1. Chapter 3: Writing Strategies and Skills

2. Capable Writers… (p. 55)
Vary their writing based on the purpose and audience
Use the writing process flexibly
Focus on developing ideas and communicating effectively
Ask for feedback
Monitor their own writing
Use formats and structures appropriate to the genre (ie, letters, poems, stories, essays)
Edit their writing at the end of the writing process

3. Writing involves both strategies and skills
Strategies involve complex thinking and problem solving.
We learn strategies and become more effective using strategies through PRACTICE!
Skills are information-processing techniques.
Students learn to use skills automatically and unconsciously in their writing.

4. Writing involves the use of several strategies (Dean, 2006).
Generating
Organizing
Visualizing
Monitoring
Playing with language
Revising
Proofreading
Evaluating

5. Writing also involves many different types of skills:
Structuring skills
Writing complete sentences
Using Standard English grammar
Mechanical Skills
Spelling
Using apostrophes
Language Skills
Creating similes and metaphors
Playing with rhyme

6. Writing also involves many different types of skills:
Reference Skills
Using a dictionary or thesaurus
Creating a table of contents
Handwriting Skills
Forming letters correctly (legibly)
Spacing between words
Computer Skills
Keyboarding
Using word processing software

7. Strategy and Skill Instruction
Teachers use both direct and indirect methods for teaching strategies and skills
Each of the 5 types of writing may be used for teaching strategies and skills (Modeled Writing, Shared Writing, Interactive Writing, Guided Writing, Independent Writing)

8. Bringing the Reading-Writing Connection Full Circle
How does writing impact reading
comprehension?
Something to Think About!
When children write, they’re writing text for others to comprehend.
Nell Duke & J. David Pearson

9. Elements of Writing: What to Teach
Ideas
(gathering, recording, and expanding ideas)
Organization
(presenting ideas clearly and coherently)
Qualities of Good Writing
(word choice, voice, tone, rhythm and flow)
Conventions
(spelling, punctuation, and grammar)

10. Writing Skills Support Reading Comprehension
When children learn WHY it’s important to use conventional spelling, punctuate carefully, and write neatly, they learn--once again--that text must make sense.

11. Writing Strategies Support Reading Comprehension
When children understand HOW writing strategies parallel reading strategies, they begin to understand the reciprocal nature of the reading and writing process.

12. Parallel Reading and Writing Strategies
Bring background knowledge to bear
Visualize to understand
Think about text structure
Start from what you know; let your interests and passions guide you
Create a “picture” for your reader (show don’t tell); attend to word choice
Organize your ideas; consider the structure of your piece

13. Parallel Reading and Writing Strategies
Read with a purpose and adjust your reading accordingly
Summarize to determine importance
Ask questions and wonder to read actively
Consider your purpose for writing and your audience
Develop your key ideas
Write to learn; remain tentative and ready to revise

14. A child’s school day should make sense. It should be about something
A child’s school day should make sense. It should be about something. Ideally the various components of the day should work together, building upon one another for some purpose.
Mrytle Simpson, 1990

15. A teacher’s day should also make sense
A teacher’s day should also make sense. Teachers who can see a wholeness and simplicity in their curriculum have an easier task of organizing their day than those who are frustrated or intimidated by what they interpret as the increasing complexity of the curriculum demanded of them.
Mrytle Simpson, 1990

16. With a small group:
Choose one strategy. Discuss how this strategy could be taught in each of the 5 types of writing.
Choose one skill. Discuss how this skill could be taught in each of the 5 types of writing.