Ten Writing Instructional Strategies Every Teacher Should Know Douglas Fisher San Diego State University dfisher@mail.sdsu.edu

Language Experience Approach Students are active language users Teacher transcribes students’ words (whole class, small group, or individual) Students extend text

Interactive Writing Oral Language Composition & Construction “Sharing the pen” students write in front of their peers

Writing Models Offers a pattern or form to scaffold writing Using existing text students insert original writing

Generative or “Given Word” Sentences Focus on the craft of writing Lessons to refine practice Use student examples for editing “No excuse”

Word Pyramids Requires students to consider lots of words Explores and expands word knowledge Dictionary use?

Power Writing Brief, timed writing events to improve fluency Students chart their own progress Extension - progressive writing

Found Poems Student use existing text Select specific words/phrases Arrange them in free-verse Requires re-reading of texts

RAFT Writing Role, Audience, Format, and Topic are explicitly taught Perspective taking is the focus

Writing to Learn What do students know and think? Brief prompts Yesterday’s news – a review of class from the previous day Crystal ball – a prediction of what might come next Best thing I learned – a summary or analysis of the best part of class Exit slip – a written review of the class completed before leaving the room Not process papers

Independent Writing Based on a prompt, students produce original writing Multiple genres Rubrics guide students’ completion of the task

Interactions: Writing and the Language Arts Read aloud or shared reading Independent reading Word study (word wall) Collaborative learning centers Individual and small group instruction