must use prepositional phrases. This way you are not worried anything but the preposition phrases.
  • Stages of the writing process
  • Maybe one week focus on just grading the prewrite. Students can still be taken through the writing process, but you will only be grading  the prewrite portion  

8 9. Keep it simple 

 Teach students to how to do the following.

• • Speak in complete sentences.

• • Write in complete sentences

• • Write complete paragraphs 

• • Cite evidence 

• • Use academic vocabulary and vivid language in writing

• • Engage in multiple types of writing assignments

• • Practice on-demand writing often

9 10.  Multiple Writing Opportunities 

 In order to provide  multiple opportunities for students to write, give open ended questions on a regular basis. Allow them to think and explain their thoughts and actions regularly. Even if it is constructing one sentence, have them do it and do it right. You can find and provide opportunities across the curriculum that provides the context for meaningful learning. Students should be writing (constructing responses) at the very minimum four times to per day. 

10 11. Writing Across the Curriculum 

Writing should be implemented in every subject area across the curriculum.  It is not a skill that is meant  to be taught in isolation. It is a foundational skill that must be mastered, reviewed and revisited regularly. 

So those are my tips on building confident writers. Do you have any others to add? Please let me know in the comments.