Ten Writing Instructional Strategies Every Teacher Should Know Douglas Fisher San Diego State...

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