Effective Literacy Instruction - Writing Instruction

Writing instruction

Effective writing is a crucial skill to best prepare learners for work and college, as well as an essential factor for a wide range of professions. It is an essential skill that students need to learn in order to be able to build effective communication through writing in schools and workplaces. According to research conducted by Sundeen in 2015, it is revealed that writing has not been taken seriously in schools. Moreover, Casner-Lotto & Benners’ 2006 study (as cited in Sundeen, 2015) a high rate of 80% of countrywide employers reported that high school students are not skilled in effective writing. Like reading, writing is also important for literacy instruction. Fisher and Frey (2003), argue that teachers are required to focus on both reading and writing to support literacy development. Following are some directions to teachers on effective writing instruction.

Language Experience Approach (LEA):

In this approach, all 4 language skills are used: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. The teacher first encourages students to talk about a specific topic, such as travel, family life, and so on, through group discussions or storytelling, and finally uses words and phrases from within the topics to teach skills. Chooses to read and write. In this way, students learn to read and write words and sentences that they have already had a language experience with. LEA is an important step for students for two reasons. First, students did not understand, how they can formally record their voices. Second, it is difficult for students to share their ideas with their peers (Fisher & Frey, 2003).

Interactive Writing

a writing process used to teach (usually younger) students how to write. The process involves the sharing of a pen between the teacher and students. It can be done in a one-on-one private lesson with a student, or with a small group of students. The purpose of the procedure is to teach children how to write well by allowing them to copy the demonstration of the teacher directly. Interactive writing helps students advance their writing skills as using the same pen as the teacher, immediately after their example, creates the right mindset for the child to copy the teacher's technique correctly. By directly following the guidance of the teacher the child advances far more than if they were to use their own pen and paper.

Writing Models

In this method, students are asked to use a piece that has already been written and then write their own sentences (Fisher & Frey, 2003). This pre-written piece acts as a template for students. These patterns help students get the mindset and start writing. Giving role models to students is the teacher's job. The teacher writes a word or phrase on the board and asks the students to write their own sentences independently using the template. In my opinion, it can be a good method or strategy.

Power of Writing

Power Writing, this strategy is such that the teacher suggests a topic to the students and gives them time. Students should write quickly and non-stop during the time the teacher assigns to the students. Finally, the teacher assesses how many words each student has used (Fisher & Frey,2003).

Independent writing

Students write individually on self-selected topics within an area of study. The purpose is to create proficient writers who write for a variety of purposes and audiences (Fisher & Frey, 2003).

Activities conducted by teachers in independent writings:

Establishing a focus through a minilesson
Engaging students in authentic, purposeful writing
Providing opportunities for choice and self-selection
Observing and recording students’ behaviors and needs
Conferencing with students to support individual needs
throughout the writing process
Supporting students throughout the writing process

Interactive Writing example, (District, 2017)

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