I use daily journal writing with prompts, and Wednesdays are dedicated to research-based writing. As students become more comfortable with the structure, I allow them to choose topics for the class, which keeps them engaged and improves their writing skills.
My kids write a weekly poem based on their experiences, and we use conversation cards at dinner to foster critical thinking and expression. These activities help them see the connection between spoken and written language, which is crucial for developing effective writing skills.
If we’re talking about literal writing skills like penmanship, practice is key. For story writing, I give my son a topic and let him write his thoughts down, then we refine it together. This process involves a lot of reading and questioning, which helps him improve both his reading and writing skills.
A simple structure for essays that seems to work well for my students is: tell them what you’re going to tell them, tell them, and then tell them what you told them. This framework helps them organize their thoughts and structure their writing.
Our school has adopted the Writing Revolution approach, which has been effective in improving students’ writing skills across various grade levels.
I focus on helping young students use their natural storytelling abilities. I encourage them to tell a story out loud first, which makes it easier for them to write it down later.