What are some best practices for effective writing at the primary level?

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 How can we as primary teachers improve our students writing skills?

As primary teachers we research, looking high and low for strategies we can use to help improve our students writing skills. Below are some strategies we can use to assist our students in becoming effective writers.  

Some best practices for effective writing includes: having a positive and inviting atmosphere, organizing writing, and of course providing students with meaningful feedback.

A Positive and Inviting Atmosphere

"Everyone should have an opportunity to learn in a positive environment, to enjoy the learning process, and to feel comfortable and content within it." (Said) A clean and positive environment can help in improving a student's attention span, and encourages students to attend school. It also improves and boosts a positive and clear mindset in students.  

But you may ask, is it only the physical environment that should be positive and inviting? Allow me to answer, no. A student's emotional environment should also be important. For example: if a teacher enters the classroom angrily and untidy, this alone is not a positive environment for students as they may get distracted by the teacher's facial expression and appearance. 


Organizing Writing

Teachers should model the writing process for students. After modeling the writing process students should be given the oppurtunity to practice their writing. Each student should be given or asked to get a writer's notebook. In this writer's notebook students are able to to write their ideas and practice independent writing. The writer's note book allow students to be able to go back and reflect on their writing pieces during the school year and thus be able to see how much they have improved in their writing skills.  


Meaningful Feedback

When teachers provide students with feedback they are letting them know where they went wrong, how to correct their mistakes and what they are doing correctly. It is essential for students to be provided feedback as this helps to boost their confidence as writers. It also makes students aware of what they did wrong and to avoid making the same mistakes again. 


 



Comments

  1. Zoe ClarkeOctober 9, 2021 at 3:06 PM

    Agreed Mohanie   and since writing is a process that may be challenging for children, I think there is always a solution to overcome these challenges. Additionally, teachers should include strategies to foster critical engagement and involvement in the classroom through writing. I will consider using these practices.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Onida T.October 14, 2021 at 9:03 AM

    Mohanie, I agree that it is important for us as teachers to create a positive atmosphere, organize writing and give meaningful feedback. In doing this, we would create a more inviting atmosphere and space for our students to expand their imaginative wings and become better writers. These are important for us as teachers and thus, I will take these into consideration when I return to the classroom.

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