A primary focus and goal for our young writers is to write with volume and stamina. Volume is how much they write. If a student writes one sentence on each page, the next goal would be to add more to that sentence. This process continues until students write down to the bottom of each page. Stamina has to do with how long students can remain engaged during the writing process. Stamina for writing varies by child and age and will incrementally increase over time and across grade levels.
Volume
o Writing across the page and writing down the page.
o If a student writes one sentence on a page, we ask them what is happening at this point in the story; what are the characters thinking; how are the characters feeling; what are the characters saying; what are the characters doing?
o We then encourage our writers to add that to what they've already written.
Stamina
o Continuing to write during writing time.
o Has a plan for their writing.
o Stays on task while writing.
o Gets back to writing when and if they lose focus.