How to Teach Writing in Middle & Secondary Schools
Middle and high-school students should already know the basics of writing. They learn how to write paragraphs in elementary school. Some may even know how to write essays. If you teach kids in sixth through 12th grades, focus on helping them write creatively and critically while honing their proofreading and editing skills.
Instructions
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Give frequent feedback to students about their writing. When you grade compositions, make notes in the margin or at the end of the paper. Write suggestions for improvement and say something positive. This is time-consuming, but kids appreciate the effort. Do not rely solely on a number or letter grade for evaluative purposes.
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Pair students for cooperative writing activities. Most teens enjoy working together. Take advantage of their social inclinations by having them read and review each other's compositions. For accountability, have each partnership complete a form with some brief comments about the types of errors that were corrected and ideas exchanged about improving future assignments.
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Allow students to write about what they know. This is especially true for middle school kids who are still practicing the mechanics of writing. Instead of assigning the traditional, "What You Did Over Summer Vacation" essay topic, try a few new ones. For example, list the names of some of their favorite singers or movie stars and ask students to write an essay comparing their songs and movies.
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Assign prompts that will encourage students to write creatively. Once they are more comfortable writing within a structured format, assign creative essays. Think of your own topics or use those found on line at website Creative Writing Prompts. When grading compositions, focus on the originality of thoughts in their writing rather than mechanics and grammar. This will help lessen students' fears of expressing creative ideas and motivate them to continue writing.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit writing image by sasha from Fotolia.com
