7 Strategies For Teaching Writing In The Classroom

Writing is an essential part that every ESL student practices, even though some of them would like to omit it. 

Why so? Lack of confidence and skills evidently drives them in such a way. Therefore, that is our teachers’ mission to teach them by providing proper explanations. 

Here are some easy steps to take into consideration and boost your students’ awareness of writing.

1. Attentiveness

It is not a secret that students tend to be inattentive, especially children or teenagers. They do not finish reading the task given to them, and, drumrolls… misunderstand it. Even one miscomprehended word can alter the whole gist of the writing task.

Lest you feel sorry for truly decent work with no grammar or vocabulary mistakes, that tells about a completely different topic. Like, come on, they do not need to invent the bicycle. The task — the answer to this task, especially.

2. Teach To Break It Down

The clearer each part, the easier it is. Students need to understand what they write, what the purpose is for every sentence and paragraph. Hence, teach them to stick to the structure. 

Introduction

A captivating beginning in the introduction part or a so-called hook must open the writing, as to say. One topic sentence that would mention the case from the task is actually enough. And, it is a must for the introduction. 

However, inform your students not to rewrite the task itself. Make them rephrase it so that they show vocabulary richness and grammar expressions they know. 

Then, some background information to provide the context of the topic and a thesis statement. That is a clear provided point of the whole essay that students are going to prove.

Main body

Again, students choose either pros or cons to write about, or maybe both, depending on the kind of writing. They give a first thought on the topic sentence, and then explain what it means. 

Then, of course, every opinion needs to be supported. Like we all need some kind of support, yeah. So, make it a rule with your students to recall some life stories, made-up examples to add and emphasise some points in their paragraphs.

Conclusion

After giving a few advantages and disadvantages, highlighted with explanations and examples, it is high time your students wrote the conclusion part.

It should be simple, laconic and state all the opinions mentioned above. Once again, it would be wonderful for them not to rewrite the same sentence from the task or one of the topic sentences from the main body. 

They should sum up all the topic sentences proving their opinion and using diverse vocabulary.

3. Teach The Writing Process

The most important thing is to encourage students to see it as a writing process, not the ultimate goal or product. 

They need to be vigilant and hard-working during all steps of writing. These are:

Prewriting (brainstorming, outlining)

It is much simpler if you have a plan, as in life. Students might write down some ideas, make up a structure so that they can follow that step by step.

Drafting

Apparently, students need to write it in a draft first. It saves them from crossing off and out a lot.

Editing

As they are done, they need a one minute-break at least to close their eyes, to breathe in and out. 

Now they can look at their writings with a fresh glance and see whether everything corresponds to the topic: headlines are well-chosen and supported with information or details.

Writing down

The final step is here. Students do not need to come up with ideas or rewrite anymore. Just spell checking, once again: letters, commas — a challenge for our eyes.

4. Teach Structure Explicitly

First of all, before writing the text, students need to identify which one as the structure depends on it. 

For instance, it can be:

This kind of writing has a basic structure: introduction, main body, conclusion. Do not forget to teach them a magic structure TEE for the main body: topic sentence, explanation, example. 

Talking about the structure of the summary, this can be mentioned. Topic sentence, explanation, example and summary (overall main point that is summarised).

Here are more points to include: introduction, main body stating the topic, the purpose, description, recommendation, summary, and then, conclusion.

So, it is visible from examples above that all kinds of writing require different structures, language usage, linking words and volume. It is good for students to be knowledgeable about it, too.

5. Paragraph Frames And Sentence Structures

Depending on the level of your students, they need to use diverse examples of sentence structures. In such a way, they can show coherence and cohesion of the text. 

Let’s dive deep into every level:

6. Focus On Writing One Skill At A Time

Practice makes a habit. It is undoubtedly easy to practice not big texts immediately, but smaller parts. For us, as teachers, it seems as easy as ABC because we are so experienced. 

Students have to get used to looking at these structures, keeping it in mind each time. Nonetheless, they have to write according to the pattern, not just remember it in theory. So, that is the challenge they face.

7. Foster A Positive Mindset

Last but not least, encourage your students. Self-suggestion gives 50% of the work completed. Consider each step as a new achievement that they gain, not a stumbleblock to overcome. The easier you take it in, the easier your students perceive all the material.

Hence, they know their strength, as well. They know what direction to choose, what weak points to work on more. It is not about the competition with others: who is the fastest, the rightest, the most precise. Students learn to brush up their skills, they trust you and your opinion. 

So be gentle and responsible for their feelings. Excuse a sense of ease for them, so that students know they are capable of everything. In case something happens, they have a shoulder to lean on throughout this learning way. You, who will support, who will help each time, showing your own example to them. 

Practice what you preach!