Sentence combining is an evidence-based practice that helps students improve both their writing skills and reading comprehension. In this valuable book, the author outlines the importance of the sentence and what sentence combining actually is, as well as how to teach and assess it. Also included: multiple examples at different levels that teachers from Grades…
In this book, the authors share background information on how writing develops, and a research base for three key elements: handwriting, spelling and composition. The following chapters provide practical classroom advice for teaching all three, including several chapters dedicated to genre-specific writing instruction: book reviews (opinion), narratives and description, and how those progress from K-2….
This blog post by Joan Sedita of Keys to Literacy highlights the research behind creating specific product goals in writing, emphasizing that providing students with specific guidance on the task, audience, and purpose. A WAG template (Writing Assignment Guide) is provided, as well as completed samples to highlight how it can be used in instruction.
Joan Sedita, founder of Keys to Literacy, explains the two key steps students need to learn in the revision process when writing: thinking critically about what they have written and how they can make improvements and proofreading.
The ultimate goal of writing is communication, says Joan Sedita, founder of Keys to Literacy, who adds that teachers can help students struggling with transcription or spelling by using other strategies like dictation or drawing to help them develop their writing skills.
Joan Sedita, founder of Keys to Literacy, talks about how using “mentor texts” — short pieces of literature students can read and reread for specific learning purposes — can help students become better writers.
Motivating young writers is not always easy, says Joan Sedita, founder of Keys to Literacy, but some strategies include giving students opportunities to work collaboratively, encouraging students to write about topics that are meaningful to them, and teaching students the power of writing to an authentic audience.
Joan Sedita, founder of Keys to Literacy, talks about the four main stages of writing: thinking, planning, writing, and revising and the fact that the more time and effort students put into the first two stages and the last stage, the better their writing will be.
In this week’s episode, Kate chats with Dr. Steve Graham about all things writing. Dr. Graham highlights the importance of handwriting and spelling, and unpacks evidence-based strategy instruction to build strong writers.
This book, from the Literacy How Professional Learning Series, covers relevant research, knowledge that educators need, activities, assessment and information on selecting and using texts to support syntax instruction in the classroom. Classroom educators from K-3 and those who provide intervention for older learners would benefit from this book, which is also informative professional development…
This article highlights practical activities to support structured instruction of writing, including word-, sentence-, and paragraph-level techniques.
This is a fabulous collection of cursive writing resources created by the OCDSB Occupational Therapists and Learning Support Services Department. It includes a document with background knowledge of why cursive is important (including research and curriculum links), a slide deck with animated demonstrations of letter formation, and practice sheets for each letter. Note that…
