Teaching writing
Writing purposes
Writing is the most neglected skill in EYL. But if consider the many purposes of writing such as communicate ideas, interact socially with others (e-mails, invitations, greeting card, thank-you notes), to remember, as well as to get information and learn.
FAT-P
Every writing assignment should have a specific:
Form the type of writing text or genre-a letter, an e-mail, a journal,a list, a story, or poem.
Audience someone who will read the writing (other students,parents, or oneself.
Topic a reason to write-to inform, entertain, remember, express feelings.
Main approaches
1 A product-based approach-one that focuses on the final product.
A product based approach, as the name implies, focuses on the final writing product, seeking to create as accurate a text as possible.
2 A process-based approach-one that focuses on the process of writing.
In a process-based approach to writing, the primary goal is for children to express their ideas, to construct meaning, and to explore their linguistic and other resources.
Controlled writing activities
Forming letter by tracing, creating them physically, connecting dots.
Underlining stressed words as they are spoken.
Counting the words in a sentence or clapping with each.
Copying words or sentences.
Completing word puzzles with the words provided.
Playing word games (Bingo).
Unscrambling words or sentences.
Filling in gaps with the words or sentences provided.
Creating a poem with words provided.
Building a personal word list.
Contributing words to a word wall.
Guided writing activities
Brainstorming topics or words to include.
Completing word puzzles with clue.
Filling in blanks.
Completing sentences with pictures clues or sentence starters.
Responding to questions about a picture, a scene, or a text.
Describing a picture with some vocabulary provided.
Creating a poem with model formats.
Completing language bubbles in cartoons.
Writing from dictation.
Writing from completed graphic organizer.
Responding to a series of questions in writing.
Completing cloze activities.
Participating in the language experience approach.
Creating sentences with some of the words provided.
Rearranging sentences in a paragraph.
Rewriting familiar songs or stories.
Writing a new ending for a familiar story.
Writing a text from a model.
Poetry
Poetry can be a wonderful source of guided writing activities.
Name Acrostics
Three-Line Poems
Cinquains
Poems from Prose
Shape poem
The stages of writing Workshop
Brainstorming and discussing
Drafting
Peer reviewing and conferencing
Revising
Reviewing and conferencing
Editing
Publishing
PRAISE--QUESTION--POLISH
EDITING CHECKLIST
Some digital writing activities include
1 E-pals and paired classes.
2 Photo-autobiographies.