Shared Writing
What Is Shared Writing?
During Shared Writing, teachers and students work together to compose a piece of writing. Students develop ideas, but the teacher takes on the actual act of writing.
What is the difference between shared Writing and Interactive Writing?
Shared Writing
What?
During Shared Writing, students develop ideas, but the teacher does the physical writing.
Why?
This allows students to focus on the structure and development of the piece, taking away the responsibility of conventions (spelling and punctuation) from the students. Teachers model the fluency of proficient writers. (*Similar to a Read Aloud for writing)
Interactive Writing
What?
During Interactive Writing, students develop ideas, but the teacher and students share the pen.
Why?
This structure provides a supported bridge between phonics and spelling patterns and students' independent writing. Teachers are a support for students who are still learning conventional spelling. This structure is most often utilized in Grades K-1. (*Similar to Shared Reading for writing)
How Can I Use Shared Writing at Home?
If your child wants to work on the content of their writing, as opposed to conventions, work with your child to develop a piece of writing, while parents take on the physical act of writing. Shared Writing can be utilized for narrative writing (stories), opinion writing (persuasive essays), information writing (lists, letters) or any type of writing. This can be particularly helpful for students who struggle with fine motor skills, such as holding a pencil correctly, but have lots of ideas to share!